The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. “Luceo Non Uro.” TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 1935. MR BALDWIN SUCCEEDS

Southland Times, Issue 25308, 11 June 1935, Page 6

The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. “Luceo Non Uro.” TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 1935. MR BALDWIN SUCCEEDS

The rearrangement of the portfolios in the reconstructed National Government in Britain suggests that there may be some slignt changes in policy. Mr Baldwin’s re-appearance as Prime Minister was, of course, expected; but following on the praise that has been heaped upon Sir John Simon in his conduct of Foreign Affairs, it comes as a surprise that he has been moved from the Foreign to the Home Office, and that his place has been taken by Sir Samuel Hoare, who has been in charge of the India Office and in that post has been responsible for steering through the House of Commons the legislation applying the constitutional reforms to India. There have been suggestions, of course, that though Sir John Simon as an expositor of the British policy to the European chancellories has been wonderfully lucid and incisive, he has, in the main, been exploratory rather than assertive in the course he has taken. The position in Europe to-day appears to be that with Germany’s growing power and with Italy’s determination to embark on another Abyssinian adventure if possible, a strong line will be necessary so far as Britain is concerned. The two main schools of thought divide upon the question of isolation or participation in European affairs; but if there is any shifting of ground it is to be hoped that, while Britain maintains her »defence forces, she will not lessen in any degree her support of the League of Nations, and while Mr Baldwin is at the head of the Government there is an assurance that despite the changes of the Foreign Office, this part of Britain’s foreign policy, at least, will be retained. Movements in Ireland, with a suggestion that there would be another effort to bring about better - relations between the Free State and Britain, prepared people for a change at the Dominions Office; but Mr Thomas retains that portfolio, while the post of Secretary for the Colonies has been taken by Mr Malcolm MacDonald, who enters the Cabinet. Mr Eden, who has been so successful in his contacts with foreign governments, is given the new portfolio of Minister for the League of Nations, an indication, of course, of the Government s determination to keep its contact with the League of Nations; but it is to be hoped that while this promotion to the ministerial rank will increase the status of Mr Eden, it will not represent a separation of the League of Nations business from that of the Foreign Office, since these two must be closely associated. It is obvious from Mr Baldwin’s statement that the attitude of Italy is causing anxiety. Her dispute with Abyssinia cannot be localized, because there must be reactions upon the foreign affairs of Europe, and any change of plans in European friendships must in turn have an effect upon the foreign policies of the countries concerned. Germany will watch very closely any indications of estrangement between Italy and the Powers who are now closely associated with her in the League. Mr Lansbury, as was to be expected, was slightly cynical in his opinion of the new Government, which he dubs as Tory in character; but actually the retention of Mr Ramsay MacDonald and Mr Thomas, as well as of Sir John Simon, Viscount Hailsham and Mr Malcolm MacDonald, suggests that in the essentials, at any rate, the national character of the Government has been maintained. The word “Tory” in these days is a combination of letters which has some value as political propaganda, but in actual fact it is completely detached from the realities because there is no Tory Party and no Tory political doctrine in politics in Britain, just as there is no Tory and Conservative political programme as a reality in this country. Mr MacDonald’s relinquishment of the Prime Ministership was due to his failing eyesight and uncertain health, but while it is possible that some changes in general policy so far as foreign affairs are concerned may be possible, there is nothing in the reshuffling of the portfolios to indicate that so far as the domestic situation is concerned there will be any marked departure from the policy pursued under Mr Ramsay MacDonald. The country will welcome Mr Baldwin again, because ‘it has confidence in him as a solid, thoroughly straight-forward politician who has shown that he is prepared to put national interests above those of party. He is pot troubled by any admiration of spectacular action, and he is rather more practical than Mr Ramsay MacDonald. It says much for the personal qualities of the retiring Prime Minister that although his position at the head of the Government laid him open to attack by his old friends of the Labour Party and by the die hards of the

Right, though each.could call up the past and accuse him of having gone back on what he held to be vital matters, he retained the respect of the nation, which realized that he preferred to subordinate consistency to the national need, and to meet the realities of present-day problems instead of clinging to political slogans which had proved to be out-of-date. Under his leadership Britain strengthened her position financially and gave unequivocal proof to the world of her readiness to work actively in the cause of peace. At the same time, when it became clear that the implementing of this policy had reduced the defensive forces below the minimum of safety, and that changed conditions re-armament he did not hesitate, although this step gave his critics a chance to charge him once more with inconsistency in abandoning his pacifist ideals. Mr Ramsay MacDonald met the national need and as Prime Minister he showed how a man can change when conditions demand change. His stature in the eyes of the bulk of his countrymen has not been lessened by his term at the head of the National Government, nor by his resignation.