Lobby gossip on the coming reconstruction centres round the names
of those who are likely to resign public life. It is known that Mr. Ramsay MacDonald will follow Mr. Baldwin into retirement, but there is uncertainty whether Mr. Runci- man will go, too. It is an open secret that his relations with Mr. Chamberlain have never been very cordial, and it is felt that since he held his present office of President of the Board of Trade nearly thirty years ago, he would desire a change, and that the only position that would really interest him would be the Chancellor of the Exchequer. But Sir John Simon, as the leader of the Liberal Nationals, has obviously the first claim on this. An interesting sugges- tion, however, is being made, that Sir John Simon might be persuaded to remain at the Home Office, for which work he is admirably suited, and that Sir Thomas Inskip should receive the Chancellorship. There is a growing body of opinion in the Conservative Party in favour of Sir Thomas as the next Premier after the present Chancellor.
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