A Spectator's Notebook
THE talk prevalent in political circles about the Prime Minister's position and future is too persistent to be ignored. Mr. MacDonald is by general consent the pivot of the Cabinet. It is his personality which holds its diverse elements together. And the question is being increasingly asked how long he can go on doing . that. His health is causing his friends deep concern. The two operations on his eyes were successful at the time, but the trouble has not disappeared. As it is he reads far more documents than he ought on medical grounds, and fewer than he ought on political grounds. His speeches, both in the House of Commons and outside it, have, with one exception (his contribution to the Ottawa debate in the House), been far below his normal level. And persons having to do business of one kind and another with him have come away distressed at the effort it has obviously cost him to grasp arguments and situations he would have caught in a moment in the old days. There is no suggestion of any immediate resigna- tion. On the other hand there is good reason for con- sidering possible future developments. The King, if be had to choose a new Prime Minister, would naturally send for Mr. Baldwin, who would presumably accept- though Mr. Runciman was for a time talked of as the ideal head of a coalition Cabinet. A few Simonite Liberals, and no doubt Mr. Thomas, might remain. But without Mr. MacDonald there would be no National Government.
Previous page
