Evening star., 1939-09-10

A. P. and Wide World Photos.
the foreign secretaryship because of vio-
lent disagreement with Prime Minister
Chamberlain and the so-called pro-
German" group in the cabinet, respect
ing Britain's relations with the Reich,
Italy and Central Europe. Eden OBJ
jected to any plan involving indiscrimi-
nate submission to Germany. 1t was the
time the Reich was planning anschluss of
Austria. Eden's policy of mo blackmail'
found itself in irreconcilable antagonism
to the Chamberlain cabinet majority,
which favored a four-powe pact with
Hitler, even at the price of further con-
cessions to him.
The foreign secretary had previously
differed bitterly with the Prime Minister
in the matter of Mussolinis threats in
the Mediterranean, in the trail of sane
tions, which Eden vigorously espoused at
Geneva. and other controversies Incl
dental to Italian aggression in Ethiopia.
The cabinet crisis ended with Eden's
resignation, though he never at any time,
as a private member of Parliament,
yielded to entreaties Of friends and party
comrades to launch Conservative revolt
against the Prime Minister.
Eden's Prophecy.
Munich, of course, vindicated Eden
just as it justified Churchill. In
speech in the Parliament after the sac
rifice of Czecho-Slovakia on the altar of
"appeasement," Eden closed a dispas-
sionate address in these prophetic words:
1t must be evident to the House
that there is difference of view as
to whether the events of the last few
days constitute the beginning of bet
ter things or whether they only give
us a breathing space. perhaps six
months ahead, before the next crisis
is upon us. I should like very much
to take more optimistic view, but
this year we have had many opti-
mistic forecasts and they have all
been falsified.
Churchill and Eden rank as potential
future Prime Ministers of Great Britain,
possibly as the heads of a national coali-
ton government, if the war is prolonged
horses in midstream. There is ample
evidence that the Empire on which the
sun never sets, would feel itself in good
hands if either Winston" or Young
Anthony were at No. 10 Downing Street.
Perhaps the next most interesting
figure in the British war cabinet is that
third electric personality, youthful Leslie
Hore-Belisha, secretary of state for war.
Barrister by profession. graduate of the
Sorbonne, Heidelberg and oxford, the
ebullient former minister of transport,
who revolutionized traffic regulation in
the world metropolis with the famed
"Belisha beacons," is Jew who is cred
tied with a Disraeli complex Like all
men who climb the political ladder at an
early age, and are blossed-or afflicted
with what Whistler called "the gentle
art of making enemies" HoreBelisha
does not command universal popularity,
but even his critics admit he has done a
highly efficient condition in which the
British Army now takes the field is the
result OF reforms undertaken by the effer-
vescent lawyer-statesman, just turned
49, The rejuvenation of the Army S
corps of officers is one of Hore-Belisha's S
outstanding achievements Viscount
Gort, commander in chief, and Gen.
Ironside. who commands the overseas
forces which will operate with the French,
were Hore- -Belisha selections To the Sec
retary of war credit goes too, for max
ing army life more attractive and COM
Portable for Tommy Atkins.
Halifax Prefers Cancellation.
In Foreign Secretary Lord Halifax Mr.
Chamberlain has an old friend and time
tried supporter of the peace-via- appease-
ment program. Coming to Downing
Street after creditable career as Viceroy
of India, during which he paved the way
to the dominion constitutional status
which India now enjoys. Lord Hall
fax's influence is always on the side OF
conciliation and moderation, though he
has come around full circle, as Mr..
Chamberlain himself has done, to the
realization that Hitlers word is no
longer to be trusted and that Britain's S
sole alternative now is to finish the
situation as the "P. NJ" so tersely put
it in his immortal broadcast from the
cabinet. room on Sunday last. Halifax is
held by many Englishmen to be the most
likely head of national government II
wartime conditions induce the 72-year-
old Chamberlain to leave the heavy task
of leadership to younger hands.
In Chancellor of the Exchequer Sir
John Simon and Lord Privy Seal Sir
Samuel Hoare, the war cabinet contains
seasoned politicians of established 10y
atty to Mr.. Chamberlain and now pledged
like him, to relentless prosecution Of the
war which Hitler precipitated. Air Min
lister, Sir Kingsley Wood and Minister