CABINET CHANGES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 263, 4 October 1940, Page 7

CABINET CHANGES

MR CHAMBERLAIN RESIGNS

DICTATES OF HEALTH.

(United Press Association—Copyright.) (Rec. 9.5 a.m.) LONDON, Qct.fi. Changes in the British Ministry are announced as a sequel to the resignation of Mr Chamberlain from the position of Lord President of the Council.

Sir John Anderson leaves the post of Minister of Home Security and becomes Lord President of the Council. He joins the War Cabinet in Mr Chamberlain’s place. Mr Churchill also announces the addition of two members to tho War Cabinet. They are Sir Kingsley Wood (Chancellor of the Exchequer) and Mr Ernest Bevin (Minister of Labour and National Service). This makes a War Cabinet of eight members. Mr Herbert Morrison succeeds Sir John Anderson as Minister of Home Security. Sir Andrew Duncan, formerly President of the Board of Trade, succeeds Mr Morrison as Minister of Supply. Captain Oliver Lyttelton, who lias been Controller of Non-Ferrous Metals, succeeds Sir Andrew Duncan. Sir John lleith, who has been Minister of Transport, becomes Minister of Works and Buildings, a new department, and -First Commissioner of Works. He has beeii created a baron. Lieutenant-Colonel Brabazon succeeds Sir John Reith as Minister of Transport. Lord Caldecote becomes Lord Chief Justice in succession to Lord Hewart, who has resigned as from October 12 and becomes a viscount. Lord Cranbourne succeeds Lord Caldecote as Dominion Secretary.

Mll CHAMBERLAIN’S LETTER. Mr Chamberlain sent a letter to Mr Churchill in the course of which he regretted that his health since his operation had prevented him from increasing his capacity for work which, together with the unusual stress of wartime conditions, had caused him to progress backward instead of forward, and a considerable time must elapse before he could hope to be able to perform the duties which were essential for a member of the War Cabinet. Therefore, he felt hound, in the national interest, to ask Mr Churchill to release him from his present responsibilities and submit liis resignation to the King. Mr Chamberlain added an expression of warm appreciation of the kindness and consideration which Mr Churchill had consistently shown since the formation ot' his Government, and unshaken confidence that, under Mr Churchill's leadership, this country and her Allies and associates would succeed in overcoming the forces of barbarism which had reduced the great part of Europe to a condition little better than slavery’. The letter was signed: “Yours ever, Neville Chamberlain.”

Mr Chamberlain lias also resigned the leadership of the Conservative Party, which, it is generally predicted, will elect Mr Churchill. Air Chamberlain has been in bed in the country tor several days and the doctors advised him he must drop his job. The Ministry of Works and buildings is a new creation. PREMIER’S TRIBUTE.

Air Churchill replied: — “I have for some time feared you would bo forced to relinquish the struggle. 1 and all your colleagues have admired your unshaken nerve and perservering will. The help you have given me since you ceased to be my chief has .tided us through, what may well prove the turning point of the war.

“You did all you could for victory. If, now you tell me you must fall out of line, 1 cannot resist your claim. The loss of your services make it necessary to reform our ranks to fill the gap as best we can. “I shall look back on this stern year of comradeship with feelings of the deepest respect and regard for you. I trust that having put down your pack, you will find your health and strength restored, and that we shall rejoice together in the better days to come.”

MEMBERS’ CAREERS.

Sir John Anderson lias been in the Cabinet only since last year. As Minister of Home Security he was mainly responsible for air raid precautions, and this job now falls on Mr Morrison. The retiring Lord Chief Justice has held this office for 18 years.

Sir Andrew Duncan, Minister of Supply, is a big figure in the shipping world and the chambers of commerce.

Captain Lyttelton served in the Grenadier Guards in the Great War, and had been in business since then. He was managing director of the British Metal Corporation and did a littleknown but important job as Controller of Non-Ferrous Metals, it is stated that he had secured the nation’s requirements for three years at a much lower price than that which obtained in the last war and had made his purchases within the Empire. The appointments will lower the average age of the War Cabinet. None of the appointees is yet 60. Sir John Anderson is 58, Mr Morrison 52, Lord Cranbourne and Captain Lyttelton 47, while Sir John Reith and Lieut.-Col-onel Brabazon are on the right side of 60. The last-named was the first person in England to hold a civilian pilot’s license. Lord Halifax will be assisted in his new duties as Leader of the House of Lords by Lord Snell, Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms, who will continue as Deputy-Leader of the House of Lords.