Evening star., 1940-05-09

(Story on Page AID
"A. P. Photo.
feeling widely held earlier in the
day that he was likely to resign at
once.
Sources who had inclined to that
view said the only alternative to i'm
mediate resignation was drastic re-
construction-and they did not be-
lieve it possible for him to achieve
the latter.
Commenting on the governmental
situation, the political correspondent
of the well-informed Star said it was
generally expected" that Mr.. Cham
berlain would see King George. tell
him he was unable to reconstitute
his ministry and to advise the King
to ask Lord Halifax or Winston
Churchill to form a new govern
ment.
The Star said it was possible"
that Mr. Chamberlain would suggest
that Mr.. Attlee, as head of the next
largest party, Labor, might be asked
to form a cabinet, but added that it
was doubtful" that Mr. Attlee could
succeed in the present state of the
parties.
About 100 of Mr.. Chamberlain's
sympathizers were gathered in
Downing street this morning when
he left No. 10 for Commons. They
cheered the Prime Minister and he
smiled and raised his hat in reply.
Cabinet Changes Urged by Tories.
Tory hackers of the Prime Min
lister, shaken by the swing of public
opinion against his war leadership
and the narrownesS of last nights
vote of confidence, entreated him to
rebuild his cabinet quickly lest he
be compelled to resign.
Actually, the vote was on molten
for adjournment. A group of Con-
servative critics of the government
moved, however, to advance the date
for reconvening to May IA Mr..
Chamberlain made the question one
of confidence when Laborites de.
manded a division.
In political circles the belief was
held today that Mr.. Chamberlain
would invite Laborites and Liberals
to join in a coalition government.
The Labor party is expected to
consider the question of taking part
in the government at its convention
Monday.
Churchill Credited.
Pugnacious Winston Churchill,
First Lord of the Admiralty, who
gave pledge of loyalty when he
entered the cabinet last fall, was
credited with saving the Chamber
lain government from a worse show
ing by accepting full responsibility"
for the decision against attempting
to force Trondheim Fjord with Brit
ish warships during the ill-starred
allied campaign in Central Norway.
Members Of Parliament, whipped
to fever pitch by the biting attack
of Lloyd George, who demanded that
Mr.. Chamberlain quit, cooled slight
ly when Mr.. Churchill told them
solemnly that Germany's numerical
superiority in airplanes caused the
allied setback in Norway.
Mr.. Churchills oratory failed,
however, to quell a storm of boos
and shouts of "Resign!" which came
from opposition stands when the
71-year-old Chamberlain, tired and
pale, stalked from Commons.
Mr.. Churchill himself drew the
wrath of Labor members during an
angry exchange in which he called
heckler a "skuller."
The explanation made by Mr..
Churchill of the decision against a
frontal naval move on Trondheim
failed to satisfy Admiral of the Fleet
Sir Roger Keyes, who charged on
the first day of debate that the
government, showing shocking in
epitude" in the war, failed to make
proper use of warships in the Nor
wegian campaign.
Sir Roger voted with 43 other Con-
servative members of Parliament
against the government.
Avoided Churchill Debate.
Mr.. Churchill told the House that
if the Trondheim naval attack had
been made Sir. Roger would have
been chosen to lead it.
Sir Roger, who had put on his ad-
mirals uniform and pinned all his
World War medals on his chest at
his wife's suggestion so he could
catch the speakers eye to make a
speech Tuesday night. explained to
newspapermen that he was not
"nimble" enough to tackle Mr..
Churchill In the final debate.
Government critics were decla rinc