1940-01-17 — Page 6

THE CHINÀ MAIL, JANUARY 17, 1940

MR. CHAMBERLAIN ON CHANGES IN CABINET Takes Personal Responsibility For Event WARNS THAT LULL IN

WAR OPERATIONS MAY END IN FEW WEEKS OR HOURS

LONDON, TO-DAY.

THE FORMER MINISTER FOR WAR, MR. LESLIE HORE-BELISHA, IN A TENSE HOUSE AND AMID SOME OPPOSITION CHEERS, ROSE TO MAKE A PERSONAL STATEMENT.

He said he had not selected his collaborators because they were complacent or acquiescent. It was not a dull or stagnant administration.

"If there had been differences of opinion, outlook, temperament or understanding these had been no deeper than must occur.

Dealing with his work Mr. Hore- Mr. Chamberlain said that special Belisha said it did not occur to him that we were making the Army too democratic to fight for democracy, "There has been, so far as I know, no conflict of view or policy with any of

be

sider when the change should made, bearing in mind that every change must necessarily create distur- bance and there were times when dis- turbance was more dangerous than others.

his

"To make changes among colleagues is often the most dis- tasteful of all the duties of 2 Prime Minister and if he had to make public all his reasons for making the change it would be Impossible to make any change. "Therefore I do not propose to

PREJUDICE SUGGESTION REFUTED

London, To.day.

In the course of the debate fol. lowing Mr. Chamberlain's state- ment on Mr. Hore-Belisha's re- signation, Colonel Wedgwood (Lab.) pressed Mr. Chamber- lain to reply to suggestions that the realgnation was due to pre- judices against his being a Jew.

The Prime Minister said hardly thought the statement to be worth denying, but "I deny it absolutely."-Reuter.

give the House In detail my reasons, ALLIED

this afternoon. I only say that I

had become aware of difficulties. Per- ECONOMIC

forces raised in Australia, New Zen-haps I might describe them as aris- land for overseas would shortly take ing out of the very great qualities of view most Mr. Hore-Belisha which in my their places where they were

made it desirable that a change would needed and concluded:

occur at some time and I thought that "At the moment there is a

the change could best be effected when my Government colleagues upon any lull in the operations of war point concerning my department otherwise.

but at any time within the next few weeks or even few hours, the lull may be sharp-

ог

"I declined the Board of Trade post because I could not feel the assurance

that the consideration which persuad-

I had made other changes at the same time in the Government.

NO COMPLAINT

"I do not want to lose the services of Mr. Hore-Belisha and I therefore

ed the Prime Minister to make the ly broken by events which offered him another very important change would allow of my energetic will restrape the history

discharge in the national Interest of another office.

the world.

DUTY TO MAKE

of

that

given the House, he, did not see his

post but for reasons which he has

way to accept the office,

"I very much regretted his decision Mr. Chamberlain, the Prime

but I respected it and I do not make Minister, referring to unfounded ru-

There was no foundation, said Mr. hold my present office by favour of

any complaint mours, said that no change of Army

of it. I myself only policy was to be anticipated in conse-Chamberlain, for the suggestion

the Commons and if at any time the quence of the change in the Secretary the resignation was connected with,

Commons think a change is desirable for War.

or was the result of a battle between

I shall accept their decision like Mr. Mr. Chamberlain added that there Mr. Hore-Belisha and certain high of-

Hore-Belisha without complaint. had been no difference between the ficers vaguely described as "brass-

"Meanwhile I judge all matters on socalled "brass hats" and Mr. Hore-hats" over the system of promotion in

one criterion whether they... will..or Belisha over Army promotion.

the Army.

will not contribute towards the early and successful conclusion of the war (cheers). In the present case my personal friendship for Mr. Hore- Belisha and my recognition of Mr. Hore-Belisha's great services drew me in one direction.

PURE INVENTION

The Prime Minister declared that it was pure invention to suggest that there had been any pressure on the Prime Minister to displace Mr. Hore- Belisha and that the Prime Minister had been faced with displacing Mr. Hore-Belisha or receiving resignations from high military Army officers.

Emphasising his prerogativa In Cabinet appointments. Mr. Cham- berlain said that he did not, pro- pose to give detailed reasons for Mr.

Hore - Bellsha's · replacement. "I had become aware of the dif. ficulties arising out of the very great qualities of Mr. Hore- Bellaha, with which in view, made It desirable that a change should occur..

Passing on to a review of the War, Mr. Chamberlain said that export licences were being granted for war material needed by Finland and the amounts - involved were substantial.

"During the last few weeks have been horrified by the calculate brutality Involved in the enemy alr attacks on unarmed, unescorted traw- lers."

Referring, to the Far East, Mr. Chamberlain said that the situation continued to be dominated by the hostilities between China and Japan.

JAPANESE STEPS

we

He had never heard of any ser- lous differences between Mr. Hore-Belisha and the Army Council and did not belleve any existed. "I can state definitely that no con- sideration ever entered my head in connection with the change which I thought it my duty to make."

SCANDALOUS ASPERSION

been

"My consciousness of the difficulties to which I have alluded have pointed to another conclusion.

INTERESTS OF COUNTRY "I had to make up my mind which course would best serve the interests of the country, in the exercise of my judgment. I came to the conclusion for which I take the fullest respon- sibility."

Mr. Chamberlain appreciated the tone and spirit of Mr. Hore-

Bellaha's statement,

putting be. fore all consideration one object, namely that of service to country for the purpose of winning the

The story that pressure had put upon him from outside by military officers or by their friends to displace Mr. Hore-Bellsha was an invention from beginning to end (cheers). It was not complimentary to him to sug- gest that he would have, allowed h!m- self to be influenced by pressure of such an improper character, “but it is- a scandalous aspersion upon respon- sible officers who cannot speak for themselves (cheers) to suggest that they would have so far forgotten their "I knew he was anxious to make duty, especially in wartime, as to con- his contribution towards that object template any action of the kind I have and I trust it may not be long before described."

he finds an opportunity to do so."--- Reuter.

Mr. Chamberlain said that 'no serving officer had at any time

war.

UNITY

ha

London, To-day. Speaking on Franco-Bri- tish co-operation in the Com- mons yesterday, the Premier said that in the field of sup- ply, the closest co-operation existed between the depart- ments concerned in this country and those of France. The machinery provided, among other things, for the preparation in common of programmes of imports, and thus enabled the material re- sources of the two countries to be used to the best advantage in the pro- secution of the war.

As the result of the financial agree- ment, unity of action of the two coun- tries and been made complete.

"Indeed, it is our hope, as I have stat- ed elsewhere, that the system of colla- boration which had been thus evolved may, in time, lead to closer relations in the economic and financial sphere between the nations of Europe, and of the world, and so facilitate the work of peaceful reconstruction to which we look forward on the successful ter- mination of the war."-British Wire- less.

HOLIDAY FOR MR. GODFREY PHILLIPS

(8pecial to the “China Mall,” from

Our Own Correspondent);

SHANGHAI, TO-DAY. MR. GODFREY ́` PHILLIPS, SE- CRETARY-GENERAL OF THE SHANGHAI "MUNICIPAL COUNCIL, WHO HAS BEEN HARD AT WORK

ANTI-RED ́BILL PASSES SINCE THE ATTEMPT TO ASSAS-

ever said one word to him incon- sistent with his loyalty to his

THE CHAMBER": ministerial chief, and so far from putting pressure on him, no officer

(SPECIAL TO "CHINA_MAIL") 'had ever discussed with him any

Paris, To-day. change in the Secretariat for War. "Every Prime Minister must from

The Chamber of Deputies has pass- time to time review the allocation of ed, after a heated debate by 521 votes offices among his various colleagues to 2, a bill excluding from and consider whether the allocation semblies the representatives of still remains the best that can

dissolved political parties- be effected. But especially in wartime it munists.Havas. Government should work with maxi- is essential that the machinery of the

mum efficiency. (cheers) and mini- mum friction.

SINATE HIM LAST WEEK, IS LEAVING ON BOARD THE ITALIAN LINER CONTE VERDE, BOUND FOR HONG KONG AND SINGA- PORE ON A HOLIDAY.

It will be recalled that on January as-6, three men, believed to be Chinese, the blazed away at his car with Mauser Com- pistols from close range in Avenue "While there was as yet no definite

Haig. All miles missed both Mr. indication that might warrant any

Phillips and chauffeur, although optimistic forecast of 'a peaceful settle

the car was perforated " 63 CIVILIAN VICTIMS

in

several ment in the near future, we have

places.Our Own Correspondent. welcomed the recent action by the

OF AIR RAIDS Japanese Government in the direction

Helsinki; To-day. Chickens to the value of $25 were of relaxing some restrictions · which

Sixty-three civilians were injured stolen from No. 24, Broadwood Road, from time to time caused difficulty. If the Prime Minister thinks a In Soviet bombing raids yesterday- yesterday. “They belonged to Mr. L. and tension in relation to third powers. I change is desirable he must also con- | Reuter.

Decker..

DISTASTEFUL DUTY