BRITISH CABINET CHANGES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 181, 20 April 1918, Page 6

BRITISH CABINET CHANGES

Naturally there will _bc speculation as to the causes which have led un to the changes m'the British Cabinet announced to-day, more especially as they .involve, tho retirement of the Secretary of .State for War. It will probably be found, however, that there were good and ( sufficient reasons for tho transfer ot. Lord Derbi to another field of ac- j tfvity, and that they affoi'd noi ground for public concern. Loud 'Derby had filled the office of bocretary of State for War for nearly | eighteen months, and during that j period had been very closely and j intimately- associated at tho War I Ofrice with Snt William Robertson, Chief of Staff. "When Sin AVilliam Kobkrtson a month or two' ago relinquished the position he had held since. Loud Kitchener's death, it was on the ground that he did not regard the arrangement arrived at by the Allied Powers at the Versailles Conference early in the present year as workable. That agree-1 ment, it will bo recalled, extended j the powers of the inter-Allied War Council at Versailles and necessitated a reduction of tho authority previously exercised by the .Britisn Chief of" Staff, whose headquarters: wore in London. Lord Dbruy, who had consistently championed Sir William Hober-tsos's views on mili-tary-questions, differed from him on this issue and agreed with the Government. So keenly did Lord Derby feel the awkwardness of his position that in February last he placed his resignation in the hands of the Prime Minister, who, however, declined to Accept it._ Indications have not been lacking since that Lord .Derby, who, as head of the War Ollice, has been •subjected in recent months to a good.deal of criticism, would be glad, to relinquish the office. There is no doubt thai, ho rendered conspicuously valuable service in the later .days of voluntary recruiting and in the earlier mouths of conscription, but for some reason he latterly appears to have played a, less commanding part. His retirement, however, in order to fill an importnnt post as Ambassador Extraordinary to Franco with a .special mission suggests that, lie hns been .chosen for a role in which his experience as Secretary of State for War will be of value. It was considered necessary a few months ago that Great Britain should be represented in the United States by an Ambassador Extraordinary, one qualified by exceptional powers and experience being deemed desirable in view of the new relations established between Iho two nations by tbj war. No less a personage than the Lord Chief Justice of England, .Lord llkadixg, was chosen lo go to America; and Loud Derby's appointment to l?rancc i is in keeping with the policy which prompted the change in our diplomatic relations with the United States. It looks like a good appointment, and

no doubt it is made with important ends .in view. Loud Mu-nkji, who succeeds Loiip Deruy as Secretary of ■State for War, is nut a popular idol, but he is recognised to be a man of great administrative capacity, and thore is no doubt as to the thoroughness of his methods. _ Mi:. Chajidehlain's return to Ministerial rank and his inclusion in tlw War Cabinet is not likely to arouK any strong opposition, and he may bo"expected, to pull well with his colleagues.' He retired voluntarily from the Ministry as the result of the exposures regarding the tragic muddlcment in the earlier stages of the Mesopotamia campaign—he as tho Ministerial head of the Department felt called on to shoulder tlis responsibility of the failure of his subordinate officers. .This decision, while approved in principle, was regretted )jy his colleagues, and his recall to their ranks now will occasion little surprise.