LABOUR CABINET

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 163, 11 June 1929, Page 7

LABOUR CABINET

FIRST MEETING HELD. MINISTERS TAKE OVER DUTIES. MINOR APPOINTMENTS TO BE MADE. (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Australian Press Association.) Received June 11, 10.15 a.m. LONDON, June 10. The first meeting of Cabinet was held this morning. It lasted half an hour. A talkie film was made of Mr Ramsay MacDonald introducing Mr Sidney Webb, Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs. Most of the new Ministers took over their departmental duties this morning. They will have three clear weeks before the serious work of Parliament begins. Parliament will meet on June 25tli, but the only business in the first week will be the election of the Speaker and the_swearing-in of the members. The King’s Speech will not be read, and the debate on the Address-in-Reply will not take place until a week later. There are still some 30 appointments to bo made to minor positions in the Government, and it is expected that these will be announced to-night. When this task is completed, Mr Ramsay MacDonald will bo free to leave London for a few days’ holiday at his native town—Lossiemouth—in Scotland. Arrangements are being made for extending a cordial reception to the Prime Minister on his arrival there. CONSERVATIVE VICTORIES. Two Parliamentary seats for the Combined Scottish Universities of St. Andrew’s, Glasgow. Aberdeen and Edinburgh were filled to-day by the election of Mr John Buchan and Sir George Berry (Conservatives), tjhere being no change. POLICY OF CO-OPERATION. RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA. FOREIGN SECRETARY’S STATEMENT. (British Official Wireless). Received June 11, 11.30 a.m. RUGBY, June 10. In an interview with the Daily Herald, Mr Arthur Henderson, Secretary of Stato for Foreign Affairs, referred to the Prime Minister’s statement that he intended to go to Geneva as one of tlie Govenment representatives to the League of Nations Assembly meeting. Mr Tenderson stated that both Mr MacDonald and ho himself regarded the relations with the League as one of the most essential features of their policy. “We must be not only in the League, but also of the League. Our policy will he conducted in the spirit of the League. We shall approach our problems not from tho standpoint of national strategy, but from the standpoint of international co-operation. “America is enormously important, for it is obvious that in many problems affecting the peace of tho world the United States holds the key of the situation. We shall do everything in our power to strengthen the bonds between the great English-speaking democracies.

“The other great nation outside tho League is the Soviet Union. The Labour Party’s policy is well-known, and it will be put into operation with all expedition, though, of course, negotiations will be necessary in order to put our diplomatic and our trading relations on that satisfactory basis essential both for tho sake of world peace and for economic reasons.

“Ever since my mission to Russia, in 1917, I have been personally anxious to see the .closest possible relations established" between the British and Russian peoples and no dislike of the form of Government which exists in Russia ought to influence our desire to secure the most friendly working relations. u

Regarding reparations, he said that the Government would study the Expert Committee’s report and ascertain the opinion of the other Governments concerned. Only then could they consider tlie next step.

11l reference to the Rhineland, Mr Snowden stated: “We are anxious to see all tile foreign troops withdrawn from German territory as soon as possible, but we shall have to consider carefully the best ways and means of achieving that and so with other questions, with disarmament, for example, and with the supremely important one of arbitration. Our objects are well known. Now we have to work out problems of how to achieve them.” RUSSIAN RELATIONS. AMBASSADOR~TO BRITAIN CHOSEN. (Australian Press Association.) Received June 11, 1V).15 a.m. MOSCOW June 10. A new Ambassador to Britain has already been chosen, but the name is not divulged. PREMIER’S PRIVATE SECRETARY. MR MacNEIL WEIR, M.P., APPOINTED. (Australian Press Association—United Service). Received June 11, 10.10 a.m LONDON, June 10. Mr Mac Neil Weir, M.P., has been appointed Parliamentary private secretary to Mr MacDonald. Mr Weir has had a varied career as journalist, actor, sailor, teacher, and lecturer in political economy. MR MacDONALD’S MESSAGE. NEWSPAPER COMMENT. (Australian Press Association.) LONDON, June 10. The Morning Post (Independent) states:—“There is nothing to alarm but much to reassure in Mr MacDonald’s broadcast message. Mr MacDonald is evidently in a good humour, and his path has been made unexpectedly straight. Presumably he is not preparing a big offensive against conditions which make for confidence and stability of industry; but he does not intend to penalise industries which are daring to be prosperous. The declarations of some of his colleagues, who are more eager to injure the capitalist than benefit the wage-earner, leave little ground for hoping that the Socialist Government will leave well alone, but if Mr MacDonald’s policy is better than their professions he will do much to deserve the confidence he desires to earn.” FOREIGN POLICY. (United Service.) LONDON, June 10. The Daily Herald (Labour) in a leading article dealing with Mr Hen-

derson’s foreign policy states: ‘‘‘Labour intends to lay new emphasis on the importance of the League of Nations, the development of arbitration, the resumption of relations with Russia, the evacuation of the Rhineland, and the improvement and strengthening of relations with the United States, constituting a programme the fulfilment of which will mark a gigantic step toward peace. It is a good omen, too, that Mr MacDonald and Mr Henderson are expecting an opportunity for personal contact and consultation with the American Government.”