British Cabinet Mystery

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21555, 18 January 1940, Page 6

British Cabinet Mystery

jnXPECTATIONS that there might be sensational " revelations when Mr Hore-Belisha, the former Secretary of State for War, made a statement to the House of Commons on his recent resignation were disappointed. Indeed, the speeches botli of Mr Hore-Belisha and the Prime Minister deepen rather than clear the mystery. Mr Hore-Belisha, for his part, declares that there had been no conflict of views or policy with any of his colleagues. What has been described as the democratisation of the army, he said, was not the achievement of one individual but of the whole Army Council. The retiring Minister also agreed that the Premier was entitled to exercise his judgment in making whatever appointments he thought best. However, one key to the puzzle was provided by Mr Hore-Belisha when he said: “I declined the Board of Trade appointment because I could not feel assurance that the considerations which persuaded the Prime Minister to make the change would allow of my energetic discharge of duties in the Board of Trade in the national interest.”

Mr Chamberlain in his statement disposed of rumours concerning Mr Hore-Belisha’s resignation. He indignantly refuted the suggestion that the fact that Mr Hore-Belisha is a Jew had anything to do with it; he denied that there had been any struggle between Mr Hore-Belisha and certain high officers over the system of promotion, and he denied further that there had been serious differences between the former Minister and the Army Council. Every point in fact was cleared up except the important one of why Mr Hore-Belisha was wtually dismissed. Mr Chamberlain affirmed the right of the Prime Minister to consider his Cabinet allocations from time to time without making public his reasons for changes. No doubt Mr Chamberlain is correct there, but the British public may think that this is hardly the best time for changing horses if administration is running satisfactorily. It is clear that there is a special reason for Mr Hore-Belisha’s dismissal, and his supporters in Britain will probably feel that it would be fairer to the man if this were made public. As it is he stands under a cloud. He has either an important personal defect, or influence of some kind has convinced the Prime Minister that the change was desirable. Discussion of this unhappy incident in the House of Commons, however, has given an opportunity to prove what the present spirit of England is. Both Mr HoreBelisha and -Mr Chamberlain agreed that personal considerations were of secondary importance now. Tlie chief object of all was to bring the war to a swift and successful conclusion.