MR. BALDWIN AS PRIME MINISTER.
MOVE FOR CONSERVATIVE UNITY
The following announcement was issued from Buckingham Palace last evening:
The Right Hon. Stanley Baldwin was received in audience by his Majesty to-day, who offered him the post of Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury vacated by the Right Hon. A. Bonar Law, M.P.
The Right Hon. Stanley Baldwin accepted his Majesty’s offer.
NEW PREMIER’S TASK.
By OUR PARLIAMENTARY CORRESPONDENT. Characteristically enough, when he returned from the Palace to Downing-street, Mr. Baldwin was smoking a large briar pipe. On alighting from his car a number of spectators crowded round him and offered their congratulations. “I want your prayers more than your congratulations,” was his reply. The new Prime Minister remained for some time afterwards at No. 11, Downing-street.
It has been rather readily assumed in some quarters that the change in the Premiership will involve hardly anything in the nature of a reconstruction of the Ministry. Heads of departments, it has been argued, have settled down in their various offices, and no useful purpose would be served by unduly upsetting the existing distribution of Governmental posts. It is perhaps too soon to attempt a forecast of what is likely to happen. It can be stated with every confidence that Mr. Baldwin is prepared to make use of the opportunity now a offered to him not only to strengthen the Government, but also to bring about that complete unity in the party which has been the desire of its well-wishers ever since the breakup of the Coalition last autumn.
DUTY OF LOYAL MEMBERS.
The new Premier yields to no one in this devotion to Conservative principles, and his friends are convinced that there is nothing he would welcome more cordially than the return to the Treasury bench of some of those distinguished members of the party who, though experienced administrators, have held no office during the present Parliament. This is a time, it is felt, when every loyal Conservative ought to sink any differences, and thus enable the statesman on whom the King’s choice has fallen to construct a Ministry which will contain the greatest strength it is possible to secure. “Principles before personalities,” said a prominent Unionist last night, “is the motto on which to act.” If Mr. Baldwin were assured of the help of the best of the Unionist ex-ministers, he would be in a position to form a much more powerful Administration than that of which Mr. Bonar Law was the head.
That hopes of a full reconciliation are entertained at this juncture is one of the most interesting features of the present political situation. It was learned last night that Mr. Austen Chamberlain, who has been in the French Pyrenees, was hurrying back to London, and had reached Paris.there is every possibility that negotiations will at once be opened on Mr. Chamberlain’s arrival in London with a view to promoting that fuller harmony in the party which is so much to be desired.
In various quarters yesterday the choice of Sir Robert Horne as the new Chancellor of the Exchequer was announced as already an accomplished fact. No man, perhaps, would be welcomed back at the Treasury more heartily than Sir Robert, but the truth is that those widely-circulated reports have absolutely no foundation, as no office in the new Government has thus far been offered to anyone. It is apt to be forgotten that only recently Sir Robert has assumed very extensive business commitments, and it is doubtful if, in the circumstances, he would be prepared to resume Ministerial office. That Mr. Baldwin would gladly avail himself of the services of his former colleague is certain. It remains to be seen whether Sir Robert can be persuaded to alter his mind.
PARTY LEADER.
In the negotiations that preceded the selection of Mr. Baldwin as Prime Minister Lord Stamfordham, the Private Secretary to the King, consulted a number of influential politicians. The Marquis of Salisbury (Lord President of the Council), Colonel the Hon. F. S. Jackson (chairman of the Unionist Party Organisation), and various Ministers in the late Government assisted him in obtaining the opinion which his Majesty wished to secure. There is evidence that supporters of the party entertained the conviction very strongly that the Prime Minister should be in the House of Commons, where the attack from a vigorous Socialist body, numbering some 150 members, has to be faced day after day. So far as it was possible to obtain opinion in Unionist circles last night, it is clear that the choice of Mr. Baldwin as Premier has given great satisfaction to the party. He is regarded as a man of sterling integrity and sound judgment.
Now that the question of the Premiership is settled immediate steps are to be taken to call a full meeting of the Unionist party for the election of Mr. Baldwin as its leader. It is the present intention to invite Unionist peers and members of the House of Commons to attend at the Carlton Club at noon on Monday, in order to appoint Mr. Baldwin as successor to Mr. Bonar Law in the leadership. He will undoubtedly be unanimously and enthusiastically elected to the position.
Mr. Baldwin will therefore meet the House of Commons, not only as Prime Minister, but as the formally chosen leader of his party.