BRITISH POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 November 1924, Page 1

BRITISH POLITICS.

[Reuters Teleorams.] TIIK NEW CABINET. LONDON, Nov. 5. It is understood that .Mr Baldwin’s list of leading .Ministers will he issued on Thursday night. One of the reasons for expedition is the fact that the Lord .Mayor’s banquet takes place <>n .Monday night, a feature of which has always been the Ministerial speeches. These, owing to the special circumstances, are awaited with unusual interest. The invitations cannot be issued until the names of the Cabinet .Ministers are known, and a vast list will be rushed to the printers at the last moment. It is stated in well-informed circles, that the Ministry will contain some surprises. Certainly Mr Baldwin is getting plenty of hints as to the desirableness of an infusion of new blood, and a liberal springling of young men. gifted with enthusiasm to grapple with the questions arising out of new’social conditions. THE ZINOVIEFF LETTER. LONDON, Nov. 7. Tt is stated that the Cabinet Committee have found it impossible to reach a positive conclusion regarding the Ziuovioff letter on the evidence available. No Government Department handled the original letter, but only a copy. The unsatisfactory report caused surprise, and is interpreted to mean some Members of (lie Committee believe the letter genuine, and others believe that it is a forgery. Mr Baldwin’s Government will probably investigate farther. LONDON. Nov. I. The communique regarded the Zinovielf letter is practically as was expected. The “Daily Herald” political correspondent understands that high oflieials in certain Departments, who received copies of tin 1 letter laid them aside as not being worth their attention. The ‘Herald” adds: There is reason to believe that what the foreign Office acted upon was obtained by the secret services of other Governments. and to get to the bottom of the all'air would involve inquiries abroad. LONDON, Nov I. Oxford University circled Lord Hugh Cecil (Idl’d) and Sir 0. W. Oman (2908). while Professor Gilbert Murray (Independent) polled 2892. Sir C. AY. Oman has been Member for Oxford since 191!). The Oxford TTniversily election was conducted on the proportional representation system. Though Lord Cecil and Sir IV. O. Oman (Conservatives) were elected, Professor Murray was in second place on the first count. THE “TIMES’S” VIEWS. LONDON. Nov. 1. After referring to Vlr Churchill’s fitness for (be Cabinet. “The Times” appeals for the inclusion of Mr Austen Chamberlain and the other recalcitrants of the 1929 split, thus making the Government different to the one that committed political suicide that year. In order lo prevent jealousies, it suggests a levelling up in the status of positions enabling men of special fitness to bold positions without considering lheir claim to so-called higher oliiccs. ft adds: “If any consideration as to salaries is held to make a position of greater consequence, then it should be swept away. Mr Baldwin lias shown himself something more than a silent or accidental leader. While Mr MacDonald reached a stage almost of incoherent rhetoric, Mr Baldwin was steady and consistent, quietly logical, and always to the highest level impersonal, and patriotic in argument. His tenure of office will depend mainly on a wise use of bis .majority. which is unanimously nnti-So-oiali .1. Bui I bis doc; not mean it is wholly CoiiM-rvalivc. The country is still suspicious of extreme Conservatism. The electoral verdict was tin overwhelming repudiation of the personal shiftiness of the Ministers, and not an endorsement ol any positive policy. The “Times’ denounces as ill-timed a Constitutional Club demonstration at which Mr Churchill was paraded as a sort of election hero. The “Times” asset-is that it. will revive suspicions of the old familiar Centre Parly intrigue, rendering more difficult the immediate installation of Mr Churchill in a position in tile Cabinet to which his great gifts entitle him.