THE WAR CABINET.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 139, 13 May 1940, Page 6

THE WAR CABINET.

Mil Churchill has been quick to announce his War Cabinet. It consists of five members as against the nine who comprised Mr Chamberlain’s. The late Prime Minister has been inclxtded by Mr Chur,chill and the other members are Mr Attlee/ Lord Halifax, and Mr Arthur Greenwood. In addition the three Defence Ministers have been named—Mr Alexander as First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr Eden as Secretary for War, and Sir Archibald Sinclair as Air Minister. But though Sir Archibald Sinclair is not in the War Cabinet, as Leader of the Liberals he will be taken into consultation on important questions arising from its deliberations. The remainder of. the Cabinet are announced to-day, the important post of Chancellor of the Exchequer being taken by Sir Eingsley Wood. It is pleasing now to know that the ranks in Britain have been definitely closed, the House of Commons is no longer divided, and the War Cabinet has the blessing of all the critics. Its reduction to a smaller personnel meets the criticism made in the House during the Norwegian withdrawal debate. To overcome any difficulty, arising from the Defence Ministers not being included, Mr Churchill has assumed the post of Minister of Defence. From the very moment following the outbreak of war when Mr Chamberlain called him to the Admiralty,'Mr Churchill has been a driving force against the Nazis, an inspiration to the nation, and an example of leadership. In the words of a critic he lias the qualities to make his arduous task glorious. In this great national crisis Britain has found a new leader and closed her divided ranks with such smoothness and speed as must be the despair of her enemies. Whatever satisfaction the Nazis had of witnessing the sharp divisions in the House of Commons over the Norwegian affair has been promptly destroyed by the events at the week-end.