THE BRITISH CABINET.

Evening Star, Issue 22347, 25 May 1936, Page 8

THE BRITISH CABINET.

Mn. J. H. Thomas's resignation from the Cabinet will be a loss to Mr Baldwin on more than personal grounds. The resignation was inevitable, irrespective of what the finding may be of the tribunal which has been inquiring into the apparent leakage of certain Budget information, in connection with which Mr Thomas's name has been involved. 'The discretion of a Minister, to put the matter in its lightest bearing, must be beyond all question, and Air Thomas's continuance in the Cabinet could only have embarrassed it at the present stage. At the same time his absence from it has a disadvantage in diminishing yet further that “ National ” significance of the Government which was faint enough before. Of the Labour Ministers, regarded as “off-siders” by the majority of their party, who have assisted it to claim the wider character so helpful to public prestige, Mr Thomas probably incurred less resentment than others in the eyes of his former companions by his joining with the Labour Government in the crisis of five years ago. His imperturbable good humour must have made it difficult for anyone to remain long on bad terms with “ Jimmy,” and his services as an industrial leader were incontestable. It was not considered, however, that his discussions with Mr Do Valera when he was Minister of the Dominions were conducted with any particular address, and a great many Conservatives thought that Mr Thomas could be too much the “ playboy ” of the Cabinet. In effect, it is a Conservative Government and the Conservative party that rule at Home, and the party has its own troubles, which are not least the troubles of Mr Baldwin. It was divided over sanctions; there is division between its younger and older blood. The Imperial Policy Group, formed of younger members, opposed sanctions, we are told, because of the fear that if the League found itself involved in war with Italy Germany might take advantage of the opportunity to make war for her own ends, and the League would he unable to deal with two aggressors. It urged that point of view in public and private, and, joined with the attitude of France, the fear certainly formed a strong deterrent against pressing for more sanctions than were imposed. The French attitude becomes incomprehensible when we read to-day that, at a dinner given by the French Legation staff at Addis Ababa in honour of the Italian officers, the Minister representing France, after ordering the legation’s band to play the Fascist hymn as well as the Marseillaise, made a speech expressing sympathy with the King of Italy, Mussolini, and the Italian army. According to the report which comes from Rome, he said they had brought order and civilisation, and would bring prosperity to the peoples of Abyssinia. It is an unbalanced world in which the British Government has done its best to work for order and stability, and Air Baldwin has some cause to feel the loss of a colleague who had worked loyally with it “ through five strenuous years.’’ The Prime Min-

ister, no doubt, would be glad to lay down bis responsibilities and retire to the farm ho loves, bub the election of only six months ago was won more by his prestige than by any other personal influence, and the trials that lie ahead of him he will doubtless face with that philosophy which is part of his attraction.