DIRECTING THE WAR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24633, 14 June 1941, Page 9

DIRECTING THE WAR

EMPIRE COUNCIL URGED M.P.’S VIGOROUS ARTICLE LONDON, June 8. In an article to-day in the Sunday Graphic, Mr Beverley Baxter, M.P. (Conservative), says: “Call on Mr Churchill, the Australian Prime Minister, Mr Menzies, the South African Prime Minister. Field-marshal Smuts, and the commander of, the Canadian Overseas Forces, Major-general A. G. L. McNaughton, to direct the war. “ Make them, as soon as possible, the supreme directors of strategy for the entire Empire. We cannot go on we are. Not only is the country losing' confidence, but also the outside world. Mr Menzies and Field-marshal Smuts would have to appoint successors and come as completely free individuals. “ This is the heart of the Empire, but we are fools if we do not realise limitations of a grooved mind which has been too long in control. Field-marshal Smuts has been accused of arrogance, Mr Menzies of intellectual effrontery, and. General McNaughton of individualism! God of Battles, give us arrogance, effontery, and Individualism! We need genius, daring, originality and ruthlessness.” “ Small-minded Mediocrities ” Mr J. Henderson Stewart, M.P. (National Liberal), said in a speedh yesterday that the people were entitled to an assurance that the Government would use the resources offered to it wisely and effectively. “ Many of us are not satisfied with the proof so far offered that this is being done,” he said. “We are being beaten in the Mediterranean because of dithering strategy, bungling organi- 1 sation and appalling lack of thought. Mr Churchill had better change his Government of speckled talent if he does not want to suffer the fate of Mr Asquith in 1916. “Although a admirer of Mr Churchill, I say to him: ‘Get rid now of those small-minded mediocrities who still encumber some of our higher and lower posts.’ ” Mr Churchill’s Position Mr Churchill must have a better team before Britain could be served better, said Sir Herbert Williams, M.P. (Conservative —South Croydon), in a speech. A Coalition Government necessarily consisted of toadies and “Yesmen,” eliminating party criticism and competition. This was one of the reasons for many war blunders. It was a real peril to the country that Mr Churchill, a Prime Minister of genius, should be regarded as being beyond challenge or criticism or as an inspired demigod. “We have tolerated in Government departments inefficiency which has appalled me,” he declared.