BRITISH CABINET

Grey River Argus, 22 July 1941, Page 5

BRITISH CABINET

MORE CHANGES MADE Mr Duff Cooper GOING TO FAR EAST. [British Official Wireless]. RUGBY, July 20. Important changes in the British Government are announced from 10 Downing Street. Mr... Brendan (Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and a newspaper man), becomes Minister of Information in place of Mr. Duff Cooper, who becomes Chancellor ot the Duchy of Lancaster. Mr. R. A. Butler, Foreign Undersecretary, becomes President of the Board of Education, replacing Mr. H. Ramsbotham, who becomes Chairman of the Unemployment. Assistance Board, and is made a Peer. Lord Hankey, who was Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, becomes Paymaster-General. Mr. R. K. Law, Financial Secretary to the War Office, and son of Mr. Bonar Law, becomes Foreign Under-Secretary, and is succeeded by Mr. Duncan Sandys, Mr. Churchill’s son-in-law.

A Labour member, Mr. Ernest Thurtle, becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Inrormation, replacing Mr. Harold Nicholson, who is appointed Governor of the British Broadcasting Corporation. Sir Hugh Sealye becomes an additional Air Under-Secretary. Mr. Duff Cooper is proceeding to the Far East, charged with the task of examining, on behalf of the War Cabinet, the present arrangements for consultation and co-ordination between the various British authorities, military, administrative and political in those regions, and reporting to them how these arrangements can be made more effective.

Lord Hankey t as Paymaster-Gen-eral, will continue to perform the special duties now assigned to him, which include the chairmanship of a number of War Cabinet committees.

Captain Harold Balfour, /.lir Under-Secretary, Mr. Tom Williams, Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, and Major Lloyd George, Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food, become Privy Councillors.

Far Eastern Danger Spot MR DUFF-COOPER’S MISSION. IS HIS RANK ADEQUATE ? (Rec. 7.30). LONDON, July 20. The “Daily Mail,” in a leading article, refers to the Cabinet changes, and especially to the case of Mr DuffCooper (hitherto Minister of Information) who is to go to the Far East, charged with the task of examining, on behalf of the War Cabinet, the present arrangements for consultation and co-ordination between the various British authorities, military, administrative and political, in those regions, and reporting to them how these arrangements can be made more effective. The “Daily Mail” says: The changes in the British Cabinet are just a re-shuffle of a too-familiar kind. Mr Duff-Cooper, as Chancellor of the Duchy ot Lancaster, has apparently not been promoted to War Cabinet rank, unlike Captain Lyttelton. The Far Eastern situation, however, justifies the presence there of a Minister of the highest status, and, if there should be serious developments there his duties may be even more important than Captain Lyttelton’s in the Midd.e East. Complex national interests converge on Singapore. Britain, the Dominions, America, France and Holland are all deeply concerned /with Japanese policy. Moreover, supply lines centre upon Singapore from Britain, India and the Dominions. The task of the new Minister calls for outstanding qualities of diplomacy and statesmanship.” MR DUFF COOPER’S VISIT TEMPORARY? LONDON. July 21. “The Times” Parliamentary correspondent says: Mr Duff Cooper’s special task is one which, presum ably, is not to be compared with Captain Lyttelton’s in the Middle East, because Mr Duff Cooper goes to the Far East, not as a Minister of State, but as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. His visit, also, is apparently a temporary one, because he is charged with “examining ana reporting.” NEW, PROPAGANDA HEAD. (Rec. 7.30). LONDON, July 20. In a leading article on Cabinet changes, “The Times” refers to the new Minister of Information, Mr Bracken (formerly . Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister). “The Times” says: "Mr Bracken’s appointment should encourage all who have hoped to see the muchcriticised Ministry of Informatioh emerge from its troubles and play a constructive part in the conduct ot the war. Mr Bracken w.lf not lack knowledge, because he knows the press well, and is wellknown to the press for initiative, energy and enterprise . No better choice could have been made.

ANOTHER CHANGE SUGGESTED. (Rec. 7.35). LONDON, July 21. “The Times” says: The cnanges m the Government do not give an answer to suggestions which have ! urgently and cogently been advanced for a clearer control in the direction of the nation’s industrial effort. Thereorganisation of the leadership oa the industrial front remains an overriding public interest In a recent statement. Mr. Churchill said a sensational statement naa been telegraphed and broadcast an over the world which did not represent the well directed efforts and remarkable results in e Y, e l;( field of production. ■He had given a direction that all allegations made in debate of serious substance should be sent to the departments concern ed in order that the facts could be ascertained "at an early date. Ho proposed to again debate a certain vote in this connection. _ _ Mr. Churchill said this decision had been reached because people in the United States and the Dominions, especially Australia, had been disturbed by statements in the recent debate. One of the statements was that Britain’s industries were working to only 75 per cent, of their efficiency, and another was that the Ministry of Aircraft Production wa's in a state of chaos. The President of the Board of Trade (Sir Andrew Duncan), replying to- a question in the House of Commons, said one result of the invitation last March t,o conclude the agreement for concentrations of industry was that nearly 100,000 workers had been released, or were being made available for release, under thel arrangements in hand in the industries concerned. About 85,000,000 square feet of factory space had been placed at the disposal of the Controller-General of Factory and Storage Premises. The period allowed for the submission of voluntary schemes had now come to an end. In a number of lesser industries, the

result arrived at had been substantially achieved and gratifying progress had been made in large sections of the more important industries affected. Further details of the result of concentration on non-essential industries in Britain were made known today. The most rapid progress has. been made in the carpet industry in which the lack of raw materials has made it probable that as many as 10,000 workers will be released for direct war work, and more than half the firms making carpets will be' dosed. In the pottery industry there has been great success in cari’ymv out the scheme, and it is exnected that some 4,000 workers will be re-; leased his industry, however, is performing useful “war work,” as many firms made a fine' china winch i has a readv market in America. The largest individual mnnbor of worker’:. released for more vital work carries g from the spinning and .weaving in-'; dustry. ____________