BRITISH CABINET

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 157, 31 March 1937, Page 11

BRITISH CABINET

Sir John Simon Chancellor

RESHUFFLE PREDICTIONS By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, March 22. Arrangements for the opening of the Imperial Conference on May 14 are being made on the understanding that the Prime Minister, Mr. Stanley Baldwin, will preside, says the political correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph.” He adds: "The Prime Ministers dinner at 10 Downing Street to the King and Queen on May 25 will be Mr. Baldwin’s last official social function before leaving office. It is expected that. Mr. Neville Chamberlain will preside at the Government dinner to the Imperial Conference delegates on June 3. Mr. Chamberlain will also assume the chairmanship of the conference, which will be one of the first duties of the head of the Government.

“It is expected that Mr. Chamberlain. in the consequential Cabinet reshuffle, will avoid making changes in the Dominions and Colonial Offices and the Board of Trade while the conference is progressing, so that the idea that Mr. Runciman will become Chancellor of the Exchequer is, therefore, considered to be ruled out. “Sir John Simon is now confidently mentioned as likely to take the Exchequer. National Liberals desire to see him as the leader of the party in a post of greater distinction than that of Home Secretary.

“Mr. Baldwin's settled plan is to relinquish both the Premiership and his seat in the House of Commons. He will go to the House of Lords.”