WHY HE RESIGNED

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20500, 17 May 1938, Page 7

WHY HE RESIGNED

VISCOUNT SWINTON EXPLAINS SEAT IN HOUSE OF LORDS AIR PROGRAMME WELL ADVANCED (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received May 17, 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, May 16 In a letter conveying his resignation to the Prime Minister, which has been made public along with the latter’s reply, Viscount Swinton speaks of his

long realisation of the political difficulty of a Minister in charge of a great spending department being in the House of Lords, and of his requests, more than once renewed, to Mr Chamberlain to say whether, in these circumstances, lie felt he ought to make a change. He refers to the Prime Minister having. in reply, expressed a strong desire that his work at the Air Ministry should not be interrupted. lie then expresses the opinion that, the stage had been reached when the disadvantages of interruption are less, and when his resignation need cause no interruption and delay since the plans made already provide for a new expansion. “ When the earlier expansion programme on which we had been working was undertaken.'’ said Viscouftt Swinton. “ the Air Ministry planned an extension of factories and the erection of new factories on a scale which would not only discharge this programme but would also cope with a largely-increased programme if that training facilities within I ho service, had been increased to ileal with the great numbers of pilots and airmen entered up to the present and additional schools were being provided. Acceleration of Programme It was. therefore, possible so soon as tlm Government look its decision to accelerate and increase the existing programme to give immediate effect to that derision. Practically the whole of the orders of aircraft l'or Die new cx- ” The personnel requirements of the Royal Air Force over the next two years have, been fully worked out. as have the training arrangements for this large intake of pilots and airmen and boys.” % Viscount Swinton says ho is content to leave the judgment of his work at the Air Ministry until a later date, In the light of fuller .knowledge. “ What does matter is the execution of the air programme and the maintenance of public confidence.” he said, “and I cannot help feeling that in the actual circumstances of the moment I can help these ends and help you best by putting you in a position where any personal criticism of myself may no longer prejudice tlie full achievement of what we have tried to tlo together. I would therefore ask you to accept my resignation. I shall always he deeplv grateful lo you for all your Help.’’ Mr Chamberlain’s Reply Mr Chamberlain, in reply, speaks of the deep impression made on him by the prodigious expansion of the Royal

Air Force and of the country's capacity to produce aircraft engines, equipment and trained personnel, which Viscount Swinton had created by his business 'ability and the complete devotion of his time and thought to his task. He continues: "‘While the responsibility for the administration was mainly yours the programme was from time to time determined by the Cabinet as a whole. Recently the Cabinet came to a decision that the programme already approved ought to be considerably accelerated, and it is as a result of this that the new plans so recently described by you and Earl Winterton have been put Into operation. “ It Is only fair to you to say that that acceleration could not have started as It has done If you had not prepared In advance the plans necessary to carry It out, and this applies to all branches of your work.

Mr Chamberlain explains the regret with which he feels bound to recognise the force of the points made by Viscount Swinton regarding the disadvantages of an Air Minister being in the House of Lords, and in accepting his resignation says he wishes he had him in the Cabinet in another post. “ But you have asked me to release you altogether, and ! feel that I cannot press you further,” he concluded.