Advent of Laborism

(British Commonwealth of Nations)

Out. After the defeat of the Conservative Ministry in the House of Commons on a motion of no confidence (TIME, Jan. 28), Premier Baldwin taxied to Buckingham Palace and tendered the resignations of his Cabinet to the King and advised His Majesty to ask James Ramsay Macdonald, Labor Leader of the Opposition, to form a Cabinet. The King accepted the Cabinet's resignations and took immediate steps to summon Mr. Macdonald to the Palace. Thus was the usual procedure of an outgoing Cabinet rigidly followed.

In. Before Premier Baldwin had left the Palace, Mr. Macdonald had arrived, accompanied by J. R. Clynes and J. H. Thomas--a trio of moderate and responsible Laborites. Mr. Macdonald wore a frock-coat and a silk hat, Mr. Clynes was distinguished by a soft cap, Mr. Thomas remained inseparable from his aged and worn derby. The King received Mr. Macdonald in an audience lasting more than an hour, during which he charged him to form a Cabinet. When Mr. Macdonald came out of the Palace he was met by hundreds of cheering partisans.

A Scene. Mr. Macdonald in the afternoon went to the House. There were Premier Baldwin and some of his Ministers sitting on the Government Bench answering some routine questions as if they had never heard of Laborism and Mr. Macdonald. Then Captain Hacking, Deputy Controller of the Royal Household, clad in his magnificent robes of office, walked to the Clerk's table and announced that he had a message from the King. The message: "I thank you for your loyal and dutiful address* and will at once give it my careful consideration." Exit Captain Hacking. Enter Mr. Macdonald from behind the Speaker's Chair. He was loudly cheered. Premier Baldwin arose, was cheered vociferously by the Conservatives, and said: "As a,result of the vote which took place in this House last night, the Government have tendered their resignation to the King and his Majesty has been graciously pleased to accept it." Mr. Jack Jones, "inimitable Laborite," said: "Thank God for that!" Premier Baldwin then moved "that this House adjourn until Feb. 24." The motion was passed and Conservative Government went out of office, although according to custom the Conservative Ministers remained at their posts until relieved by the incoming Labor Ministers.

Cabinet. After having been charged to form a Cabinet by the King, Mr. Macdonald (on the afternoon of the same day) submitted the list of Ministers to His Majesty, who gave his formal approval. The list showed that the new Premier had made a wise and far-sighted selection, designed to please the opposing Parties in the House and so to strengthen the position of Labor.

The principal members of the Cabinet:

PRIME MINISTER, FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY/- and SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, James Ramsay Macdonald, Laborite (for personal details see under).

LORD PRIVY SEAL and LEADER OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, John Robert Clynes, Laborite, noted for his moderate attitude.

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE PRIVY COUNCIL, Charles Alford Cripps, Baron Parmoor, Conservative, a barrister of note.

LORD HIGH CHANCELLOR, Richard Burdon, Viscount Haldane, Liberal, a man of immense knowledge and understanding (TIME, Jan. 7).

CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER, Philip Snowden, Socialist, most unpopular member of the Cabinet. Is foremost proponent of Capital Levy and has a "crabbed, gloomy nature."

SECRETARY OF STATE FOR HOME AFFAIRS, Arthur Henderson, Laborite, has held a number of Cabinet posts.

SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES, James Henry Thomas, Laborite, General Secretary of the National Union of Railwaymen, a Privy Councillor, was formerly an engine driver. Represents extreme moderate Labor policy.

SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR, Stephen Walsh, Laborite, held two Parliamentary posts during the War.

SECRETARY OF STATE FOR AIR, Brigadier General C. B. Thomson. He was attached to the Supreme War Council 'during the War.

SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA, Sir Sidney Oliver, Fabian Socialist, but nearer a Liberal in practical politics. Has spent most of his life in the Civil Service, principally in connection with the administration of the colonies.

FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY Frederick John Napier Thesiger, Viscount Chelmsford, Conservative, lawyer. His appointment was a great surprise. He was once Viceroy of India.

PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE Sidney Webb, Laborite, who with his wife, Beatrice, is one of the foremost publicists on Laborite Socialism and sociology. A co-founder of the London School of Economics.

The Seals. On the following morning Premier Baldwin and his Ministers went to Buckingham Palace to deliver to the King in Privy Council the Seals of State. Exit ex-Premier Baldwin and ex-Ministers of State. Enter Mr. Macdonald and his Cabinet to receive the Seals and be sworn members of His Majesty's Most Honorable Privy Council. Exit Premier Macdonald and the Labor Ministers. (Now the Labor Ministry is legally constituted.)

Premier. There follows an outline of the life history of a man who, once a country yokel, has risen to be Prime Minister of Britain. Born in the village of Lossiemouth in 1866; under the influence of village school teacher renounced manual labor and became a student; at 19 years of age went to London, worked in daytime, studied in evenings, health gave way; after long illness became secretary to Thomas Lough, Liberal; in 1894 became a Laborite; stood for election in 1895 and 1900 but was defeated both times; in 1906 he won a seat in Leicester which he represented until 1918; in 1911 he became Leader of the Labor Party, a post which he resigned in 1914 when the Laborites refused to follow him in his pacifist policy; throughout the War he was energetic in trying to stir up trouble, he became one of the most unpopular men in Parliament, he tried to go to Russia--the ship's crew went on strike, he tried to go to Stockholm to meet the Bolsheviki--the Government refused to grant him passports; he became a political nonentity in 1918 and did not regain his seat in the House until the 1922 elections when he became Chairman of the Parliamentary Labor Party and Leader of His Majesty's Opposition. Now he is Prime Minister, nearer Conservatism than Radicalism, such is the metamorphosis of Macdonald. The Times of London, says he is one of the most noteworthy of British Prime Ministers--an idealist and a pacifist guiding the country when idealism and pacifism are not the ruling passion of the world. Henry William Massingham, famed Liberal editor of London, summed up Macdonald thus: "Not eloquent, but a statesman. A man of principle, but not a fanatic. Elastic without being supple. A character as stainless as Burke or Gladstone."

Lady Secretary. Miss Margaret Bondfield, Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Labor, is the first woman to hold a ministerial post in Great Britain. She was a delegate in 1920 to the Russian Congress of Labor Unions, a labor adviser in the British delegation to the Washington labor conference, a delegate at several labor meetings in Geneva under the auspices of the League of Nations. Because of the shape of her head, she has been compared to a robin. Said Lady Astor: "'Maggie' Bondfield is worth twice some of the men in the Cabinet."

Labor Policy. The following information is given as indicative of the Labor Party's policy: "Capital Levy is dropped pro tem. To be brought up later but not to be introduced until after the permanent staff of the Treasury have been consulted. In foreign policy the Premier intends to use the League of Nations as his main instrument to establish and maintain world peace and thereby to set an example to other nations. He will also vigorously ostracize secret diplomacy. In general his policy will be to promote the welfare of the workers "by fair and constitutional means."

Russia. One of the first acts of Premier Macdonald was to give effect to his policy of ending "the pompous policy of standing aloof from Russia." James O'Grady, Labor M. P., was offered and accepted the post of British Ambassador to Russia. Official recognition of Russia, however, was held in abeyance pending agreement on the conditions of such recognition of the British Government and the acceptance by both Governments of each other's ambassadorial candidates.

India. To the forces of non-cooperation and other parties of a turbulent revolutionary nature in India, the advent of Laborism in Britain was looked forward to with undisguised enthusiasm. The letter which Mr. Macdonald sent to India three weeks before he became Premier and which he has recently had published did nothing to reassure them. The letter said revolutionary movements which break contact with the past invariably have to pick them up again. "I can see no hope in India," he said, "if it becomes the arena of a struggle between constitutionalism, and revolution. No party in Great Britain will be cowed by threats of force or by policies designed to bring govern-ment to a standstill, and if sections in India are under the delusion that that is not so, events will very sadly disappoint them." He went on to say that revolutionary methods forced out the moderates and allowed the two extremes of reaction "to kick and tear and sweat against each other until the failure of both has been demonstrated."

"I know," he concluded, "that the approach and goodwill should be mutual. My appeal is, therefore, not only to the Indians, but to the British authorities as well."

Significance. The Government in London does not represent the sentiments of a vast proportion of the British electorate; for out of 14,186,000 votes polled in the last elections (TIME, Dec. 17), 9,611,000 votes were for Conservatives and Liberals, thus leaving 4,575,000 votes to Labor. The Conservatives hold more seats than any other Party in the House, Labor next, then the Liberals. The Liberal Party, therefore, represents the balance of power. The Labor Party, in other words, must mind its p's and q's, or it runs a danger of being ousted by a transfer of the Liberal votes to the Opposition. At the next session of Parliament the Liberal Party will, it was stated, make it clear that they have no sympathy with radical Socialism or with a capital levy. As the Conservatives will lead the Opposition, it is likely that the Labor Government will sit at its feast of power, like Damocles, with the sword of (Conservatism suspended by the hair of Liberalism above its head.

*The address was one written by Premier Baldwin (in answer to that delivered by the King at the opening of Parliament) and amended by a vote of no confidence in the Government (TIME, Jan. 28). /-Prime Ministers of Britain do not receive a salary as such and generally hold the office in conjunction with that of First Lord of the Treasury. The office of Prime Minister was only constitutionally recognized in 1905, although it had existed de facto for many years.