Untitled

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 22 May 1923, Page 5

Eobert Home (who was Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Coalition) was invited to join the Government, but he has acquired vast business commit- , ments, and, moreover, he considers all the Unionist ex-Ministers should stand together. The chief difficulty of re- ■ union is Lord Birkenhead, whose recent speeches angered many Unionists. Mr Bonar Law's supporters in Central Glasgow do not expect him to resign his seat in the House of Commons. ■• Though there was much speculation i during the week-end regarding Mr ! Bonar Law's health, the actual resigna- | tion came with dramatic and unexpect- ', ed suddenness. Sir Frederick Sykes, ' his son-in-law, and Colonel Waterhouse, his private secretary, carried Mr Bonar LaAv's letter of resignation to the King t at Aldershot. I Speculation in political clubs is , chiefly concerned with the likelihood of i Lord Curzon inviting the Coalition Unionists to return to the Conservative fold, but tho general impression is that the inclusion cf Mr Chamberlain, Sir E. Home and Lord Birkenhead in a reformed Cabinet is ren.otc. Mr Ramsay Mac Donald (leader of the Labour Party) said: "The resignation comes as a very great shock and surprise. My first thought is one of sorrow for Mr Bonar Law's serious condition. In recent months I have come to regard him with real affection, and the only thing I care about for the moment is the personal aspect." PAEIS, May 21. ! The news of Mr Bonar Law's resignation is regretted in official circles. His honesty of purpose and loyalty to the Entente was never questioned. Frenchmen have never forgotten that Mr Bonar Law, in August, 1914, thrilled France with timely assurance' of Eng- ' land's sympathy and help.