A RE-SHUFFLE?

Waikato Times, Volume 123, Issue 20690, 28 December 1938, Page 5

A RE-SHUFFLE?

THE BRITISH CABINET JUNIOR MINISTER’S CRITICISM “ HORE-BELISIIA MUST GO ” .United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Dec. 27 The most probable outcome of the criticisms by junior Ministers of the personnel of the British Cabinet will be a re-shuffle immediately after Parliament re-assembles on January 31. The political correspondent of the Daily Telegraph hints that Mr IlnrnBelisha, Secretary of State for War, will probably go in January, while Mr Chamberlain may feel compelled to give a new turn to foreign policy owing to the lack of reciprocity on the pact of the nations he had hoped to appease. The revolt of the junior Ministers has taken the form of a slogan, “ Hore-Belisha must go.” If Mr Chamberlain does not reconstruct his Cabinet, the junior Ministers will resign. They do not oppose his foreign policy, but only the slowness of rearmament. Other Ministers’ Heads The heads of the Minister for Coordination of Defence, Sir Thpmas Inskip, and the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Earl Winterton, are also demanded by the Secretary of the Department of Overseas Trade, Mr R. S. Hudson, and others who share Mr Winston Churchill's view that Mr

Hore-Belisha is chiefly responsible for Britain's defencelessness during the recent crisis and lor misleading the Cabinet, Parliament, and the nation over the progress of re-armament, particularly in anti-aircraft guns. Mr Hudson is said to have told Mr Chamberlain in the most uncompromising terms that Mr Hore-Belisha had not only blundered, but had attempted to justify himself by making incorrect statements on defence matters. Several political correspondents suggest that Mr Ilore-Belislm, although he originally worked finely in popularising and reorganising the Army, lias now outlived his usefulness. They declare that he tailed to acquire “ service knowledge ” and to provide sufficient anti-aircraft guns and other equipment. Army Officers Support Critics Many army officers are supporting the critics, although Mr Hore-Belisha has strong backing in the House of Commons for having put the Army back on the map. It Is understood that Mr Chamberlain has granted Mr llore-Belisha’s request for a sweeping inquiry into the charges against him. The Times, which is the only newspaper in Britain not to publish anything concerning tlie revolt of the junior Ministers, states, in a leading article to-day: “Mr Hudson and his supporters desire a more rapid acceleration of rearmament. It is to be hoped that the publicity given to their desire will not delay a rc-shuffle of the Cabinet.”