BRITISH CABINET

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18791, 28 May 1923, Page 5

BRITISH CABINET

OFFICIAL LIST OF MINISTERS By Telegraph.—Press Association. —Copyright. Received May 27, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, May 26. The official list of Mr Baldwin’s Ministry was issued last night. The most notable change was that Hon. R. McKenna was invited to take over the Exchequer, but could not accept immediately, as he is still convalescing from a serious illness. He is expected to assume office two or three months hence. The main offices are unchanged. Sir Wm. Joyuson-Bicks becomes Financial Secretary to the Treasuiy. There are some re-shuffles amongst Jie minor offices: Mr Davidson takes over the Chancellorship of the Duchy of Lancaster; Mo jar Boyd-Carpenter, Paymaster-General: Mr Thomson, So-licitor-General for Scotland; Mr Godfrey Locker-Lampson, Under-Secretary for the Home Office: Mr Gwynn, Financial Secretary for the War Office; Messrs Betterton, Eustace Percy, Charles Craig and Lord Onslow, Parliamentary Secretaries for Labour, Health, Pensians, and Education respectively. Messrs Hennessey, Cope and Ford are the new fjord Commoners to the Treasury. Sir L. Worthington Evans declined the Postmaster-Generalship. Mr Baldwin had a conference with Mr Austin Chamberlain, lasting two hours, at Chequers Court on Sunday. The Express understands that Mr Chamberlain was offered the Ambassadorship at Washington, but declined. He had declined a similar proposal through Lord Curzon during the Bonar Law Administration. MR BALDWIN’S SECRETARY. Mr Baldwin has followed Mr Lloyd George’s example in having a woman secretary —Miss Weston, who during ■ h« war was secretary to the Chancellor of the Exchequer.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE NEW LEADER Mr Stanley Baldwin was born on August 3, 1867, and has represented the Bewdley Division of Worcestershire in the House of Commons as a Conservative since 1908. In 1917 lie acted as private secretary to Mr Bonar Law. .He was appointed President of the Board of Trade in 1921 in the Coalition Government, and prior to his admission to the Cabinet he was financial Secretary to the Treasury. After the return of the Conservative Party to power in November of last year he became Chancellor of the' Exchequer. One of the chie'f qualities in the new Prime Minister (says a writer in the Daily Mail) is his uncompromising Englishness. He estimates things primarily and almost wholly from an English standpoint. Indeed, it is a habit of mind with him; so much so that, in answer to a supplementary question in the House of Commons with regard to the fluctuations of sterling in relation to American currency, he instinctively replied: “It is the dollar that fluctuates, not the pound.’ 1 Be has little patience with internationalism in the sense of wider world citizenship; if you were to ask his secret thought as to the development of the League of Nations you would probably learn that he was all for a league in which the whole world came into the British Empire; but that he wa*» inclined to look down upon States that the Almighty had neglected to bless with the benefits of British rule and therefore a little sceptical of the good to be achieved by consulting with other Powers (except America) for the purpose of solving world problems.

On the other hand, it would be quite false to suppose that he has any Imperialist ambitions or even the desire unduly to press the British point of view on other States. His aim in foreign policy would probably be goodnatured tolerance of other peoples, and as few dealings with them as possible. For the rest he has a good deal in common with the best type of English soldier. He can make up his mind quickly and stick to his decision when it has been reached. While not seeking it out, he is not afraid of responsibility. He has prodigious faith in himself.