THE BRITISH MINISTRY OF WAR

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 97, 18 January 1940, Page 6

THE BRITISH MINISTRY OF WAR

Mr. Chamberlain’s eagerly-awaited statement on the subject of the recent Cabinet changes which involved the retirement oi Mr. HoreBelisha from the office of Secretary of State for War, clears up certain rumours which had given cause for anxiety. Whatever may have been the real reason—and this the Prime Minister is not prepared to disclose —there has been no conflict between Mr. Hore-Belisha and Cabinet on matters of policy, nor any serious differences between the ex-Minister and the Army Council. Mr. Chamberlain specially emphasized the fact that Mr. Hore-Belisha’s reforms in the system of promotion had nothing to do with the change which, for certain particular reasons, he had considered it desirable to make.

“I will only say,” observed the Prime Minister, “that I have become aware of difficulties. Perhaps I might describe them as arising out .of the very great qualities of Mr. Hore-Belisha.” In the absence of further information speculation as to the nature of these difficulties would be unprofitable and unnecessary. The head of a government is not bound to disclose the reasons which may impel him to re-cast his Ministerial team. He himself is personally responsible for the acts of his Ministry, and he is therefore entitled to make whatever redistribution of portfolios he may deem necessary in order to obtain what he believes to be the most satisfactory results. His responsibility for these is to Parliament and the nation, and if this is rightly conceived no personal considerations should be allowed to deflect him from his purpose. As the Leader of the Liberal Party, Sir Archibald Sinclair, remarked in the discussion which followed the two statements, too much has been made of the personal aspect of the resignation. “The only thing that matters,” he said, “is the vigorous prosecution of the war.” This very sound observation should help to recall the public - to the real business at hand. On the two essential points—the rumoured disagreement with the Prime Minister on policy, and the ex-Minister’s relations with the High Command —its fears have been dispelled. It is to be hoped, therefore, that the last has been heard of the incident.