5 JULY 1940, Page 6

Mr. Chamberlain on National Unity - A fundamental misunderstanding of

the British attitude of mind has been revealed by a few critics in America who, observing the faint-heartedness of the Petain Government in France, have wondered whether there are similarly faint-hearted elements within the Government of Great Britain,. It is a pity that the delegate conference of the National Union of Railway- men, in demanding the removal of Mr. Chamberlain, should appeared to associate itself with this view. To demand pro- scriptions now would be to destroy national unity. While the present Government is unquestionably a more effectual war Government than the last, it is strengthened and in nowise weakened by including some members of the latter, whilst Mr. Chamberlain himself, who controls a large majority of the House of Commons, is indispensable. The strength of the present administration lies in the fact that it genuinely represents all parties in politics and all dasses in the nation— it is a strong combination of Conservatism, Liberalism and Labour. Weaken any one of these and the whole fabric would be weakened. In his broadcast on the home and overseas services last Sunday Mr. Chamberlain said that to listen to idle tales about disunion in the Cabinet is to lend oneself to German propaganda and play the Nazi game. Any foreigner who supposes that Conservatism in this country is disposed to any weakening before any conceivable onslaught is ignorant of the political mentality of Great Britain. Under the inspiring leader- ship of Mr. Churchill men of every party are united for the unflinching prosecution of the war till Hitlerism is defeated.