BRITISH CABINET CHANGES

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23803, 24 November 1942, Page 5

BRITISH CABINET CHANGES

Sir Stafford Cripps In New Post MR EDEN LEADER OF COMMONS (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright.) LONDON. Nov. 22. The following British Cabinet changes are officially announced:— Viscount Cranborne is to be Lord Privy Seal (in place of Sir Stafford Cripps), Colonel Oliver Stanley is to be Secretary of State for Colonies (in place of Lord Cranborne), Sir Stafford Cripps is to be Minister of Aircraft Production, in place of Colonel J. J. Llewellin, who becomes Minister resident in Washington for Supply, Sir Stafford Cripps has ceased to be a member of the War Cabinet, and Mr Herbert Morrison Minister of Home Security, will take his place there. Lord Cranborne will continue to be leader of the House of Lords. Mr R. A. Eden will succeed Sir Stafford Cripps as leader of the House of Commons. , Mr Churchill, in a letter to Sir Stafford Cripps, said: “Although it might at first sight appear that by leaving your present post for a great administrative post you would be stepping down in the political hierarchy, I know you would not’be influenced by that. This proposal is conceived solely to meet a most serious war need.” Sir Stafford Cripps, in reply, said he felt it would be inappropriate for him to remain a member of the War Cabinet, in view of the relationship between the Minister of Production and the Supply Ministers. The political correspondent of the “Daily Mail” describes the exclusion of Sir Stafford Cripps from the War Cabinet as "astonishing,” and adds: “The transfer of Sir Stafford Cripps will not surprise many politicians who know how restless he has become in recent months. Members of the House of Commons who are closely acquainted with the activities of Sir Stafford Cripps have from time to time forecast his resignation from the Cabinet altogether. He has never appeared happy as Leader of the House of Commons, which requires tact and patience as well as a sensitive reaction to the niceties of parliamentary procedure.” The “Daily Express” says: “There have been reports recently that Sir Stafford Cripps was unable to see eye to eye with his fellow members on the War Cabinet on many important political matters.” The newspaper adds; “Mr Herbert Morrison’s active brain will be a source of strength in the direction of the war.” “The Times,” in a leading article, says: “Sir Stafford Cripps, in joining the War Cabinet, brought a certain as - surance to a large body of opinion that in the highest councils there would bo ample consideration of forward views in shaping the policy of both war and peace. The withdrawal from the Cabinet of a Minister peculiarly identified in the public mind with planning for post-war reconstruction will increase public expectations of War Cabinet decisions which will be essential if a peace policy is to be ready for launching when the time is ripe.”

NORTH AFRICAN CAMPAIGN

MR WILLKIE PRAISES BRITISH SHARE NEW YORK, Nov. 22. “The British are playing down their part in the North African campaign in order to give an extra lift to America,” asserted Mr Wendell Willkie, when addressing the British War Relief Society. He added: “It will be written in history that it was General Montgomery’s magnificent ability at El Alamein that made possible everything that America is now doing in North Africa. When the war is over the story of Britain’s part in North Africa yesterday and today will be one of the noblest sagas in history.” Mr Willkie said that at a banquet in the Kremlin he praised Russia’s matchless courage, but he also called attention to the same matchless courage of the British during the blitz.

RATIONING OF CLOTHES

ADDITIONS TO LIST IN AUSTRALIA SYDNEY, Nov. 23. Handkerchiefs, ties, men’s and boys’ braces and suspenders have been added to . the list of goods for which clothes rationing coupons are required in Australia. Handkerchiefs will be half a coupon, and the other items one coupon each. The new ration scale applies from today. It also simplifies coupon ratings. Differential ratings between wool and non-wool garments have been abandoned. This will mean lower rate's for many non-wool garments.

HEAVY RAID ON MANDALAY

U.S. BOMBING FORCE FROM INDIA (8.0. W.) RUGBY, Nov. 22. A communique from India says; “The Japanese railway centre at Mandalay was the target on Friday for an air attack by the largest formation of heavy bombers of the American 10th Air Force yet sent from India. Many* tons of bombs were dropped. Large fires were observed in the target area. “The bombers completed their mission without observing enemy fighters, and fire from the ground was weak and ineffective. All our aeroplanes returned.”

TUBELESS TYRES PROPOSED

NEW YORK, Nov. 22. The Washington correspondent of the New York “Herald-Tribune” states that initial nation-wide tests of tubeless tyres have proved successful, according to a declaration by the chairman of the Petroleum Industry War Council. The invention, whica entails the sealing of the tyre casing to the wheel rim, and installing a leakproof valve, was tested on 1000 motor-cars for a week, but the experiment is continuing until the end of the year. If the invention proves practical it will add 200,000 tons of high-grade rubber in existing inner tubes to the nation’s scrap pile.