Mr Churchill is Still A Stormy Petrel, Who Causes Tory Rift

Northern Advocate, 18 July 1939, Page 5

Mr Churchill is Still A Stormy Petrel, Who Causes Tory Rift

(Received 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 12. A RIFT HAS DEVELOPED IN THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY RANKS OVER THE SUGGESTED ADMISSION OF MR WINSTON CHURCHILL AND MR EDEN TO THE CABINET. There is not the slightest misgiving in any party that Britain is not prepared to fight for Poland in the event of aggression or threat of aggression. ‘ ; But it is increasingly evident that a number of Conservatives fear that the Government, as at present constituted, will not face up to Germany with sufficient determination to prevent a similar story to that of Czechoslovakia. Thus a large section of Conservatives want additional “anti-appeasers in the Cabinet.

■» The fight for the inclusion of Mr Churchill was led by the anti-appease-ment “Daily Telegraph.” This paper published reports that Britain was bringing pressure upon Poland not to provoke the Nazis. , The reports were denied by both the British and Polish Governments.

Denials Regarded as Political

These denials are regarded as being possibly political, in order to avoid a weakening of Poland’s front to the Nazis.

The rift is very clear in rival Conservative newspapers.

The “Daily Telegraph” publishes many columns of letters from prominent Conservatives, from Liberals, and even from Labour men, urging the inclusion of Mr Churchill in the Cabinet.

But “The Times” publishes letters from sympathisers with the appeasement policy. They urge that Danzig, predominantly Germanic, should be returned to the Reich.

Mr J. L. Garvin, veteran editor of Lord Astor’s Sunday'newspaper, “The Observer,” joins in demands that Mr Churchill be given a Cabinet post.

The “Cliveden Set.” Lord and Lady Astor are usually regarded as advocates of appeasement. Their week-end parties at their j Thames-side residence at Cliveden have introduced into British politics the “Cliveden Set.” Mr Chamberlain and his coilleagues cannot by themselves hold half the nation united through the weeks and months ahead,” writes Mr Garvin. Mr Churchill’s inclusion in the Cabinet would be a massive gain. Other newspapers continue to call for the inclusion of Mr Churchill in the Cabinet, but the “Daily. Herald” .says that Mr Chamberlain regards the campaign as a threat to him personally, and has decided against Mr Churchill’s inclusion. Mr Churchill Commended. The Marquis of Salisbury, in a letter to the “Daily Telegraph,” says the German attitudt Is that Britain, which will always repeat and swallow rebuff after rebuff, has not the nerve to employ the strongest men in the Government.

Mr J. B. Priestly, the novelist, in the “News Chronicle,” says that Mr Churchill’s presence in the Cabinet would at least do something to show the world, which has no confidence in British statesmen, that the country is In earnest.

Mr Priestly says that similar arguments apply to Mr Eden, “who was dropped to please Mussolini as part of a miserable policy that made Britain the laughing stock of the world.”