Minister’s Hint

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 170, 21 July 1939, Page 12

Minister’s Hint

'i CHANGES IN CABINET ME. CHAMBERLAIN RESENTFUL LONDON, July 33. Hinting at a reconstruction of the Cabinet, the Secretary of State for War, Mr. L. Horo-Belisha, speaking at a by-election at Newquay, recalled that Mr. Chamberlain had shown broadmindedness in including Admiral Lord Chatfield, Sir John Anderson and Sir Reginald Dorman-Smith in the Government. >• He said there was no need to suppose that talent and enterprise would be excluded, and advised the critics to wait ” and they might find the Government even more comprehensive. V It is known that Mr. Chamberlain is willing to reconstruct the Cabinet, Avith \ the probable removal of the Lord President of the Council, Lord Runciman, the Lord Chancellor, Lord Maugham, and the First Lord of the Admiralty, Earl Stanhope. Effect on Public. j The clamour that has been concenu trated on Mr. Churchill’s name, howw ever, almost to the exclusion of those i. of Mr. Anthony Eden, Mr. Duff Cooper, Lord Cranborne, and other possible neAV • blood, especially during the past week, has aroused a degree of resentment in : Mr. Chamberlain’s mind, with a probable postponement of action. Several observers consider that the Conser\ r ative agitators have shown J faulty tactics in pressing for new Ministers, particularly *or Mr. Churchill. If he were included, no matter with what portfolio, he would be regarded by the public as the leader of the Government. Mr. Chamberlain considers that this would involve his personal prestige. I Peers Urge Inclusion, i Lord Selborne and the Marquis of * Salisbury, both Conservatives, have joined the agitation in the press for Mr. i Churchill’s inclusion in the Cabinot. ! lord Selborne writes: “I have never | been a follower of Mr. Churchill, but I agree with those who think that the inclusion of Mr. Churchill and Mr. Eden in the Government at this particular moment Avould bo a gesture that even Dr. Goebbels (the German Minister of Propaganda) could not fail to understand. , “The German Intelligence Depart- j ment must be singularly incompetent if i it does not appreciate that the British people, united, would promptly replace j the Government, with Mr. Churchill ( probably as Prime Minister, if the Chamberlain Government failed to uphold its pledges.” Lord Salisbury writes: “I have not always agreed Avith Mr. Churchill, but there is no living man possessing a greater knowledge of the Fighting Ser- . vices or greater force of character. I would like to see not only Mr. - Churchill, but all the best men, whatever their political party, included in the Government, as during the Great War, thus proving to Germany that we P are in earnest.” v .