The Wilmington morning star., 1940-01-06
BRITISH CABINET
IS "REORGANIZED
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of promoting younger off
GERS and overlooking older
ones-made strikingly evil
dent at the first of his adj
ministration-also were said
to have been factors that con-
tributed to his failure to "get
on" with Lord Gort, chief of
the British expeditionary
force.
Aided Lord Gort
Lord Gort was one of the younger
officers whom he had pushed to the
top over the heads of older veterans.
Nowhere, however, had this un-
dercurrent of disagreement come in
to the open. and the cabinet shift
was a surprise, all the more com
plete because the war secretary had
carried out sweeping reforms of ma.
terial and personnel of Britain's
armed forces before the outbreak of
European hostilities last September,
and then supervised the embarka,
ton of a modernized expeditionary
force for France.
British newspapers, from the au-
gust London Times to the smallest
rural daily, met Belisha's dismissal
with spirited questions concerning
Stanley's fitness and demands for
an explanation.
Under the headline, "Belisha
Sacked" a commentator of labor's
daily Herald, said:
Things are going splendidly, then
Neville (Chamberlain) started a
blitzkreig on his own. He annihilated
his secretary of state for war
Now what on earth has been going
on-behind the scenes?"
Times Praises Work
The Times, which never has been
especially friendly toward Hore-Be
lisha, praised his work and said edi
torially that a new army, thanks
largely to him -. is in a fair way
to come into existence"
The newspaper, which often re
fleets government opinion, added
however, that there is no reaso
to suppose this retirement marks the
extinction of a political career which
was distinguished by the most es
sential quality of drive"
"These changes" the Times de
clared, will not be taken as the last
word either as regards men or as
regards machinery"
The Daily Mail explained the wal
minister's removal by saying che
has not been getting on with the
generals, and he goes"
The News Chronicle gave a SINH
lar explanation.
The Express told it's $4,000
readers that "Hore-Belisha was one
of the most efficient ministers
Mr.. Oliver Stanley is a most unsat
isfactory appointment"
Raps Stanley
In an editorial, the Express accus
ed Stanley of putting the clock
back" as minister of transport, ano
said he "blundered over unemploy
ment assistance as minister of Ia
Dor.
The influential Cardiff Western
Mail, a strong supporter of the gov
eminent, said of Stanley 1--WE can
not say he has been a conspicuous
success at the board of education
and the ministry of labor, or at the
board of trade"
Lord MacMillan's ministry-of ne,
cessity organized hastily at the out
break of war-has been under fire
from the house of commons and the
press. Complaints largely were over
the effectiveness of Britain's prop
uganda and the handling of official
announcements.
In a letter accepting the resigna
ton of Hore-Belisha, Chamberlain
reaffirmed his determination to he
stern in carrying on the war, say
ing:
There is not nov and never has
been any difference between us on
policy and in particular on the ne
cessity for prosecuting the war with
the utmost QeCofnllIldIloIl 10 d sue
cessful issue"
Refuses Job
Chamberlain's letter began my
Dear Leslie" and expressed Every
great regret that Hore-Belisha re
fused the job offered him, a place
in the war cabinet as president OF
the board of trade.
Dapper Hore-Belisha had a quick
rise to fame in three years as trans
port minister, during which he in
stituted traffic standards which be
came known as Belisha Beacons.
Then on May %, 1887, he was
named war secretary and put new
zip in Britain's army.
The only time his department was