will be hoped that Sir Samuel Hoare has thoroughly recovered his normal health and strength which had been so sorely strained by his heavy' responsibilities in two great offices of Stale since 1031, The task steering the India Bill through the vicissitudes engendered by formidable And not too scrupulous opposition within the ranks of the Government's nominal supporters was in itself enough to tax the physical energy of even a tennis and racquets blue. When on the completion of it Sir Samuel was called upon to deal with Foreign Affairs in the circumstances ruling last autumn, he was obviously trying himself high, 'The contretemps. whlelt led to his resignation December may have been a blessing jin disguise for it gave him much-needed relief, He' should and in Admiralty "House scope for. his talents without being so tied to departmental duties as to be unable give that support which the Prime Minister requires in general debate, Mr, Baldwin's retirement is supposed {to be an event of the not so distant future. Some consider that it will come when the Coronation ceremonies have been completed next May. "Whether the successor will be Mr, "Neville Chamberlain or Sir Samuel Hoare remains to be seen. The choice may conceivably be made elsewhere, but those two. Ministers fare usually named when the subject discussed, By" precedent. Mr. Chamberlain has the better chance. Prime Ministers in the past have been chosen from former Chancellors of the Exchequer on several occasions: Mr. Bonar Law, Mr. Baldwin, Mr. Lloyd George, "Mr. Asquith." Mr. Gladstone, Mr. Disraeli are ex: amples. ' Former Secretaries State for Foreign Affairs in Lord Salisbury, Lord Rosebery, Lord Pal-marston may be cited. 'Never has former First Lord of the Admiralty been chosen and only one former Secretary of State for India, Lord Salisbury, who held that office for a very few' months, Sir Samuel Hoare may base his claim on his six months at the Foreign OMice if there is any need for such a claim to be made.
In point of fact the selection of the next Prime Minister will depend so much on the developments of the important session to be resumed this week that precedents may be of nifle value,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.