THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 1935 OFFICES AND POLICIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22132, 11 June 1935, Page 8

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 1935 OFFICES AND POLICIES

The reconstruction of the British Cabinet, as is emphasised in to-day's news, has been effected with remarkable expedition and a minimum of sitir. This achievement bears witness to more than the stability of political conditions in Britain; it evinces the poise of British character. In both respects it is in marked contrast to recent events in a country just across the Channel, for France has been in a turmoil over efforts to find a solid foothold for a National Government, the changes going from one insecurity to another. What has been done in Britain may not seem to be what it really is. To call it a reconstruction of the Cabinet is to speak only part of the truth. Actually it was the creation of a new Ministry. When Mr. Mac Donald left the House of Commons for Buckingham Palace to tender his resignation as Prime Minister he took also, according to established practice, the resignation of every other member of the Ministry. Whatever the understanding between Mr. Mac Donald and Mr. Baldwin, this was the constitutional position. Even the King's knowledge of the understanding, a knowledge presumably based on advice tendered by Mr. Mac Donald, could not dispose of the fact that the whole Ministry went out with its chief, and His Majesty's immediate sending for Mr. Baldwin was in strict accordance with all precedent—a step taken toward the setting up of a new Government within the possibilities of the existing Parliament. That the Ministry is a new one, in spite of its close correspondence in personnel with its predecessor, is the fact underlying Mr. Baldwin's -statement that he has made certain changes in the Foreign Office, "thus strengthening the Ministerial personnel." Every Minister is thus responsible now to Mr. Baldwin; he can demand the individual resignation of any, and, should he resign, all would go out with him. From the established practice, moreover, another thing follows that may also need emphasis in view of the smoothness of the change —the new Ministry has full constitutional freedom with resipect to policy. This is of quite as much practical moment as the fact on which it rests.

It is to be taken for granted, of course, in view of all the circumstances, that the new Ministry will proceed upon the policy of the old, for as a National Government it depends for its existence on the parliamentary majority that has • given it, in common with its predecessor, a mandate to undertake a freehanded task of recovery and reconstruction. Recovery, to quote Mr. Mac Donald, has been achieved, and the work of reconstruction has now to be done, as the organic sequel of recovery. Thus the new Government inherits its policy, in great measure, from the old. As a practical matter, this is clear. What remains to be fieen is the extent to which it will avail itself of its undoubted freedom to make new departures. Mr. Baldwin, although making no comprehensive declaration as yet, has announced an important departure in dealing with foreign affairs; and in this he has interestingly proceeded upon the policy he has accepted as an inheritance. That policy made Britain a voluntary partner in international efforts to promote peace, particularly through whole-souled co-operation in the League of Nations and in the negotiation of pacts to be brought within the system of the League. Mr. Baldwin goes further: he appoints to the Cabinet, without portfolio, a Minister entrusted with the special duty of conducting Britain's share of League co-operation. In effect, Mr. Anthony Eden, appointed for this duty, is Minister of Peace, although to have named him so would have created a new portfolio ; and "peace," in this context, stands for no merely negative notion but for a positive enterprise of collaboration, in keeping with the wide programme of the League. Sir-Austen Chamberlain set 'the good fashion of Foreign Ministers' attendance at Geneva as part of their duty; Mr. Eden's definite appointment for League affairs carries that voluntary enthusiasm a long way farther. The implications of this departure will not be lost on other nations.

Of almost equal interest is the ■declaration of the new Secretary for India, the Marquess of Zetland. Here also is an inheritance of policy, with further duty as a sequel. To pilot the Government of India Bill through the remaining stage of its journey to the Statute Book will he easy, but after that will come the

difficult task of bringing the new constitution into being. As this administrative work is taken in hand there will be all the opportunity for sympathy and practical tact that an enthusiastic Secretary for India can desire. Again Mr. Baldwin has used the device of appointing a Minister without portfolio to strengthen a department, for Lord Eustace Percy, so appointed, has been obviously selected for his intimate acquaintance with the Indian problem; he was a member of the Joint Committee whose report became a basis for the bill, and he took a usefully prominent part in the debates on it. At the moment, the new Ministry is sufficiently revealed, by the Foreign Office and India appointments, as selected with an eye to administrative efficiency in affairs abroad. When the minor appointments are announced after the recess it will be possible to estimate the likelihood of equal vigour in urgent domestic tasks.