The Cabinet changes seem likely to be relatively few, so
that Mr. Baldwin's :decision. regarding them need not be long delayed. If Mr. Malcolm MacDonald, whose defeat is matter for real regret, vacates the Colonial Office, Mr. Ormsby Gore's translation to a post for which he is obviously predestined should follow as a matter of course. Simultaneously, it may be hoped, Lord Halifax will become Secretary of State for the Dominions. But that imposes on the Prime Minister two stiff tasks, one, to shift Mr. Thomas, and two, to persuade Lord Halifax to remain in active political life at all. The latter may be the more difficult of the two, for, tenacious as Mr. Thomas is, a Prime Minister who got Sir John Simon out of the Foreign Office should not Lind the creation of a vacancy at the Dominions Office beyond his power. Belief in Lord Halifax's capacity to effect a settlement with Ireland is widespread, and he would be an ideal Dominions Secretary to have in office at the time or the next Imperial Conference. Mr. Eden, it is a relief to know, stays where he is.
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