CHURCHILL AT HELM

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 111, 11 May 1940, Page 12

CHURCHILL AT HELM

New Cabinet on a National

Basis

MR. CHAMBERLAIN RESIGNS

Dramatic Final Message to the People

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.)

'(Received May 11, 10 a.m.) LONDON, May 10. Mr. Neville Chamberlain has resigned and Mr. Winston Churchill becomes Prime Minister.

The following* official statement was issued from No. 10 Downing Street: "The' Prime Minister (Mr. Winston Churchill) desires that all Ministers should remain at their posts and discharge their functions with full freedom and responsibility while the necessary arrangements for the formation of a new Administration are made."

A dramatic meeting of the Latfour Party executive at Bournemouth this afternoon decided to share responsibility as a full partner in a new Government under a new Prime Minister.

The Leader of the Opposition (M& 0. R; Attlee) and Mr. Greenwood immediately rushed to London and saw Mr. Chamberlain, who conveyed the decision to Cabinet. He then went to the Palace and had an audience with the King1.

The King gave an audience to Mr. Churchill five minutes after the departure of Mr. Chamberlain. Mr. Attlee and Mr. Greenwood issued the following statement: "The Labour Party is convinced %hat drastic reconstruction of the Government is necessary in order to win the war, but, confronted by the latest series of abominable aggressions by Hitler, reaffirms its determination to do its utmost to achieve victory, and calls on its members to devote all their energies to this end and stand firm and united through whatever trials and sacrifices lie ahead."