THE NEXT STEP

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 128, 4 June 1929, Page 9

THE NEXT STEP

TO SEE THE RIN&

BALDWIN AND MACDONALD

Australian Press Association. . (Received 4th Juno, 1 p.m.)

LONDON, 3rd June.

Mr. Baldwin's decision^to resign was announced to-night, following a meeting at Downing Street, attended by all members of the Cabinet except Earl Balfour. It was simply stated that Mr. Baldwin intended to see His Majesty at Windsor to-morrow to tender the resignation of the Ministry, but it is noteworthy that almost immediately afterwards the lobbyists reported it as Mr. Baldwin's and not the Cabinet's decision, a decision which .he is stated to have reached at Chequers at the weekend; He informed Ministers of it. in tho afternoon,, when he gave reasons.

The'first consequence was that Sir Austen Chamberlain cancelled his arrangements to leave for Madrid to-mor-row to attend tho . meeting of the League of Nations Council, which is being held in Spain in accordance with the arrangement made complimentaTily when Spain returned to membership of the. League. It is .'understood that the King is strong, enough to receive Mr. Baldwin. He expects to; emphasise that progress is slow and changes;iJnust be slight and not marked. His Majesty will see Mr. Mac Donald .after Mr. Baldwin to-mor-row.. 1-- ;' ; ■ .."" /';; ■": ■■■'".'■■ ■--

The elearing-up of the political atmosphere is reflected in the stock markets, which recovered sharply to-day from the dullness attending the indecision last; week. ■■;■■" ■"■;""''.

pects of doing so. But if Mr. Baldwin remains it will make co-operation between the Socialists and the Liberals a greater reality than now. The "Express" understands that Mr. Lloyd George has come to tho conclusion that the Liberals should not support Mr. Baldwin in the event of "there being a vote of censure; also that the Conservatives are divided among themselves, though a majority is in favour of facing the House.

The '' Daily Telegraph says :■ '' Constitutional usage and expediency alike demand that Mr. Baldwin should reconstruct his Ministry and meet the House with a programme of progressive, non-controvorsial measures common to all parties, leaving tho responsibility of defeating it and forcing another early election to his opponents." The "Daily Mail," claiming that there are thirteen million to eight million votes against Socialism, says i the Conservatives and Liberals must get together.