1940-03-01 — Page 10

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MIRROR OF WORLD

OPINION

BUSINESS AND THE

GOVERNMENT

way

not an ideal expedient, and the dis cussions of the last few weeks have shown must strengthening of support for a more radical change for the The Prime Minister badly miscal creation of a real War Cabinet, accompanied by a reorganisation or culated public feeling when he so regrouping of the outer Ministries scornfully dismissed the proposal to Those with close knowledge of the strengthen his War Cabinet by bring working of the War Cabinet system ing in, a Minister with economic in- of 1917-18 have given their backing to this concentration of final power terests. He turned no votes and, his in the hands of a small untrammelled arguments being what they were, he executive, surrounded by closely co- allaxed no outside disquiet. This is ordinated, groups of departments. We

shall

our probably find an unusual thing. When the Prime

to it when ·we have had ster and the Chancellor of the some

more. painful experiences Exchequer act together to rebut a case of Mr. Chamberlain's patchwork sys- they are generally impressive enough tem. But time presses. Highly criti- cal decisions lie ahead of us-on the to push it on one side for a time at mobilisation of man-power, on war least. The debate of February 1 had finance, on prices and wages, on the the opposite effect. The Manchester stimulation of exports, and on the de- Chamber of Commerce is a body ex- liberate restriction of civil consump- tion. The Chancellor declares that tremely well disposed towards the these are "excessively obvious and Government, and ready, often over- elementary matters" on which the ready, to accept official assurances at Cabinet has been "to a quite consider- and assisted. their face value. But in this matter able extent instructed

That may be so, but it is because it it is unrepentant, and with the Liver- has been possible for the Government pool and Lancashire. Chambers of to fumble with the "excessively Commerce it is renewing, with greater obvious and elementary" for five months that the present Cabinet ma- vigour than before, the demand for chine stands condemned. "Manches-

Minister in the War Cabinet who ter Guardian. shall be primarily, concerned with the war-tipe requirements of trade. Much the same is true of the press, which, almost without exception, had joined in the criticisms, of the Government's organisation of the economic side of the war. The papers, whether sym- pathetic or unsympathetic to the Gov- ernment, still hold to their views. Can everybody really by wrong and only Mr. Chamberlain and Sir John Simon right?

FINLAND'S FIGHT

The Finnish Command, has issued a sober, summary of Russian. lossen. Omitting many doubtful cases, it is estimated with certainty that the Red Air Force has lost 327 aeroplanes. The statement does not add that the Finns started the war with fighter aircraft to be numbered more conveniently by tens than by scores, which makes their achievement all the more brilliant. It also justifies some optimism about their prospects if reinforced by even a What gave Mr. Chamberlain his moderate number of such aircraft. dialectical advantage in the Commons Russian casualties in personnel are not debate was the lack of unity on the mentioned. The totals are of course alternatives proposed. The Labour unknown, and it is not probable, owing party did not handle its opportunity to the nature of the fighting and the well, it got bogged in questions of intense cold, that prisoners represent machinery and lost-sight of the main a large proportion of them. But the point, a point whose negative side members of the British. Labour Dele- Mr. Amery put well when he said: gation; who have just returned. from Some of us at any rate feel that we the theatre of war have convinced are still in substance living under the themselves, after careful examination same general kind of organisation as of evidence, that the Red Army's losses we were in time of peace, under an in men have been almost fantastically organisation which militates against large by comparison with those of the foresight and broad perspective, clear defence.

planning, and prompt and decisive Sir Walter Citrine, who has had execution, a system which tends not ample opportunity for forming an to act in time.

opinion, stated on his arrival in this The Manchester speeches reflected country that in his view none of the this feeling, and if the members: of claims made by the Finnish Command the chamber see the matter: primarily was exaggerated, that he had been from the angle of Lancashire's exports deeply impressed by the intelligence it is because that is the angle they and competence of the Finnish leaders, know best. Nor is their view distorted and that so far it had been possible on this account. They hope great to give the fighting troops fairly fre- things from the Export, Trade Council quent relief and repose. He also ex- (and the more because of their con pressed the view that if all the air- Adence that its secretary, Mr. Streat, craft promised to Finland from out- is one who will not co-operate with a side sources, could be sent there was window-dressing, body, without power every prospect that she would be en- and effectiveness.) Can we have con- abled to gain command of the air. He fidence in a War Cabinet dominated went on to remark, however, that the by the Services, to which the Pre rate of dispatch should be quickened. sident of the Board of Trade is only He had been told that the Finns, had admitted, when the other members a considerable number of pilots and want to take his advice, and in which ground; personnel available, so that if the head of the Treasury is the only they received the aircraft they could continuous. link with the country's fly. them. He added that they also. economic organisation?.

required heavy artillery, which is It is a demand that could be met more difficult to provide and more

still to without creating the economic dictator difficult

transport. That or superman who, Mr. Chamberlain the Finnish need is urgent, and that pretended, would overshadow his every opportunity should be seized to owny authority. It would beja simple ensure that it is epeedily met, is a re- enough matter to put the President of frain that cannot be repeated too often. the Board of Trade in the War Warfare to-day extends beyond the Cabinet, extending, of course, his boundaries of nations, the ranks of powers through readjustments in his belligerent armies, and the battlefields duties and his association with other on which they are arrayed, economic departments. There would into the realm of ideas. be no revolutionary disturbance in this A blow struck for an idea and no serious conflict with present affects us even though the arm which vested interests, Treasury and other delivers it does not belong to our This solution would probably go far forces. The Idea for which Finland is to reassure business opinion. Fossibly fighting is that of liberty, for which also it would be the change Mr. Cham- we too have taken up Farms. In this berlain could most easily, make. From sense the Finnish: campaign concerne many points of view, however, it is us very deeply, "The Times

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