BRITAIN’S CABINET

Evening Star, Issue 22195, 25 November 1935, Page 10

BRITAIN’S CABINET

REARRANGEMENT OF PORTFOLIOS ‘ MANCHESTER GUARDIAN ’ DISSATISFIED Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright , LONDON, November 23. . The ‘ Manchester Guardian’s ’ political correspondent says: .“Nobody is surprised at Mr Thomas’s transference. Tho Dominions Secretary has to handle delicate constitutional questions. Mr Thomas has long been famous as an industrial diplomat, but his diplomacy has not proved adaptable to this, wider sphere. The same reason, however,' has caused astonishment at Mr MacDonald’s appointment. He is a capable young man, but his new office calls for more worldly experience and sophistication than 34 can or ought to have.” The ‘Guardian,’ in a leader, says: “ Mr Baldwin cannot be congratulated on the • reshuffle. He has not got rid of Mr Thomas. Indeed, Mr Baldwin has actually put him where he might do more mischief than ho has already done. Mr MacDonald, on the other hand, has been moved from a post in which he .has probably been doing fairly well to one .that may become very important in the next few months.” BULWARK OF FREEDOM THE EMPIRE’S RESPONSIBILITY. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, November 22. Mr Malcolm MacDonald made his first speech since his 'appointment to the Dominions Office when speaking at the Guildhall, London. He said: “The days seem very distant since I was one of those who was happy in the thought that our constituents held us in esteem and affection, but it is a'good thing that everyone, .even the Prime Minister, should occasionally go to his constituents and risk defeat as a sign that the master of the country is the free people of Britain.” He added: “ The Empire stands foremost as a champion in a world in which freedom is challenged. The greatest task before the Empire’s people is to maintain the freedom already established, to see that it spreads, and . that as a result it will be an example to other countries. ”• MR SKELTON'S DEATH (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, November 22. . The newspapers canvass the possibility of Mr Ramsay MacDonald or Mr Malcolm MacDonald being nominated in the event of a parliamentary vacancy being caused through the death, of Mr . Skelton. [A few hours before the closing of the poll for three representatives in the House of Commons of the Scottish Universities the retiring , Conservative, Mr Archibald Skelton, died in a nursing home. The returning officer,, said that if he received sufficient votes Mr Skelton must be declared elected, leaving Parliament to order a new election.] MR MACDONALD INTERVIEWED LONDOItf, November 24. - (Received November 25, at 10 a.m.) Tho Associated Press Association interviewed Mr Malcolm MacDonald, the youngest holder of the Dominions Secretaryship. He expressed gratitude to the New Zealand and Australian Governments for the excellent arrangements they had made for, his tour last year, enabling him to see in a comparatively short time a tremendous amount of the country and to obtain a glimpse of the great variety of dominion problems, which he would find of great advantage in the future. “ I look forward to doing anything I can in cooperation with the leaders of the dominions to deal successfully with many matters of mutual concern,” he said, Mr MacDonald declined to discuss either the Imperial Conference or the Imperial air mail scheme, pending again familiarising himself with the position.. . The department, where he begins duty on Monday, however, regarded as certain that he. must soon inaugurate preliminary discussions regarding the Ottawa agreements and conference arrangements. His parliamentary future is sjull uncertain. While there is no constitutional bar to Ins remaining temporarily in the Cabinet without a seat in the House, his position must soon be regularised. Meanwhile, Lord Stanley .will.deal with dominions. questions in the Commons. ‘ Tho Times ’ says Mr Baldwin’s selection of Mr Malcolm MacDonald for the new office at this time is a fitting rebuke to tho ill-natured critics who, during' the election campaign, insinuated that Malcolm’s first promotion to Cabinet was really his father’s act. The ‘ Dailv Telegraph,’ which regards the exchange of secretaryships as stirprising. says it is hinted that Mr MacDonald’s transfer implies renewal ot the attempt to reach an Irish settlement when the opportunity ,is iavourabk.