The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-12-10
BALDWIN RULES.
new BRITISH
MINISTRY
Winston Churchill Is Faced
With Ennity in His
Own Party
BY f. A. WRAY,
International News Service.

BY f.. A. WRAY,
International News Service.
LONDON, Dec. 10.-The return
Of the "first-class brains" to the
government is the outstanding fea-
ture of Stanley Baidwin's new
cabinet.
The term "first-class brains" was
coined by Lord Birkenhead, in all
modesty, and applies to himself and
Winston Churchill. Bereft of Of
flee, when Lloyd Georges govern
ment fell, they have returned to
the fold and been reinstated in
two Of the highest offices in the
British Empire. Churchill is
Chancellor OF the Exchequer, with
absolute power over all spending
departments; and Birkenhead, as
Secretary for India, will rule over
a population of three hundred
millions.
These appointments prove that
Premier Baldwin, encouraged by
HIS enormous majority in both
Houses of Pertinent, has been en-
boldened to take a step which he
would never have dared to take in
his previous term of office. Be-
fore he was under the absolute
sway OF the "die-hards"-the entire
reactionary group of the Tory
Party. Now, in his interchangeable
security, he has dared to take a
line Of his own.
Baldwin Not TimOrOus.
Baldwin is not naturally a timor-
GUS man. But, in his inexperience,
he allowed himself to be both domi-
mated and talked over during his
previous Premiership. In this Par
lament he is master in his own
house, and he is expected to do
much better than before. He Is not
an outstanding personality, and GER
tainly no orator, but he is popular
In the House Of Commons, hard
working and conscientious, and his
handling OF affairs improves with
time. IF he. can Withstand the
vicious attacks Of Lloyd George
probably he will make the reputa-
ton OF safe and successful
Premier.
Austen Chamberlain, as Deputy
Leader and Foreign Secretary, and
Winston Churchill will be the two
mainstays of the Premier in the
House Of Commons. Chamberlain
in these days is not only the most
weighty debater, but has an undis-
puted authority in Parliament.
Winston Churchill will be faced
with the deep-seated animosity Of
three-Quarters Of his own party.
Deserving the Tories over twenty
years ago, he has always described
himself as a Liberal until the re-
cent election, when he was re-
turned as a "Constitutionalist."
His unpopularity with the main
body Of the Tories is as great as
it was In 1905.
Abilities UndeniabIe
AT the same time his abilities are
undeniable; and. at a time when
Britain is staggering under the
weight Of taxation and unemploy.
ment, Baldwin has determined to
put the best possible man in the
difficult job of handling the treas
ury. Churchill's watchword will be
economy" and he is likely to cut
down, ruthlessly and courageously,
expenditure in every spending de-
partment.
Lord Birkenhead goes to the
India office at his own request.
With his temperamental flamboy.
ancy, he is greatly attracted by
the glamour of the post; on the
other hand, he has sound and we'll
defined views in regard to the adj
ministration of India-astonishing
liberal, considering the party to
which he belongs.
Lord CurZon, in the office of lord
president of the council, has been
RELOCATED to a position of semi.
obscurity, where his capacity for
international mischief will be next
to nothing. He win be party leader
in the House Of Lords, but he viii
be unable to NEEDLE in foreign af-
ralrs. He may tread on the toes Of
MS fellow members, but he will no
longer be able to irritate and annoy
half the world by his insufferable
airs OF superiority and complete
lack of tact.
-Four Good Workers.
In Sir William JOHNSON. Hicks. as
nome secretary; William c.. Bridge
man. as secretary Of the navy: Sir
Laming Worthington Evans. as sec.
rotary of war, and L. c. M. Amery.
as colonial secretary, Premier Bald.
win has made four typical Tory
government choices.
One characteristic Of this minis.
try Is that Baldwin has had the
courage to bring in a group of
young and very able men, whose
average age is under forty.
In Lord Cave as chancellor Of the
exchequer and Sir douglas Hogg as
attorney general, Baldwin has the
services Of two extremely able law.
yers.
1 Altogether, Baldwin's cabinet is
TAR less reactionary than his former
one, and its youthful element win
make Dor popularity.