May 31.
Mr. Neville Chamberlain's recon. struction of the Cabinet on his replacement of Mr. Stanley Baldwin as Prime Minister is deftly accomplished. The main fabric has been retained, Although criticism has been directed against certain reshufflings which have not been directly. necessitated by vacancies it must be remembered that Mr. Chamberlain desires to preserve the national character of his administration and this has probably been the main cause of certain appointments which seem on the surface to imply a change for change's sake. Thus care has been taken to provide for due representation of the comparatively meagre Liberal and Labour elements in the ranks of the Government's supporters, Sir' John Simon goes to the Exchequer, the importance of which post is country. He has sat in the House for 33 years—his is an Irish peerage—having entered it at the age of 21 Viscount Turnour, 'The changes consequent on Mr. Baldwin's resignation have been' markedly different from most of the forecasts indulged in during the last six months. Contrary to ox-pectation Lord Hailsham' remains on the Woolsack, Mr. Walter Runciman who was expected to succeed. Mr. Chamberlain at the Exchequer Yeceives a peerage and retires. It was always recognized that, humanly speaking, his membership of the House of Commons could not be prolonged for many years as he is heir to the barony of his father who is ninety-years-old in July. The creation of his viscounty now gives the Upper House the unusual experience of including father and son contemporaneously on its roll. Sir John Simon's acceptance of the Chancellorship was forecasted only in the last few days. Sir Samuel
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.