THE PRIME MINISTER

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 105, 30 October 1931, Page 7

THE PRIME MINISTER

AUDIENCE WITH KING

HINT OF CABINET CHANGES

(British Official Wireless.) (Received 30th October, 11 a.m.) EUGBY, 29th October. The Prime Minister visited Buckingham • Palace this morning and had au audience of the King, which lasted 50 minutes. Mr. Mac Donald then returned to Downing street, whero a great accumulation of State affairs awaits his attention. Lord' Sankey and Sir Willjam Jowitt were awaiting his return to discuss questions connected with the business of the Indian Bound Table Conference, where important developments are now proceeding. In the afternoon the Prime Minister presided over a meeting of.Cabinet. It is anticipated that Cabinet will be enlarged and that Conservatives will be given a larger proportion of Ministerial posts than at present. The most important appointment to be made is the successor to Mr. Philip Snowden as Chancellor- of the Exchequer, a position he must relinquish on retiring from the House of Com-i mons. It is. generally assumed that Mr. Snowden will go to the House of Lords, and therefore it is possible ho will remain a member of tho Government in another capacity. Tho name of Mr. Nevillo Chamberlain is mentioned as his probable successor at the Treasury. • Sir John Simon, who gave a strong lead to tho/Liberals in support of the National Government,, and Lord Hailsham, former' Conservative; Lord Chancellor, are expected to join the Cabinet among others. : ■ COMMENT IN THE PRESS. , "The Times" says' that* the unquestionable -. facts : that , emerge are the power .of the British people to grasp economic, truths/ and the;proof that is to bo. found in abundance is that it is a national and not a party victory. It congratulates the Government oh being unfettered by,'.impossible promises. "If only the national spirit can be preserved, the nation and Empire will be given such a chance as most people deemed impossible in mid-Sep-tember. •; ' The Labour journal, ''Daily Herald" says that Labour has had what the Duke of Wellington called a "darned good hiding" and, if it is to turn the. present defeat into future victory, it has to learn its lessons and begin at once to retrieve this disaster. When its next chance comes, Labour must be ready not merely to win! power, but ready for'the task that follows. The "Herald" also points out that, although1 the party has under 60 seats, it polled 6,000,000 votes; and says it is not good that such a large body of opinion should be so represented in Parliament. . '. .■'■'.' ' ' ')! ■' The "News Chronicle" says that the people were exasperated at the spectacle of tho Labour Party boing driven at the dictates of the Trade Union Council to advocate measures which many'of them, knew to be impracticable. The "Daily Mail" describes tho election as a great patriotic vote for Britain, and says that the repudiation of class war, by, the whole nation has in it something which stirs the blood and moves the heart. The "Daily; Telegraph" describes the result as a triumph for free democracy, which, has given to the cause of sane government and sound finance a victory-without precedent in the history of any country. : , NATIONAL NOT PABTY. ' The "Morning Post" says that it is no party verdict, but is national in scope and intention. It presents handsomely what the Prime Minister requested—a free hand, and it shows that the country agrees to accept such .fiscal measures as the Government may find necessary to improve industry and agriculture and redress the trade balance. The "Manchester Guardian" refuses to accept at their face value declarations that this will be regarded as a national and not a party victory. Sir Herbert Samuel attributes .the extraordinary collapse of Labour to a revolt against the domination of trade unions, but, says the "Guardian," Labour has probably reaped tho harvest of two'years of ineffectual Government and popular disillusionment of its capacity to govern with courage and decision. • '.