BLACKMAIL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 127, 31 May 1937, Page 7

BLACKMAIL

For International Goodwill STRANGE GERMAN PLEA (By Telegraph—Prese Association—Copyright) Received May 30, 7.35 p.m. PARIS, May 29 The German Minister of Economy, Dr. Schacht, speaking at the FrancoGerman Society, said: “The newspapers criticise Germany because she always asks and never offers. I agree that the poor can do little more than ask, but Germany does offer a firm guarantee Gf European peace in. return for a reformed League. She is also prepared to discuss armaments. Germany is accused of blackmail in making her offer conditional on colonial outlets. I plead guilty. It is blackmail, but peace must be strengthened even if blackmail is used.” French personalities present were astounded to hear blackmail probably used for the first time in history, thus proclaimed as an instrument of international goodwill, but considered that Germany was not as interested in colonies as Dr. Schacht’s speech suggested. On the contrary, she was inclined to drop the subject in order to conciliate England, though for internal purposes the subject of colonies would still be raised in orations. A tangible result of Dr. Schacht’s visit has been the arrangement of a Franco-German trade agreement. Germany accepts France’s refusal to agree to a reduction of the interest rate on the Dawes and Young loans, but agrees to an extension of reciprocal trade. to widows and orphans. He also had difficult issues to face in the field of local government, especially with reference to the heavy local cost of poor relief. On the health side of his administration the most important work he did was the bringing into force of the Milk and Dairies Order and of regulations with reference to preservatives in food. But he also constituted the driving-power behind a campaign for more houses to meet the post-war need, and in 1928 he introduced a great scheme for reform of local government and local taxation. Party Reorganisation In 1930 Mr Chamberlain undertook the task of reorganising the machinery of the Conservative Party, being elected chairman and striving, first, to bring Mr Baldwin and Lord Beaverbrook into harmonious relations and second, to recast the party machinery in the provinces and in central headquarters and to rearrange the duties of some of the high party officials. It was reported at the time of his resignation of the party leadership in 1931 that Mr Baldwin was anxious to have him available in the House to speak on financial affairs instead of Mr Winston Churchill, who had been growing increasingly restive. But it was also understood at the time of Mr Chamberlain’s appointment that he would hold office only until the reorganisation of the party was completed. In 1931 he became Chancellor of the Exchequer for the second time and introduced the tariff reform Budget .for which his father had campaigned. His successive Budgets have reflected the progerssive improvement in British finance, until the time when it fell to him to warn the nation of the financial sacrifices it would have to make for the re-armament plan. To Mr Chamberlain's influence has been attributed the decision of Mr Baldwin to campaign in favour of tariff protection in 1923, while at the World Economic Conference he propounded no plan of action and in currency issues has been accused of sheltering behind President Roosevelt. His Personality Mr Chamberlain has never been regarded as a platform man. His manner has been cold and aloof, and in the House of Commons he has been slightly magisterial. He has few friends among his colleagues, and some of the back-benchers have hardly known him at all. But he is recognised as the man to meet a crisis in the House. His demeanour in debate shows that he really relishes the cut and thrust of verbal warfare. He can sit composed and slightly amused when a torrent of abuse is being directed against him, and can rise equipped with “succint and smashing answer.” No Parliamentary attack can daunt him, and it is doubtful if any international crisis could do so. Also he is held unlikely ever to bend to pressure or to bid for popular applause. He has not hesitated to- state the position arising out of the armaments expenditure, and even to say that he is ashamed that he should have to take such a course. He has courage and will tell the truth. He is diligent, capable, upright, and has a high sense of duty. OTHER MINISTERS Viscount Halifax (formerly Lord Irwin) was previously Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Lords. He was Viceroy of India in 1926-31, President of the Board of Education in 1932-35, and Secretary for War in 1935. Before going to India he was also President of the Board of Education and Minister of Agriculture for a short time. Sir John Simon, Leader of the Liberal National Party, gave his name to the famous Report of the Indian Statutory Commission. He is a notable lawyer, and since joining the National Government has been Secretary for Foreign Affairs (relinquishing the office in 1935), Secretary for Home Affairs, and Deputy-Leader of the House of Commons. Sir Samuel Hoare, who was Secretary for Air in 1922-24 and again in 1924-29 and Secretary for India in 1931-35, was Secretary for Foreign Affairs in 1935, but resigned because Gf disapproval of his peace plan during the Abyssinian crisis. He went back into the Ministry last year when he became First Lord of the Admiralty. Earl de la Warr, the ninth holder of the earldom, is only 36 and was previously Under-Secretary for the-Colo-nies. He was Parliamentary Undersecretary to the War Office in 1929, became Parliamentary Under-Secre-tary to the Ministry of Agriculture and Deputy-Minister of Fisheries in

1930, and was Parliamentary Undersecretary to the Board of Education in 1935-36. He has been several times Mayor of Bexhill. Mr L. Hore-Belisha is a son of Lady Hore and was Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade in 1931-32, Financial Secretary to the Treasury in 1932-34, and Minister of Transport since 1934. In the latter post he became celebrated because of his efforts at traffic control. Mr Oliver Stanley was Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Home Office in 1931-33 and Minister of Transport in 1933-34. He was Minister of Labour in 1934-35, and since that date had been President of the Board of Education. Mr A. Duff Cooper was Financial Secretary to the War Office in 192829 and 1931-34 and Financial Secretary to the War Office in 1934-35. Since 1935 he had been Secretary for War. He had a brilliant career at the Foreign Office, where he was regarded as an inspired draughtsman. He has published a number of books, including lives of Talleyrand and Haig. Lord Stanhope is the seventh earl and has been First Commissioner of Works since 1936. He was a Civil Lord of the Admiralty in 1924-29, Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty in 1931, Undersecretary for War in 1931-34, and Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs in 1934-36. Dr. Edward Leslie Burgin was previously Director of Legal Studies to the Law Society. He has been in the House of Commons since 1929 and In 1932 was appointed Parliamentary Secretary of the Board of Trade. He was made a Privy Councillor in the Coronation Honours. Sir Phillip Sassoon, who had a distinguished military career during the war, acting as Private Secretary to Sir Douglas Haig, was Under-Secre-tary for Air in 1924-29 and was appointed to the same post in 1931. Lord Winterton, the sixth earl,

served in various theatres of war during the world conflict and was Undersecretary for India in 1922-24 and again in 1924-29. He was formerly controlling editor of The World. He owns about 2800 acres. TEN BY-ELECTIONS THREE OWING TO HONOURS [ British Official Wlrelesa. J RUGBY, May 28. In addition to seven by-elections now pending, three seats in the House of Commons become vacant owing to the elevation to the House of Lords of M.P.’s announced in to-day’s honours list. The seats are those at present held by Mr. Baldwin (National Conservative) in the Bewdley Division of Worcestershire, Sir J. C. C. Davidson (National Conservative) in the Hemel Hempsted Division of Hertfordshire, and Mr. Walter Runciman (Liberal Nationalist) for the Saint Ives Division of Cornwall.