THE CONSERVATIVE LEADER

Evening Star, Issue 18281, 22 May 1923, Page 7

THE CONSERVATIVE LEADER

BOHAR LAW'S RETIREMEHT.

CHARACTER PREDOMINANT.

A CHORUS OF PRAISE,

Press Association—By Telegraph—’Copyright.

LONDON, May 21. Lord Baaverbrook, who spent the last fortnight with Mr Bonar Law, says that the ex-Prime Minister meant to recover and hold on, but he never contemplated a period like the Earl of Chatham s last Administration, in which the Prime Minister reigned but did not govern. *' When I joined Mr Eonar Law at Aix-les-Bains," said Lord Beaverbrook, “the will to rooovor was still there, but the effort had resulted in a retrograde movement. His throat was worse instead of better. We delayed for some days, hoping that the beautiful climate of Aix-les-Bains would do him good; but finally we had to go to Paris. Directly _Mr Bonar Law heard the doctors’ verdict he was firm in his determination to retire. His supreme gift of character did net fail him. He felt that it would he unfair to the nation to hold such a great position when his body was exhausted. In the Coalition Government Mr Bonar Law did n-ood work. His sanity the irregular impulses of a brilliant, erratic genius, but he worked in obscurity. Ihe Coalition was doomed when ill-health compelled him to retire. His dominating quality was judgment. The magic_ which enabled him to succeed lay in his coot brain and his honest heart. A. ana N.Z, Cable. . „ , Mr Bonar Law’s supporters m Centra! Glasgow do not expect him to resign his scat °in the House of Commons. Though there was much speculation during the week-end regarding Mr Bonar Law’s health, his actual resignation came with dramatic and unexpected suddenness. Sir Frederick Sykes (his son-in-law) and Colonel Waterhouse (private secretary) carried Mr Bonar Law a letter of resignation to the King at Aldershot. Speculation in the _ politicali dubs was chiefly concerned with the likelihood oi Inrcl Curzon inviting the Coalition Unionists to return to the Conservative fold; but the general impression is-that tns inclusion of Mr Chamberlain Sir Robert Home, and Lord Birkenhead m the reformed Cabinet is remote. —A. and JN.A. Oaible. ___________ SPECULATIONS REGARDING FUTURE. LONDON, May 21. The King and Queen are spending a week at Aldershot, and are to return to London on Friday; but the King is only an hour’s drive from the city in the event of a crisis necessitating his presence at Buckingham Palace. _ , A ‘Court Circular,’dated from the Royal Pavilion at Aldershot, states that the King received a letter from Mr Bonar Law in which the latter, on the urgent recommendation of his medical advisers, tendered his resignation. The ‘ Circular adds that the King received the communication with the deepest regret. The clubs were buzzing with rumors and speculations all day. Many members of the House of Commons have altered their holiday arrangements in order to remain in town, and others hurriedly returned from the country and the seaside, these including Mr Stanley Baldwin, who spent the day in town and then went to Chequers Court. . Mr Bonar Law did not nominate to successor. This is not the practice when it is a case of direct succession within_ a party. The King then uses his own discretion. Another feature of the crisis is that the Ministers appointed in connection with the change will not require to risk byelections, as the nine months since the General Election do not expire until August. During recent weeks there nave been several efforts to heal the breach with the Coalition Unionist Ministers. Within the past fortnight Sir Robert Homo was invited to join the Government; but he has acquired vast business commitments. Moreover, Sir Robert Horne considers that all Unionist ex-Ministers should stand together. The chief difficulty of reunion is Lord Birkenhead, whose recent speeches angered many Unionists. —A. and N.Z. Cable. PRESS TRIBUTES. LONDON, May 21. The newspapers, regardless of party, pay a tribute to the character and popularity of the retiring Prime Minister. The ‘Dailv Telegraph,’ after recalling Mr Bonar Law’s sagacity and simple, honest character, says; “ The_ future of the Conservative Party is inseparably bound up with the succession tq the Premiersbip. Somo of tho troubles of tho present Cabinet are directly due to the lack of unity within tho party Tanks. Whoever is chosen as the new Prime Minister should make it his prime duty to strengthen tho Administration by the inclusion of tho distin gushed Conservative leaders who are still outside; otherwise wo shall soon have a Labor-Socialist Government with its policy of rank spohation.” Tho ‘Morning Post’ says i The King' and the country will lose a Minister who can ill he spared, and one whom it will be difficult to replace. Mr Bonar Law had the instinct of caution,_ and withal a pawkiness of statement which made his strength in the councils of the State.” The ‘ Morning Post ’ considers Mr Stanley Baldwin the best man to succeed him. The ‘ Daily Chronicle ’ says : “Mr Bonar Law’s Illness and resignation create greater sympa thy because he never aroused the least personal animosity. He is one of the best loved men in Great Britain’s political record. He owes his success to his moral worth. His record_ in public life assures him an honored niche in the temple of fame.” The ‘ Westminster Gazette ’ regards the Prime Minister’s resignation as a serious disaster, and adds: “A Government which has confidence in itself is much needed. Mr Bonar Law’s retirement reveals tho poverty of Conservatism.” The ‘ Daily Herald ’ (Labor) says ; “ We have all learned to respect the exPrime Minister’s sterling qualities of honesty, courage, and devotion to duty, which every man values in an opponent. For a time the tail will wag the dog. Then the nation will turn to Labor,” — A. and N.Z. Cable, LABOR LEADER’S REGRETS. LONDON, May 21. Mr Ramsay MacDonald said i “ The resignation conies as a very great shock and surprise. My first- thought Is one of sorrow for Mr Bonar Law’s serious condition. In recent months T have come to regard him with real affection. The omy thing I caro about for tho moment is the personal aspect.”—A. and N.Z. Cable. FEELING IN FRANCE. PARIS, May 21. Tho news of Mr Bonar Law’s resignation is remitted in official circles. His honesty of purpose and loyalty to the Entente were never questioned. The Frenchmen have never forgotten that Mr Bonar Law in August, 1914, thrilled Franco with his timely assurance of England’s sympathy and help,—A. and N.Z. Gable.

LORD DERBY’S AMBITION. 0£ Lord Derby, who has' been mentioned as a possible successor to Mr Eonar Law, a political correspondent wrote some time ago : “It is now abundantly clear that Lord Derby has political ambition. In 1911, when he was distributing prizes at a technical school in Nelson, he told tho boys how important it was to have an aim in life. He himself had started with two ambitions—to win the Derby and l>o Prime Minister. Lord Rosebery said it before him, but it was not the less true on that account. He had run second in the Derby, and he had been Lord Mayor of Liverpool so far, but he told them he had not done trying for

the others yet. It is a Lancashire habit when you want to say a thing without committing yourself to it, to say it jestingly. To take those observations literally is not quite playing tho game. Still there are many things more unlikely than that Lord Derby is still hopeful of winning tho Derby, and even of becoming Prime Minister.”

Lord Derby won respect in tho war years by his valiant attempt to develop voluntary recruiting so that there should be no necessity _ for conscription, which, apart from prejudice, he believed to be the best system. From 1918 to 1920 he was Ambassador to France.

Writing on April 12, our London correspondent says : —Outwardly Mr Bonar Law was looking all the hotter for his Torquay trip when Parliament met this week, but the House was quite shocked at the weakness of his voice. He is not as husky as he was, but he had much difficulty in making himself heard. It will occasion no surprise if, after the introduction of the Budget, the Prime Minister is advised to take a few weeks’ holiday, It is a subject of constant comment in the political clubs that Mr Law has to hear far too much of tho burden of debate in Parliament. But though the Treasury Bench is very weak m this respect, Mr .Baldwin is a host in himself, and from what I know of him tno Oiiaucellor of the Exchequer would thoroughly enjoy leading the House for a spell