COLD WELCOME

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 April 1940, Page 5

COLD WELCOME

GIVEN TO CABINET CHANGES IN BRITAIN LABOUR PAPER CRITICISES MR CHAMBERLAIN. “SURFEIT OF COMPLACENCY.” LONDON, April 4. The “Daily Mail” comments on the Cabinet changes: “Mr Churchill in effect becomes Britain’s supreme Defence Minister. This is the most significant development emerging from the Cabinet changes.” “The Times,” in a leading article, says: “The Ministerial changes are not calculated, and perhaps are not intended, to arouse great enthusiasm. It looks at first sight like a game of ‘puss in the corner,’ of which the main purposes seem to be to test the capacities of various Ministers for different kinds of work and give partial respite to those showing signs of wear and tear, thus preparing for more serious Cabinet reconstruction.” The “Daily Herald” says: “Mr Chamberlain has again thrown away his chance of making full-scale reconstruction, either because of lack of imagination or a surfeit of complacency. The reshuffle resembles ‘Alice in Wonderland’ tea-party figures moving solemnly from one chair to another.”

MR. CHURCHILL FRENCH AND GERMAN VIEWS. (Received This Day, 10.35 a.m.) LONDON, April 4. The increase of Mr Winston Churchill’s influence is generally welcomed in France. A German radio message said Mr Churchill had been elevated from the post of warmonger to that of supreme warmonger. FEATURE OF INTEREST MR CHURCHILL'S NEW DUTIES. (Received This Day, 11.10 a.m.) RUGBY, April 4. ’ The Ministerial changes are regarded by the Press mainly as a rearrangement of the personnel of Cabinet rather than as an important reconstruction. The feature attracting most interest is the extension of Mr Churchill’s duties by his appointment as head of the committee of Service Ministers. The "News-Chronicle” says Mr Churchiill will stamp his personality more and more clearly upon our war strategy. The other changes are the subject, of tributes to the Ministers’ work and approval of the new appointments.