MINISTERS CONFER

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 7, 7 December 1936, Page 7

MINISTERS CONFER

TO EASE SITUATION. MAT UR EII CONS I DEIIAT lON. LABOUR OPINION HARDENS. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) LONDON, Dec. G. A meeting of Ministers was held at No. 10 Downing Street this morning, after which Mr Baldwin departed at 11.10 a.in. by car. Earlier in the morning Air W. T. Monckton, K.C-, who lett. I'ort Belvedere at 8 a.m., saw Air Baldwin. It is believed Air Baldwin in the course of a conference with Sir John Simon (Home Secretary) yesterday arrived au a formula to ease the situation. Tlie Sunday Despatch understands that Sir John Simon has dratted a statement which will enable time to be given ior luaturer consideration of all tho circumstances. The Observer in a late edition says there is no less expectation of an immediate solution. Lord Craigavon, Premier of Northern Ireland, had a 90 minutes’ eonierence with All* Baldwin. Ho told journalists: “1. have nothing to say, but I trust Air Baldwin.” Saturday’s Cabinet meeting ended at 10.10 a.in. Sir John Simon had an hour’s interview with Air Baldwin before Cabinet met. Mr Baldwin lclt Downing Street by motor car 1 at 5.15 p.m., driving to Port Belvedere to see the King. The Daily Telegraph’s political correspondent says it is understood that Mr Baldwin summoned Saturday’s special Cabinet meeting to report the result of the previous night’s interview with the King. According to the Aloruing Post further communications between Air Baldwin and the King arc expected to follow the meeting. The Daily Herald’s political correspondent says that the opinion of the Parliamentary Labour Party is steadily hardening in support of the view that the authority of Parliament must be upheld against the King’s personal wishes. Tho Daily Telegraph says that at least 90 per cent, ol Labour members of the House of Commons arc prepared to support Air Attlcc]s views. It is assumed that Cabinet heard Mr Baldwin’s report of his audience with tho King. Sir John Simon returned to No. 10 yesterday and the AttorneyGeneral visited" the Dominions Office. Air Alonckton remained with Sir John Simon for two hours. Police escorted from Downing Street a cyclist whose whole machine "’as placarded: “We want King Edward, not Baldwin. The King must not abdicate.” SUPPORT FOR PREMIER. The Daily Telegraph, in a leading article, approves of Air Baldwin’s grave and measured statement as truly lodising the constitutional issue. Nothing is further from the .truth than the misrepresentation that there is some cabal on the part of the Cabinet to force the King’s abdication. The King himself raised the constitutional issues, on what some hold i-s a small request unreasonably relused, yet the approval of tho House of Commons showed that no conceivable Government would bo prepared to pass legislation. Those who talk cynically of middle-class morality do not touch the heart of tho matter, which is cur the grounds alike of general principles and their particular application. The introduction of such legislation would he severely reprobated on the highest moral and ethical grounds b.v an overwhelming majority of subjects. When to these grounds are added reasons of State it is both wrong-headed and perverse to darken counsel by the infusion of false and misguided sentiment which will not, or cannot, view the Crown apart iroin its wearer, and tho sole link of tho Empire apart from tlic well-loved person of the present King. The Dominions also judge the matter from the viewpoint of what is fitting for the Crown and the Empire, and from the Imperial standpoint that is conclusive. The Daily Telegraph’s Dublin correspondent states that the Govern men t has not by word or act revealed its feelings on the British crisis. Air do Valera’s organ, the Irish Press, published a leader restating the facts hut not commenting. The Parliamentary correspondent of the 'Times describes yesterday as the most dramatic Friday in Parliament since the general strike in 1920. Many members rarely normally present on private members’ day attended all day long in the expectation of Air Baldwilds statement, which is regarded as having clarified the issue beyond the possibility of further confusion. Tho statement also convinced the members of the House that Ministers are not interfering with tho Sovereign’s private affairs. Moreover, it is taken tor granted that the King’s advisers m the Dominions arc equally slow to mter'°H is in the last degree unlikely that any advice or opinion from the Dominions will be proffered on their own initiative.