TEXTS OF LETTERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23040, 18 May 1938, Page 13

TEXTS OF LETTERS

MINISTER AND PREMIER POLITICAL DIFFICULTY DESIRABILITY OF CHANGE TIME NOW OPPORTUNE By Telesrraph—Press Association —Copyright British Wireless RUGBY, May 16 In a letter to the Prime Minister tendering his resignation from the post of Secretary of State for Air, which was made public to-day together with Mr. Chamberlain's reply, Viscount Swinton speaks of his long realisation of the political difficulty of the Minister in charge of a great spending Department being in the House of Lords. Also he mentions his requests—more than once renewed—to Mr. Chamberlain to say whether, in these circumstances, he felt he ought to make a change. Lord Swinton refers to the Prime Minister having, in reply, expressed a strong desire that his work at the Air Ministry should not be interrupted. He then expresses the opinion that- the stage has been reached when the disadvantages of an interruption are less and when his resignation need cause no interruption and delay, since plans have been made already to provide for new expansion of the Air Force. Acceleration Made Possible "When the earlier expansion programme on which we had bpen working was undertaken," writes Lord Swinton, "the Air Ministry planned an extension of factories and the erection of new factories on a scale which would not only discharge this programme, but would also cope with a largely increased programme, if that were required. "In the same way training facilities within the service have been increased to deal with the great numbers of pilots and airmen entered up to the present, and additional schools are being provided. "It was therefore possible—as soon as the Government made the decision to accelerate and increase the existing programme—to give immediate effect to that decision. Practically the whole of the orders for. aircraft for the new expansion have been placed. The personnel requirements of the Royal Air Force over the next two years have been fully worked out, as have training arrangements for this large intake of pilots and airmen and boys." Maintaining Public Confidence Continuing, Lord Swinton says he is content to leave the judgment of his work at the Air Ministry until a later date in the light of fuller knowledge. "What does matter," he says, "is the execution' of the air programme and the maintenance of public confidence. I cannot help feeling that in the actual circumstances of the moment I can help these ends and help you best by putting you in a position where any personal criticism of myself mav no longer prejudice the full achievement of what we tried to do together "I would, therefore, ask you to accept my resignation. I shall always bo deeply grateful to you for all your help." Minister's Devotion to Task Mr. Chamberlain in his reply speaks of the deep impression made on him by the prodigious expansion of the RcJyal Air Force, and of the country's capacity to produce aircraft engines, equipment and trained personnel, which Lord Swinton had created by his business ability and the complete devotion of his time and thought to his task. The Prime Minister continues: "While the responsibility for the administration was mainly yours, the programme from time to time was determined by the Cabinet as a whole. Recently the Cabinet came to the decision that the programme already approved ought to be considerably accelerated, and it is as a result of this that the new plans so recently described by you and Earl Winterton have been put into operation. "It is only fair to you to say that the acceleration could not have been started as it has been if you had not prepared in advance the plans necessary to carry it out, and this applies to all branches of your work." Earl Winterton's Post Lapses Mr Chamberlain expresses the regret with which he feels bound to recognise the force of the points made by Lord Swinton regarding the disadvantages of the Air Minister being in the House of Lords, and in accepting his resignation says he wishes he had in his Cabinet another post. '"However," he says, "you have asked me to release you altogether, and I feel I cannot press you further." The new Air Ministry being in the House of Commons, the post of DeputySecretary of State for Air, created about two months ago, with a seat in the Cabinet, lapses. Earl Winterton, who held the post, will, however, remain in the Cabinet as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster., The Duke of Devonshire, formerly Lord Hartington, remains Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Dominions. CONFERENCE PLANNED EMPLOYERS AND UNIONS SPEEDING-UP REARMAMENT (Received May 17, 5.5 p.m.) British Wireless RUGBY, May 16 A conference between employers and trade unions in the chief industries involved in rearmament work will be held on May 25 to explore further questions raised by the recent appeal by the Prime Minister, Mr. Chamberlain, and Sir Thomas lnskip, and to consider means of facilitating production in connection with the acceleration of the rearmament programme.