GREAT STATESMAN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23203, 29 May 1937, Page 13

GREAT STATESMAN

MR STANLEY BALDWIN RESIGNATION TENDERED AUDIENCE WITH THE KING (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph— Copyright) LONDON, May 28. ' (Received May 29, at 1.30 a.m.), Sitting well back in a motor car, without a hat, and smoking his pipe, Mr Stanley Baldwin arrived at the palace at 9.30 a.m., and was immediately ushered into the King's presence. He tendered his resignation and advised his Majesty to commission Mr Neville Chamberlain to form a Cabinet. The King accepted the resignation and the advice.

LIBERALS TO CONTEST SEAT LONDON, May 27. The Liberals will contest Bewdley when Mr Baldwin retires. THE NEW GOVERNMENT CONSIDERABLE SPECULATION (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, May 27. There is considerable speculation in the press and in the lobbies regarding the composition of the new Government. Mr Walter Runciman's speech on Tuesday on trade policy u regarded as being his last speech in 'the House of Commons as President of the Board of Trade, and the likelihood of his transference to the House of Lords is discussed. It is stated that he will not be a member of the new Cabinet. EARLDOM FOR MR BALDWIN MR RUNCIMAN A VISCOUNTCY LONDON, May 28. (Received May 29, at 1.45 a.m.) The King has approved of an earldom for Mr Baldwin, while Mrs Baldwin will be made a Dame of the Grand Cross of the British Empire. Mi Walter Runciman, President of the Board of Trade, will be given a viscountcy, Sir John Davidson, chairman of the King's Roll National Council, a viscountcy, and Sir Geoffrey Storrs Fry, Mr Baldwin's personal, secretary/ a K.C.B.

GLOWING PRESS TRIBUTE "IDEAL PRIME MINISTER": LONDON, May 28. (Received May 29; at 1.30 a.m.) A handful of spectators cheered Mr Baldwin as he left the palace carrying their Majesties' parting gift of signed photogfaphs. Mr Chamberlain arrived at the palace later, accompanied by a Scotland Yard official. The newspapers unite in paying tribute to Mr Baldwin. They declare that he made an ideal Prime Minister and has chosen to retire at the moment his prestige stands highest. Both The Times and the Daily Herald agree that his apparent simplicity disguised the rarest political acumen. The dominion Prime Ministers join in the tributes. Mr Savage said: " I regret his retirement. I have found him a.man of intense human interests arid the kindliest disposition, and a great philosopher. He has been a great influence in strengthening' British democracy and clearly expressed the ideals of democracy jind its aims." General Hertzog said the dominions would'always remember him with the greatest affection. Mr, Lyons said he typified the best British character and earned the respect of all classes.

Mr Baldwin was born on August 3, 1867, and educated at Harrow and at Cambridge. In 1892 he married Miss Lucy. Risdale. He contested his first parliamentary election unsuccessfully, in 1906, standing in the Unionist interests for Kidderminster. In 1908 he succeeded his father as member for the Bewdley Division of Worcestershire. He has represented that constituency without a break for 29 years. The Baldwin family may be said to be part and parcel of Worcestershire. Mr Bonar Law anoointed Mr Baldwin his privat .ecretary in 1916, and the next year he was appointed Junior Lord of the Treasury, President of the Board of Trade in 1921, and in 1922 Chancellor of the Exchequer. The year 1923 saw the retirement of Mr Bonar Law through failing health, and Mr Baldwin's assumption of the Prime Ministership. It was a complete surprise, as everybody expected the King to send for Lord Curzon. The fact, however, that Lord Curzon was a member of the House of Lords was felt to be a sufficie. .t bar to the realisation of his life's ambition. But Curzon never recovered from the shock and the disappointment of being passed over for what he was pleased to describe as "second-rate brains." Mr Baldwin's first Ministry was short-lived He resigned in January, 1924, after what is generally considered to have been an unnecessary general election in December, 1923. But another general election in October, 1924, forced by the withdrawal of support from the Labour Government by the Liberals under Mr Asquith, made Mr Baldwin again Prime Minister. In June, 1929, he gave way again to a Labour Government. But by 1931 the Government was floundering in a sea of financial difficulties. Unparalleled. economies in the civil service and in the " dole " became necessary. Almost to a man the Labour Party, both in the House of Commons and outside it, refused to accept the recommendations of a commission specially set up to consider economies. Without consulting a single member of his own party, Mr Ramsay MacDonald agreed on the formation of a National Government; it could be National only in name, since he was so completely deserted by his former colleagues. In that Government, formed for the specific purpose of rehabilitating the nation's finances, and to last no longer than for that work to be accomplished, Mr Baldwin held office as Lord President of the Council. Finding the strain on his health too great, as Mr Baldwin to-day has found it too great, Mr MacDonald resigned in June, 1935, and Mr Baldwin became Prime Minister for the third time. This simple statement of the facts of Mr Baldwin's career takes no account of his handling of many crises—from the downfall of the Lloyd George Coalition Government in October, 1922, to the abdication of King Edward VIII in December, 1936. In his handling of them all he was more concerned for the moral issues that were at stake than for the enhancement of his own reputation.