Evening star., 1940-01-16
By MILO M. THOMPSON,

Associated Press Foreign CORRESPONDENT.
LONDON, Jan. 16.--Prime Minis
ter Chamberlain and the man he
removed as war minister on January
S, Leslie Hore-Belisha, buried an
incipient ministerial crisis in
guarded statements before Parlia-
ment today which drew a nod Of
approval even from the opposition.
Mr. Chamberlain, declining to give
detailed reasons for the change in
the war Office, said that he had
become aware of difficulties arising
out of the very great qualities" Of
Mr.. Hore- -Belisha which in my view
made it desirable that a change
should occur"
He said no change of army policy
was anticipated.
Mr.. Hore- -Belisha, saying he knew
of mo conflict of policy with any Of
my colleagues" declared he was re
luctant to believe that high army
officers would have made repre-
sentations" that led to Mr.. Cham
berlain's decision.
Although there were scattered op-
position cries of What was the
reason?" leaders of the opposition
talked in calmer vein today of
the shakeup which last week raised
a storm of criticism.
Liberal Leader Sir Archibald
Sinclair said that the personal for
tunes of ministers from Mr.. Cham
berlain down did not matter. The
only thing that counter. he said, was
vigorous prosecution of the war"
Labor Leader Critical.
Laborite Leader Clement Attlee
asserted that the war cabinet was
organized on the wrong basis and
should not be composed of busy de-
partment ministers, but that it was
difficult for any one outside the
government to form judgment and
this was a case where the Prime
Minister must take the RESPONSE
bility.
Mr.. Chamberlain told the House
that it was pure invention" to sug-
gest that there had been pressure
on him from the army to replace
Mr.. Hore-Belisha.
Making a personal statement"
Mr.. Hore-Belisha professed a desire
"to clear those who have worked
with me of any aspersion" of knitting
him in the back with the prime min
lister.
TT did not occur to me- he de-
clared discussing his administration
of the war secretaryship, Ito con-
slider that we were making an army
too democratic to fight for a democ-
racy."
Il am reluctant to believe that
any high officers with whom I have
been associated would have been SC
unfaithful to the code which i'm
bues the whole army as to make any
representations irregularly, or that
if he had done so, it would have
been countenanced."
Refuses to Give Reasons.
Mr.. Chamberlain declined to give
detailed reasons for the change ir
the war Office, which he said was ir
his "prerogative."
Mr.. Hore e-Belisha declared he
turned down Mr.. Chamberlain's Of
fer to make him president of the
Board of Trade, a post which Mr.
Hore Belisha's successor, Oliver
Stanley, formerly occupied.
His refusal was made because ]
could not feel assurance that the
consideration which had persuaded
the Prime Minister to make the
change would allow of my energetic
discharge in the national interest
of the other Office"
Mr.. Chamberlain asserted that he
had not heard of any serious diff.
ference of opinion between Mr.
Hore-Belisha and the Army Counci
or any member of it, and that nc
serving officer at any time ever saic
one word to him which was incon-
sistent with his duty to his minis
terial chief.
1T is natural to human nature. ,
(See pARTJANfENr poCo A-cl