NO CHANGE IN BRITISH ARMY POLICY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 15, 18 January 1940, Page 5

NO CHANGE IN BRITISH ARMY POLICY

HORE-BELISHA INCIDENT NEW APPOINTMENT RESPONSIBILITY OF PREMIER I STATEMENTS IN HOUSE OF COMMON! (By Teleßiaph Press Assr>< intion--Copyright) li"rej\ ((| Jan. 17. 6.5 p.m. LO.\l)(>.\. Jan 16. The House of Commons was crowded and a most animated atmosphere prevailed in anticipation of the statements by the former War Secretary, Mr. Hore-Bclish«, and the Premier, Mr, Chamberlain. The Peers postponed tlieii meeting for linlf an hour in ordt-r to hear lhe opening speeches. The New War Secretary. Mr. (lliwi’ Stanley, sat boide Mr. Chamberlain, and was loudly (dieered when he rosr to arsv-e" his first question. Mr. Ho re-l»el isiia was cheered \\ Inn he eiiieml ;:nd sat <»n the Liberal National front bench. Mr. Stanley had 1< ft the Chamber before Mr. Hore-Belisha arrived Mr. Hore-Belisha said he rose in accordance with ciiMoiii to make a statement as a retiring Minister. "I would have pre ferred to say no more than has already been announced in the published correspondence and my message to my <-onstitnents.” hi said, "and that I had no otner 1 bought but to win the war. “During’ my two and i-half busy ami urgent years as*Scci retary of State for War the reorganisation and d ,, v , ’lop)nent of the Army have been carried out with a degree of agreement in remarkable contrast to the stormy history of past reforms, and I .1 dn not wish my reeollections to be team'd fiy an atim ■>plmm of bitterness and <-ont : <»\ prs\’.''

| Mil Hore-Bolisha referred to i forms introduced into the Army i during the past tw o and a-half yearc, [and said that, they had been carried lout with a degree of agreement in | remarkable contrast with tne nistorv ■ of many reforms. i He said that he did not select hi.s I colleagues because they w ere supine ily acquiescent, but he selected the . strongest men he could find, and he i respected them most when they weru most outspoken in council. The achievements had not been the sole inspiration or express result of any one of them. He referred particularly to what had become known as the “democratisation of lhe Army." This year, he said, there might be ! 3.000,000 men under arms. He had | always held the ideal that the Army [should be a pail of the nation, and not apart from the nation. It should be a career in which i every young man could rise by chari acter and ability regardless ol h > l status or means. Mutual I ndrrstanding ■ He had hoped that the members ol i the nation might be bound more close■ly in mutual understanding. He had | worked for that, and those associated f with him had worked with him. “It did not occur to me," h«said, “that we. were making the Army too democratic to fight for democracy.’’ ! He said that there had been n«. conflict, of view of policy with any of his colleagues in the Government. TTie Prime Minister had recognised that he (the speaker) had relied on his support in the past, to prepare the Army for war, and till Thursday week last it was readily forthcoming. Mr. Hore-Belisha next emphasised the right, of the Prime Minister to make such appointments as he thought good, and the duty of others to accept them. Why, them, had he declined to accept the position the Prime Minister had offered? He did so because | he could not feel assured that considerations that, had persuaded the Prime • Minister to make the change would i allow of his energetic discharge of th« national interests in any other office. Unfounded Rumours The Prime Ministei said that a : number of rumours had arisen which ' were unfounded. There had been no difference bet.weeen Mr. HoreBelisha and his colleagues. i It ought to be obvious that th.' resignation could not be connected i with any reforms in the Army, be [ (•ausc all those changes had been ap I proved by lhe Cabinet, which shared i lhe responsibility. [ 'There was no suggestion that the resignation was connected w.’lh, qj was lhe result of. a battle between Mr. Hore-Belisha and certain high i officers over lhe system of promotion in the Army. “I have never heard ef any serU ous differences between Mr. Hon Brlisha and the Army Council,’’ said Mr. Chamberlain. “I da not believe that any have evej H? said that the suggestion that there had been pressure by military officers or their friends on lhe Prime Minister to displace Mr. Hore-Belisha or that the Prime Minister would be faced with the risk of high officers resigning was “mischievous invention." No serving officer had over said one word to him that would be inconsistent with hi.s loyally to his Ministerial chief, and far from putting pressure on him, no officer had discussed with him at. any time the question of n : change of Secretary of State for ' War. HTiy Change Was Made I Discussing the question of why he had made the change, Air. Chamber- [ lain said that every Prime Minister I must, from time to time, review the allocations of office among his various colleagues. If every man holding that office had to make public ail reasons for making such changes it. would be impossible to make any hange. “Therefore, I do not propose to give the House, in detail, my reasons this afternoon,” be said. “I will only say that 1 have become aware of difficulties. Perhaps 1 might describe them as arising out nf the very great qualities of Mr. Hore-Belisha.” Mr. Chamoerlain ronGudod by saying that he deeply appreciated the tone and spirit of what was said by Mr. Hore-Belisha. He had one object —service for the purpose ot winning the war. "I know that ho is anxious to make hi.s contribution to that object," said Mr. Chamberlain, “and ] trust that it may not be long before he finds opportunity to do so."

. The Leadei ol the Opposition (Mr. . (’. R. Attlee) said it was extremely’ , I difficult for anyone not in the Govtjernment to form an opinion. This i was a matter for which the Prime , Minister must lake the rcspon.-ibility. Sir Archibald Sinclair. Leader of s the Opposition Liberals, said 100 much had been made of the personal aspect •| of the resignation. The only thing ■{that mattered was the vigorous > | prosecution of lhe war. Sir Archibald Sinclair paid tribute •[ to Mr. 1 -lore-Belisha’s reforms. He r pointed out that, he was not the sole -'champion in this connection. - i Mr. Chamberlain. replying to a question, hotly denied that, the resign“ation was due to any prejud'-c that ! [ Mr. Hore-Beli’sha was a Jew . i i PREMIER’S RIGHT MAKING OF APPOINTMENTS I • I ' Received Jan. 17. 6.5 p.m. t LONDO? 1 . Jan. 16. ' In the roui>e of h's in the House of Commons. Mr. Ilnre- ' Belisha said: "I look back on mv i close connection with the Arm; . on I which I directed so much nf my • 'thought and good will, as a period of ([hard work and mudi happine-s for, .. as you know, there was no conflict. Don policy with any of my colleagues i I in the Government upon any drpartu mental or other point. < I "There has. been no lack of confidence, and we have worked in one II relationship or anothe: for nnny • .years in a .spirit of loyally, a. tbo t j Prime Minister testifies. i l "The Prime Minister will recognise ijthat I relied on his support in t h* -I task of preparing the Army for war. ? | and I acknowledge that until Thurs--1 day week last it was readily forthi* I coming. 1 1 “The Prime Minister is free to ■) exercise impartial judgments and ! make appointments which may appear to him to be good. His reasons may or may nc! iciruicnd themselves.” A Mr. Hore-Belisha offered h.< sur--1 i cessor any help or counsel that he { could give as a private member. I Raising his list in a dramatic gesture. Mr. Hore-Belisha concluded: ( j “The war compels lo be unified the whole effort, of the nation. We shall i all have to face the nation on a comi mon le\ el." DENIAL OF PRESSURE MR. CMMBERLAIN INDIGNANT SORRY TO IX>S?, MR. BELISHA t. j \ , Received Jan. 17. 6.5 p.m. LONDON. Jan. 10. f | "I consider it most mischievous and D unfair to suggest that military ofiicers . ! brought pressure on me to displace i Mr. Belisha," said Mr. Chamberlain in J the House of Commons when refer- _ 1 ring to Mr. Horn-Be ILs ha's resignaI . tion. "Certainly it is not very comM plimentary to me to suggest that i “! allowed myself to be influenced bv j pressure of such an improper characr l ter. It. is a scandalous aspersion upon [ responsible officers, who arc unable tn { speak for themselves, to suggest that ' they have so far forgotten their duty i as to contemplate any action of the [kind described. No officer ever discussed with me at any limn any quesr! tion of a change in the Secretary nf State for War. s "I did not want to lose Mr. Belisha’s t services, therefore I offered h;m ans other important post, but ho rnifld - not see his way to accept. 1 very [ much regretted his decision, out 1 . deeply appreciated the tone and spirit of what Mr. Belisha has just said. He put before all personal considerauons lhe object of service to the country for the purpose of winning the war.” 'There were constant interjec t ions from members during Mi. Chamberlain's speech and cries of "Why don't • you change yourself?" were heard •; from the Opposition when he said he y did not propose to give reasons for t. the Cabinet change. i I Mr. Chamberlain replied: T myself s' only hold my present office by favour -•of the House. If at any time the II House thinks a change desirable I el shall accept the position, like Mr. Belisha, without complaint.’*