Cabinet's Speech

The Cabinet of Conservative Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin spoke to the country, last week, through a speech which was drafted by its members but pronounced, according to custom, by His Majesty, from the Throne (see above).

The Cabinet declared that:

I. It is considering "carefully and sympathetically" a proposal by the U. S. State Department to replace the expiring British-U. S. arbitration treaty of 1908 by one similar to that just signed between the U. S. and France (TIME, Feb. 13).

II. It proposes to rush through, during the present Parliamentary session, the "votes for flappers bill" extending the franchise now enjoyed by British women over 30 down to all who are over 21.

III. It continues the assurance (which most Great Powers have given) that Britannia stands ready to grant more favorable treaty status to China, "when the Chinese can assure satisfactory protection for British lines and property."

IV. The Cabinet further sponsors minor law court and agricultural reforms, and observes that, while the condition of certain industries causes "serious anxiety," there are signs of "progressive improvement" in home and foreign trade.

Debate on the speech continued all week. It was flayed as "most meagre" by James Ramsay MacDonald, Leader of the Labor Opposition and onetime Prime Minister, who declared that Parliament was "in for a long holiday," since the Government had declined to deal with the critical problems of the coal and other vital industries.

Speaking for the Liberal Opposition, onetime Prime Minister Lloyd George blamed the Government for omitting to mention the "disastrous failure" of the Foreign Office in permitting a breakdown of the Anglo-U. S. negotiations at the Naval Limitations Parley (TIME, Aug. 15 et ante).

This drew from Foreign Secretary Sir Austen Chamberlain a brisk defense of his ministry culminating in the words: "For the British Government war with the United States is unthinkable and the prospect of war with the United States or preparation for war with the United States never has been and never will be the basis of our policy in anything."

Thereafter the Commons drifted into general debate, the Conservatives showing their continued whip hand by putting through various routine motions by majorities of more than two to one. That the Government does not propose, in these circumstances, to hold a general election until the present term of Parliament expires, next year, was positively and gratuitously asserted by Chancellor of the Exchequer Winston Churchill.