Siberian Crab Apple

In the verdant Severn valley of England where still survive the genial, autocratic Squire and the great yet cozy country house, lies Bewdley, one of the safest Conservative constituencies in the Kingdom. Its Parliamentary member for the last 28 years has been Stanley Baldwin, now nearly 70, and younger members of the Party say he would understand more of their troubles "if the P. M. ever had to fight for his seat, instead of just standing in Bewdley." To its homely broad-brogued farmers the Prime Minister went last week to confirm what everyone knew --that he is about to retire from office (TIME, March 22), although from a newly-bought house in London's Eaton Square he will weightily counsel the Conservative Party and through it His Majesty's Government.

"Whatever Fascism and Communism may produce for Russia, Italy and Germany, I want to warn you," said Stanley Baldwin.

"You cannot graft them on our system any more than you can graft a Siberian crab apple to an oak. . . . They are exotic." Most of the audience had grown some fruit, and they knew Squire Baldwin has also pruned off the British oak its exotic topmost leaf Edward VIII. They raised lusty cheers for the Prime Minister and returned the mellow words with which he left them: "God bless you all!"

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