BRITISH POLITICS

Hokitika Guardian, 10 June 1929, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS

DULY TAKE OFFICE. MISS BONDFIELD’S DISTINCTION. (United Press Association.—By Electric Tel eg rn ph.—Co pyr i ght.) LONDON, June 8. The new members of ‘the Cabinet, in the traditional frockcoats and silk hats, including the outstandingly attired Sir Oswald Mosley, took a special train to Windsor, and they were driven in state, in landaus, with liveried coachmen to Windsor Castle. There was then 1 held at the Castlo the first, meeting of the Privy Council, in ord n r to swear in the 'non-members off the Council, including Miss. Margaret Bondfield. Mis-s Bondfield is the first woman to become a member of the Privy Council. Thereafter the Ministers went to the audience chamber, where each Minister received his seal of office, and kissed the King’s hand. THE CABINET. Prime Minister, Mr J. Ramsay MacDonald. Chancellor of the Exechequer, Mr Philip Snowden. . Secretary 'off Foreign Affairs, Mr Arthur Henderson. Lord . Privy Seal,'Mr J. H. Thomas. Dominion Affairs and Colonies, Mr: Sidney Webb. I Lord President of the Council, Lord Parmoor. Lord Chancellor, Lord Justice Sankey. Home Affairs, Mr J. R. Clynes. India, Captain Wedgwood Benn. War, jMr Thomas ShaW. Air, Lord Thomson. * Minister of Health, Mr A, Greenwood. Labour, Miss M. Bondfield. Agriculture and Fisheries, Mr Noel Buxton. President of Board of Education, Sir C. P. Trevelyan. ;. •• i President of Board df Trade, Mr W. Graham. First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr A. 1 V. Alexander. < Secretary of State for Scotland, Mr W. Adamson. i First Commissioner of Works, Mr \ George Lansbury. 1 All the above appointments carry | with them seats in the Cabinet. 1 1 OTHER MINISTERIAL POSTS. Other Ministerial posts announced are: — Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Sir Oswald Mosley. Attorney General, Mr W. Jowitt, K.C.

Solicitor General, Mr J. B. Melville, K.C. Minister of Pensions, Mr F. 0. Roberts. \ Minister of Transport, Mr Herbert Morrison. - ! - Parlinmentary Under-Secretary for Scotland, Mr Tom Johnston. Postmaster General,, Mr H. B. Leo Smith. Pavmnstcr (Jpncnil, Ainolcl (without pay).

MR MACDONALD’S PORTFOLIOS. LONDON, June 8. Rt. Hon. Mr Ramsay MacDonald is both Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury. LONDON, June 7. Air Ramsay MacDonald’s Cabinetmaking has followed the'expected lines .with one. noteworthy surprise. This is so complete a surprise that the political tipsters during the whole week left the Dominions Office blank. It was known that the Rt. Hon. J. H. Thomas wanted something bigger than his old office as Dominions Secretary. Indeed, he aspired to _ the Foreign Office, but when he yielded to Mr MacDonald’s blandishment that the > big job of unemployment wanted a big • man, with vision and initiative, it caused a recasting df the political guessing, # with nobody in the offering to fill the Dominions’ blank. There was never a breath of suggestion that Sir Sidney "Webb would be selected.

LIBERAL ATTITUDE. LONDON, June 8. The Preston Liberal Executive, after a three hours spirited meeting, decided that Mr Jowitt (the new AttorneyGeneral'). should not be asked to resign. LONDON, June 8. Sir Sidney Webb’s lack of a Parliamentarv seat will be overcome by Ins elevation to the peerage. He is the new Secretary for the Dominions.. THE INDIA OFFICE. LONDON, June 8. The. “Times” states: Sir Sidney Webb’s transference to the House of Lords, which, seems to follow as a matter of course, perhaps will help to keep Empire questions outside party politics, but the transference will necessitate the most careful selection n> his Under-Secretary in the House of Commons. \ -- PRESS OPINIONS. LONDON, June 8. 'Hie “Daily Herald.” commenting on the new Ministry, claims that Air MacDonald’s Cabinet is a truly national Government. The eyes of expectant millions throughout the world, says the “Herald,” are upon the new Ministry. It. wul not disappoint them. The “ Daily Chronicle ” states that it- is a stronger Cabinet than Laboui had in 1924, Some, it says, had fore-

seen features such as Mr Justice Sankey’s appointment as Lord Chancellor, which is universally approved, hut none had foreseen the appointment of Sir Sidney Webb as Secretary (for India, which, adds the “Chronicle,” will be regarded as equally admirable. The “ Daily Express ” states that it was expected that Mr MacDonald would make a good job. He had been guided by the necessity of administering the departments and of the ability to explain and defend the Departments in the House, and, judged from these viewpoints, the Cabinet is unquestionably a strong one. It says that Mis* Bondfield’s Ministerial appointment possesses novelty, but she lias, the respect df the House, and would do well. Altogether it was an impressive Cabinet. The nation Imped and believed that, before it lnd run its course, much good would have been done.

The “Morning Post” says: Tt is probably ns good a Cabinet as the Socialist Prime Minister could have formed.

The “Morning Post” asks: “Does imt Mr Jowitt’s conversion prove that Liberalism is not a harrier against Socialism, hut a bridge to it?” The “ Daily Telegraph ” states that R.t. Hon. Arthur Henderson’s appointment as Foreign Minister can hardly he welcomed, saying: “It is well to remember that lie went to Geneva in 1924 and there initialled the ill-omened protocol.” Sic Sidney Webb, it adds, has no doubt been awaiting a call to the Upper House. The “Daily Mail” says: “What the country wants is-a sober, businesslike administration. If Mr MacDonald gives it that, his Government may last a good deal longer than some of the prophets imagine.” The “Times” says: Sir Sidney Webb’s organising mind should have the, chance to display itself as Secretary for India. No field offers a more promising opportunity than that allotted him.” JMFERIAL DEVELOPMENT. t LONDON, June. 7. Small attention is given to the Empire m the Labour Party’s speeches, Sir Sidney Webb’s selection does not betoken any vigorous Empire policy, but Sir Sidney Webb’s friends predict that lie will not he found wanting either in Imperial enthusiasm or vision. The Hon. J. H. Thomas declared tonight: “We will not attempt any fantastic schemes, hut the development ol the Empire, with its immense potentialities, is included in my list df practical schemes. From this no part of the Empire will be excluded.” NEW CABINET. SWORN IN AT. WINDSOR. . PROPOSED HAPPENINGS. (Received this day- at 8.30. a.m.) LONDON, June 9.

Large crowds assembled at Windsor to see the new members of the Cabinet arrive. 1 A'journalist asked Miss Bondfield if she was nervous. She replied: “Oh no, .after forty years of blazing the trail, one ceases to be over excited, though I feel highly honoured in making history as the first woman to enter the Cabinet.”

After receiving the Seals, Air AlacDonald made a statement:—“Alyself and colleagues were highly delighted to find the King, looking so well and to see how magnificently he was able to go through the ceremony, without any sign of strain or ill-effect.” A Court circular to-niglit pointed out that Physician Dawson of Penn, was sworn in to the Privy Council, along with members of the new Cabinet, thus avoiding a separate ceremony.

When they returned to London, Cabinet met at Downing St. and miners visited their departments. When Parliament meets on 25th. June ATr Fitzroy will be re-elected Speaker.

Robert Young, a Labourite, will be nominated as Deputy-Speaker after the formal opening.

With the King’s speech on 22nd. July, the Government are not expected to encounter serious difficulty. During the debate on the Address-in-Ro-ply, after which Parliament will ad’oiirn for a week and thereafter till October, when the Government will introduce its main legislative proposals.

GOVERNMENT'S INTENTIONS. (Received this dnv at 10 a.m.) LONDON, June 0. Air Ramsay MacDonald, in a broadcast speech, said: “ We are losing no time grappling with the duties imposed on us. AVe have to work for peace in industry, in home affairs, and also abroad. Everything that can be done to reduce unemployment will be done. We shall avoid extravagance in view rlf the overshadowing importance of disarmament and the need for a friendly discussion and agreement with the United States and other powers with ourselves. I hope to make a short visit to Geneva at the next League Assembly.” ALR COSGRAVE DISAPPROVES. (; OVER NOR-OENER AL R EBUKED. LONDON, June 10. 'flic “Sunday Chronicle's ” Dublin correspondent says: Far-reaching consequences are -likely to follow All Alt Noil’s action, of which Air Cosgrave strongly disnimroves. lie already has transmitted his opinion to Air McNeil in emphatic terms, pointing out that although “God Save the King ” might 1,0 regarded as a party tune by the Nationalists, this has no hearing on the ease of the Governor-General, who is the King’s representative

LABOUR VIEWS

(Received this day at 11.25. a.m.) LONDON. June 9.

Signs of the difficulties ahead of the MacDonald Government have not taken long to .show themselves. The first evidence of internal difference appeared to-dav, when the National Council of the Independent Labour Party,, after a. two-day session adopted a resolution dissenting from an article in the “New Loader” by H. N. Bmilsford, favouring collaboration with the Liberals. The Council emphatically reaffirmed the Independent Labour Party Conference’s opposition to collaboration on the ground that it would be fatal t > the socialists purposes for which the Government had attained power. In view of Trotsky’s sudden application for permission to rome to Britain, the Moscow “ Izvestia,” while viewing the MacDonald Government coldly, sceptically demands it take immediate steps to bring Anglo-Soviet relations out of the deadlock brought about by the Conservatives.

MR HENDERSON’S INTENTIONS. LONDON, June 10. Mr Arthur Henderson, interviewed by the “ Daily Herald,” said : “ I shall do my utmost to seek to strengthen Anglo-American bonds and make the Ivedogg Pact fully effective. Rogard:ng Russia, J shall expeditiously open up negotiations to put Anglo-Russian diplomatic and trading' relations on a satisfactory basis.” AFFECT. ON LEAGUE COUNCIL. (Received this day at noon.) LONDON, June 10. The “Morning Post’s” Madrid correspondent states the advent of Mr MacDonald is already affecting the work of the League Council, the German delegate, Schubert, strong opposing the report of minorities by the committee of three headed by Sir A. Chamberlain. An open rupture with M. Briand was narrowly averted. There was the greatest elation by Germans, who are indulging in the wildest talk of a complete reversal of the British policy, envisaging Mr MacDonald as supporting the German demand for a revision of the Silesian frontier, the abolition of the Polish corridor, as well as the immediate evacuation of the Rhineland.

THE NEW PREMIER. A FORECAST. LONDON, June 9. Mr Ramsay MacDonald, in an article in the “Sunday Dispatch,” entitled: “What I Think the World Will he Like Ten Years Hence,” says—“l <ee the whole world apportioned the best economic fields controlled by xnverful syndicates recognising no boundary lines other than markets, tnd which will hold in their keeping the lives of millions of human beings, social materialism growing vigorously

will become an increasing problem for those caring about individual liberty. The great cry since 1914 of self-deter-mination or nations, will be displaced by a still more important cry of selfdetermination for individuals. Speaking politically, if smaller powers make themselves felt at l 'Geneva, tlierc is no reason why within ten years we will not have something corresponding to United States. In Europe, on the contrary, if the great powers continue to dominate Ge-neva affairs will be less hopeful and more confused. The complete organisation of Europe is difficult, almost impossible, while the United State remains aloof from the League. .1 think there is little chance of the United States joining within ten years, however, they will be associated more closely with League activ-

ties. Britain and the United States >efore ten years will come to an agree-

ment on the old irritating question nf the freedom of the seas, which will lea dto further America-European understanding.”