THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS MONDAY, JUNE 10, 1935 THE NEW BRITISH MINISTRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22131, 10 June 1935, Page 8

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS MONDAY, JUNE 10, 1935 THE NEW BRITISH MINISTRY

If the first impression of the new British Ministry be that its personnel doe» not greatly differ from that of the old, this judgment must quickly be qualified by recognition of the outstanding fact that it has a new head. Only the expectation that Mr. Mac-Donald would give place to Mr. Baldwin as Prime Minister, an expectation steadily growing of late, could make this change seem other than it is. It is by no means a minor change. Mr. Baldwin, it is true, has had a prominent share in Cabinet counsels and has done yeoman work when leading the House of Commons, but he has been splendidly loyal to his chief. Indeed, their mutual fidelity has been a credit to them both, and has ensured the efficiency of a truly National Government. Nevertheless, the turn of events that now places Mr. Baldwin in the supreme post is bound to have a marked influence. He comes to it as more than the leader of the strongest party in the coalition; on personal grounds he is entitled to the most cordial of welcomes as he takes from Mr. Mac Donald's friendly hands the reins of office. He is the strongest, most capable, most trusted personality in British politics to-day. Unquestionably he has gifts of statesmanship, and they are all the greater because of the fine fibre of his character. On from the earliest days of the war crisis, when he applied himself and his means sacrificingly to the national need—although it was not known until long afterwards how selflessly he devoted his financial resources —he has won popular regard in ever-increasing measure. There have been murmurings, at times, about his leadership of his party, but to every whisper of challenge he has presented so honest and courageous a front that, incipient opposition has resolved into wider and deeper esteem. Although the broad party divisions remain, he has the ear and the heart of the country to-day as few others have had. The' partisan voices raised in criticism of the change speak only for an inconsiderable minority, and even that minority agrees that he is a great Englishman. In. his first speech since the change, Mr. Baldwin has paid a glowing tribute to Mr. Mac Donald. The latter has well earned the gratitude of the nation. His six years of office have been exacting to a degree, and it says much for him that he has carried on in spite of failing health. In stepping down to enable Mr. Baldwin to become Prime Minister he has done the right thing in the right way. Remaining in the Cabinet, he can continue to contribute to the smooth running of administration, and his acceptance of office is in itself a useful proof of the maintained national character of the Government. Of the other alterations the mos;t important is that at the Foreign Office. Sir John Simon has not given universal satisfaction as Foreign Secretary. The critics have sometimes appeared to take too little heed of the difficulties of his position and to be less than just to his ability and his intentions. But it is doubtful whether the legal cast of his mind, although well adapted to calm review and impressive statement at critical junctures, has been fully suited to the delicate task of negotiations abroad. His becoming Home Secretary and Deputy-Leader of the House should give him better scope for his undoubted talents. It is one of the changes in detail to be commended. There would have been little surprise had Mr. Anthony Eden been given the Foreign Secretaryship, for he has been signally successful in his work abroad. But he has been wisely chosen for a new post, that of Minister in charge of League of Nations business. It is an honour that any member of the Ministry might have coveted but none can dispute his right to it. The creation of the office is a brilliant stroke. It pledges Britain anew to a resolute pursuit of international peace as a bounden duty, and is Mr. Baldwin's emphatic answer to those urging the craven, immoral policy of isolation. Becoming a member of the Cabinet —a, status that as Lord Privy Seal he did not possess—Mr. Eden will be able to do liaison work in international affairs even better than he has done. The selection of Sir Samuel Hoare as Foreign Secretary has yet to be justified by events; he has lhad some experience of League business in a commissionship, and his recent portfolios, notably that of Secretary for India, have involved important duties, always well performed, but the Foreign Office will make new demands on him. Mr. Eden's special post, however, will be of great assistance, and in itself justifies Mr. Baldwin's reference to a strengthening of the Foreign Office. As. Secretary for India the Marquess of Zetland has good qualifications. and his intimate experience in the recent framing of a new constitution for India enables him to take up his duties with due sympathy and confidence of touch. Of other appointments affecting the outer territories of the Empire those of Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister as Secretary for Air and of Mr. Malcolm MacDonald as Secretary for the Colonies should prove satisfactory; but the

Dominions cannot look with similar complaisance on the retention of their old portfolios by Mr. Thomas (Dominions), Mr. Runciman (Board of Trade) and Mr. Elliot (Agriculture). All three have been excessively prone to think in terms of the United Kingdom and to take action adverse to Dominion interests. In this connection, however, some improvement may be anticipated, as Mr. Baldwin has declared that his mind turns to duties instead of quotas. Much will depend on a review of the whole position by the new Cabinet. It is the largest Cabinet of recent years, and Mr. Baldwin's resumption of the earlier practice of appointing some Ministers without portfolio suggests that merely departmental points of view may be moderated somewhat by round-table discussion on broader lines. The new Ministry comes to changing circumstances, which are likely to call for fresh initiative.