BRITISH CABINET

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24422, 7 October 1940, Page 8

BRITISH CABINET

APPROVAL OF RESHUFFLE CHANGING NEEDS OF WAR MR MORRISON’S NEW TASK (British Official Wireless) (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) RUGBY, Oct. 4. ’ The press generally approves the Cabinet changes. The Daily Telegraph says: “Mr Churchill clearly had in mind the necessity for watchful adjustment to the changing needs of war and the value of reinforcing the Government- with ;fresb minds.” The changes are also valued as a further example of the advantages a democracy enjoys in the conduct of war in being able to make such chariges in personnel of the Government as- conditions require without danger of discrediting the Government as a whole. The Daily Herald points out that public confidence in the main structure of the Government is unshaken. Tributes to Mr Chamberlain Mr Chamberlain’s retirement is the occasion for tributes to his long services (q. the State. The Daily Telegraph says no lure of ambition and no self-seeking ever sullied his actiofts. ' The entire press unites in recognition of Mr Chamberlain’s sinqerity. •The Times, dealing with past controversies over his foreign policy, says: “ There is strong and irrefutable defence for the actions he took in a situation not of his braking, but inherited from a decade.of international failure.” The Manchester Guardian says: “ Whatever we may .think about Mr Chamberlain’s tragic miscalculations of policy, there is no man who desired more passionately that we win this war.” V Mr Ernest Bevin’s promotion to the War Cabinet is welcomed on all sides. Another appointment particularly welcomed is that of Viscount Cranbourne to the Dominions Office. Mr Herbert Morrison’s appointment to the Home Office and Ministry of Home Security has been described as inspiring confidence that the problems of bombed civilians and their homes will be energetically tackled. Mr Morrison’s Appointment Mr Morrison’s appointment finds favour in his “ home town.” Mr Morrison is a Cockney, born and bred. His great organising abilities were revealed as Labour leader of the London County Council. The people of London trust him and think of him as one of themselves. In this crisis in their history he is the man to understand, their needs. ;

> Hardly less important in the long view are the implications of his appoiritment in .other aspects of security against Fifth Column activities. Mr Morrison’s appointment is a guarantee that no: security measures will be allowed to endanger basic civil political liberties, preservation of which is one of the chief issues of the war. Any suspicion which may have existed in certain quarters in the past that the Government in search ‘of enemies of the State, might discriminate unjustly against the Left, whilst turn-; ing a blind eye to prominent Nazi sympathisers on the Right, can now be completely dismissed.