FEELING IN BRITAIN

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 42, 19 February 1942, Page 7

FEELING IN BRITAIN

COMMENT MORE

SOBER

RUGBY, February 17,

Though the shock of the fall of Singapore is still shown in the very grave concern felt throughout Britain, comment in the Press is directed at the problems the country has to face under Mr. Churchill's leadership and is inclined to discount the more hasty criticisms which were the result of the first reflections on the Far Eastern defeat. The "Daily Telegraph" says: "A marked change in the general feeling is already to be discerned. Mr. Churchill's challenging broadcast has had a swift and wide effect. Though he concentrated on the realities, he has lifted up people's hearts with a new inspiration of courage and duty. He has closed the ranks. The most careless observation cannot miss the existence of a fresh spirit. There is an ebb of doubts and distractions, and in flood is a consciousness of grand events which are dependent on the utmost striving on a harder life and sterner labour." , TECHNICAL PROBLEMS. The "Manchester Guardian," saying that the present position has been used by some as a reason for Government reconstruction, comments: "The questions which demand .an answer seem mostly to be rather technical and professional and hardly raising problems of Cabinet reconstruction, whether or not that is desirable on other grounds. It may even be doubted whether there is enough material outside the Government for a large-scale reconstruction, but ■Mr. Churchill should have in mind members of known ability who have been conspicuous for 'judicious criticism' and would strengthen his hands."—B.O.W. The "Daily Herald" (reports the Press Association) states: "We need a Prime Minister with time to think, and a War Cabinet with time to think." The "Daily Mirror," saying that Mr. Churchill's burden is too heavy, suggests that he should appoint a Defence Minister while he remains Prime Minister, and that the best of his colleagues should be relieved of harassing departmental duties and retained in a small War Cabinet with the task of surveying the war as a whole. t REMOVAL OF SOME WANTED. "Mr. Churchill's worst or inefficient colleagues should be removed," it says. "• The "News Chronicle" says: Mr. Churchill must hand over or at least delegate the responsibilities which, events have shown, are not compatible with the r,ole of a national leader. He must establish a War Council which is comparable with War Cabinets of 1917 and 1913 and which will share with him the direction of policy as a whole."