ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO
LONDON, WEDNESDAY JANUARY 23, 1924
RESIGNATION OF THE GOVERNMENT.
At 4.30 yesterday afternoon, Mr. J. Ramsay Macdonald, who had by that time acquired the prefix of Right Honourable, became Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury. Following the defeat of Mr. Baldwin’s Government in the House of Commons on the previous night, events moved swiftly, and with machine-like smoothness. As the overthrow of the outgoing Ministry had been a foregone conclusion for some weeks, and the Socialist leader was ready with his plans for assuming office, there was neither hitch nor delay in carrying out the pre-arranged programme.
VISITS TO THE PALACE.
When the members of the Cabinet separated, after sitting for nearly an hour, Mr. Baldwin left 10, Downing-street by the garden gate, and, entering a motor-car, drove to Buckingham Palace. The right hon. gentleman remained at the Palace for upwards of half an hour, and during the audience with his Majesty tendered his resignation of the office of First Lord of the Treasury. During the forenoon his successor was presiding over a full assembly of the Parliamentary Labour party at the House of Commons, and the proceedings had not concluded when, just about noon, he received a summons to the Palace. Mr. Macdonald, accompanied by Mr. J. R. Clynes, Mr. J. H. Thomas, and Mr. Arthur Henderson, made a hurried departure from the House of Commons. He arrived at the Palace a few minutes after twelve o’clock.
Mr. Macdonald had an audience of the King, at which he was invited by his Majesty to form a Government and undertook to do so. On leaving the Palace, the Socialist leader was cheered by a body of his supporters who had collected around the gates, and, with his companions, he posed for the benefit of the ubiquitous photographers.
It quickly transpired that a second visit to the Palace would be required. There had not yet been a formal appointment of Mr. Macdonald to office. The reason was not far to seek. Mr. Pringle had objected from the Liberal benches on Monday night to a three weeks’ adjournment of Parliament, and so it was necessary for the House of Commons to meet again yesterday to decide the matter.
NEW PREMIER APPOINTED.
Mr. Macdonald arrived at the Palace in a motor-car just before half-past four, and was again received by the King. He now kissed hands on his appointment as Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury. The second audience was of a lengthy character, as the new Premier spent exactly an hour at the Palace, and in the course or the interview was in a position to place before his Majesty a list of the proposed appointments to some of the principal offices in the new Government, When he left the Palace the Prime Minister returned to the House of Commons and held a consultation there with some of his chief colleagues. As a result it was agreed to publish at once the names of new Ministers whose appointments have been definitely settled, and these will be found in another column. Reference has already been made to the meeting of the Parliamentary Labour party. It is reported that the proceedings, though protracted, were harmonious. Mr. Macdonald was at pains to emphasise in his opening speech the necessity of Socialist members putting on one side all sectional interests and giving loyal support to their Parliamentary leaders. He did not minimise the difficulties which face the new Government, and made it clear that he could only hope to carry on for a time if complete unity was maintained. This, according to members who were present, was the burden of his appeal, and it is stated that the advice he tendered was well received. An authorised statement was issued by the party officials last evening in the following terms:
LIBERALS AND SOCIALISM.
Following the defeat of the Government Liberal members of the House of Commons met yesterday in order to consider the situation which they had so largely helped to create. In some quarters doubts were expressed as to the effect on the Liberal party which will follow from their action in putting a Socialist Government in power. It was felt that the result will be a “fraying” of Liberalism in the constituencies. The warnings which have so frequently been uttered that Liberals by their policy were sounding the death-knell of their own party have had a considerable effect on a section of the members, who are supremely uncomfortable.