It soon became clear from the speeches of Mr. Attlee
and Sir Archibald Sinclair that the Opposition parties were not prepared to raise a Parliamentary storm over the War Minister's resignation. Had it been otherwise, Mr. Cham- berlain's explanation must have been the subject of a great deal of hostile criticism. On the whole, his relitions with the House of Commons have been happier sin& the war began than was the case before; an improvement which is mainly due to the fact that he has taken the House far more into his confidence. But on this occasion his reply was inadequate. While he could scarcely have been ex- pected to go into minute detail, it was hardly sufficient merely to remark that he had become aware of "difficulties arising out of the very great qualities" of his former Sec- retary of State. There is, of course, no doubt as to the constitutional position. The Prime Minister of the day is entitled to choose his fellow-Ministers. But, as Sir Richard Acland cogently argued, the change at the War Office is the concern of the whole country, and this economy of informa- tion adds to the prevalent feeling that the public is kept un- necessarily in the dark regarding the conduct of thc war.
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