Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-07-14

sSV Y YITH," as one London
M newspaper complacently
" " noted, "a speed and
smoothnesS and free
dom from public commotion which
some other countries must envy
Great Britain has just secured a new
cabinet. The actual business Of in
stalling Stanley Baldwin as prime
minister in place of Ramsay MacDon-
aid occupied something less than IL
hours, but the change-over has been
in the making for the last four years,
and it is scarcely surprising that its
final scene partook somewhat of the
nature of anti-climax.
To understand why a prime minis
ter should resign when he was backed
by the largest majority in British par
liamentary history. it is necessary to
indulge in a certain amount of retro
spection. The immediate factor de-
termining Mr.. MacDonalds decision
was plain enough; he was physically
a tired man; he was suffering badly
from insomnia; his eyes were trou-
bling him. But the fundamental
causes which led to his replacement
by Stanley Baldwin are national and
not personal in their derivation.
The last genera, election held in
Britain took place IN the Autumn of
1881, and resulted in landslide in
favor of the then newly styled ma
tional government" Of the 615 seats
in the House of Commons. the Con-
servatives alone secured All; their
Liberal allies, So, and Mr. MacDonald's
National Labor party, IS. Although
leader of the smallest party n the
country, Macdonald was chosen as
prime minister, and although IN the
ensuing years there were good many
OBJECTIONS from the national govern
ment ranks, its parliamentary strength
today remains at the respectable fig
ure of SOC.
Politics Submerged.
For nearly fou' years the over
whelmingly dominant Conservative
party submitted 10 the leadership of
politician who Vas once regarded
as its bitterest enemy 1t can scarcely
be said that the submission was &C
cepted with anything approaching en-
thusiasm. The best that the Conserv-
alive apologists found to say about
the arrangement was that the times
demanded the s.lbordinstion of party
considerations to tine national well
fare; the worst, That no avowed Con-
sentative could possibly get away with
as much Toryism as Macdonald was.
The one thing certain is that whereas
predictions that the rational govern
ment wouldn't last SIX months began
early in 1882, it i'll fact last under
Mr.. MacDonald'S leadership for three
years longer than that.
Nearly a year ago. however, the
signs began to multiply that the Con-
servatives were preparing to demand
the titular as we'll as the actual lead
ership of the national government.
Mr.. MacDonalds public appearances
became fewer and fever: his speeches
in important parliamentary debates
less and less frequent Had It not
been for his perfectly natural ana un-
derstandable desire to remain in Office
through the Kings silver jubilee cele-
brationS, is is quite probable that his
resignation would nave been handed
in months ago. Then as now, he
would have been succeeded by Bald
win, who as a matter of fact since
Christmas has been credited with
being prime minister ir all but name.
Two Factors Guide.
Two considerations governed the
final decision to make the change in
the premiership and simultaneously
to reconstitute the cabinet. One con-
cerned domestic sffairs; the other,
foreign policy.
BY law there must be a general
election at least once every five years.
It is, however, considered a sign Of
weakness in a British cabinet to live
out its full term of office before ap-
pealing to the electorate for {. fresh
mandate; and it is widely blievei that
the next election will be held this
Autumn or, at the latest, next Spring.
So far as domestic corcerns ART in
volved, the cabinet reshuf1le is largely
to be ascribed TO motives of cleo
pioneering.
1t is well recognized phenomenon In
British politics that the electors tend on
general grounds to vote against the
party in power. No matter how well
the leaders of that party think they