THE NEW PREMIER

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 24 May 1923, Page 7

THE NEW PREMIER

MR STANLEY BALDWIN CHOSEN

CHOICE OF THE PARTY LEADERS. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSN.—COPYRIGHT LONDON. The party leaders chose Mr Baldwin as Premier. Sir Robert Horne agreed to become Chancellor of the Exchequer. It is understood that there will be no vital changes in the Cabinet and that Lord Curzon is ready to continue as Foreign Secretary.

BONAR LAW has written to the Glasgow Unionist Association stating that his decision to resign was in the end sudden. He haa hoped, when ho went away, that he would sufficiently recover to make his resignation unnecessary, but had suffered constant pain. He came back really worse. The doctor’s verdict left him no choice. He presumed there would be no objection to continuing as member at least during this Parliament, though it was unlikely that he would be able to attend the House this session. IN AMERICA. Officialdom in America believes that the appointment of Mr Baldwin to the British Premiership will mean an early and final agreement regarding the British debt to the United States.

AVhile it has been generally supposed that the matter has been fully settled, it has been hanging fire, and only to-day Sir Auckland Geddes forwarded the United States the last word regarding the changes desired by the British concerning the form of the bonds which will be issued.

While apparently this is technical and trivial, the respective Treasuries regard the changes as important.

It is recalled that Mr Baldwin was mainly responsible for obtaining the British Cabinet’s consent to ,the main settlement terms, opposing Mr Bonar Law in certain details. It is believed that Mr Baldwin will now hasten to conclude the agreement. A message from Berlin quotes a high official as saying that the German Government would welcome Lord Curzon as successor to Mr Bonar Law, whose breakdown is deeply regretted throughout Germany. The official hoped that Lord Robert Cecil would be Minister of Foreign Affairs, as his appointment would doubtless tend towards Germany’.? entry into the League of Nations.

By Cable—Press Association—Ooprrleht. (Received 11 p.m., May 23.) London, May 23.... The “Daily Express” says that Mr Baldwin led the Commons with marked ability, “and we believe he will rise to a height of great opportunity.” The “Morning Post” declares: “In waiving personal claims, Lord Curzon has set a notable example of loyalty to a higher interest. He has rendered signal service to his party: It is a good augury that the appointment has been made obviously on the principle of the best man for the job.” The “Daily Telegraph” says: “Mr Baldwin’s strongest point is finance, which in these days is of paramount importance. We still think Lord Curzon’s claims were much the stronger, but no doubt he was gravely t handicapped by being in the Lords: The feeling in favour of the Premier being in the Commons is very strong among all political parties.’’ The “Daily Chronicle;’/ while commending Mr Baldwin’s high character, affirms that Lord Curzon was dropped not because he sits in the Lords, but because the Conservative Party is ruled by the die-hards who have a vendetta against him. “Nominees of the diehards already have ran the party machine, and now dictate the precedences on the front bench. This is a dark prospect for the country.” The “Westminster Gazette” remarks “that Mr Baldwin should have attained the Premiership is a revelation of the deficiencies of his party rather than the evidence of any impression he has yet made on the popular mind.”

The “Financial Times” says that Mr Baldwin’s succession can be viewed on the whole with the greatest satisfaction by the business communitv.—A. and N.Z: Cable: