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PUBLIC INTEREST.
Crowds in Downing-street.
7be week-end Cabinet meetings and
newspaper reports of Ministerial dis
a"greafts" aroused wide public interest,
and despite the bitter cold, crowds in
Downing -treet watched the comings and
goings of Ministers. The scene there last
night recalled that in the anxious hours
before the abdication. The crowds were
so great a big force of police had to con
trol them. Mr. Eden's appearance re
sulted in shouts of "We want Eden," "No
pact.with Italy," and "No more Spain."
Photographers kept up a constant bar
rage of flashlights, photographing each
Minister. Some of the crowd's shouting
was well organised. Communists issued
handbills urging that there should be no
pacts with dictatorship countries.
With the announcement precisely at
' p.m yesterday of the resignations of
Mr. Eden and Lord Cranborne .came the
climax of the greatest Downing-street
drama since the abdication. It was the
first omclal Intimation regarding any of
the week-end's sensational happenings.
about which rumour followed rumour.
It is learnt that the actual resignation
occurred at 7.30 p.m., when Mr. Eden.
alone and hatless and carrying a dis
patch box, crossed from the Foreign Omce
to the Cabinet room. He carried tn the
box his letter of resignation written after
tbe, termination of the afternoon's Cabi
net meeting. He remained only a few
minutes at No. 10 and then walked out
with hat and coat. It appears that even
as late as 6 o'clock the Cabinet had
hoped a compromise would be reached.
but Ministers waiting in the Cabinet room
realised it was hopeless when Mr. Eden
put his letter before Mr. Chamberlain.
Any shadow of bt as to the outcome
of the meetings quickly removed
when, as Cabinet Minlstersamntered No. 10
for the 10 o'clock session. it was seen
Mr. Eden had not returned. The Minis
ters remained for only half an hour's
meeting to complete formalities Lord
CranbOmne, as a close follower of Mr.
daen ?-bo3to~f* to., his.chie and
the apoh ined that some of Mr.
Eden's Cabinet colleagues might do like
wise. However, Mr. Chamberlain defin
itely averted this, eialthough a distinct
paossibhlit at one time existed that if
Mr. Eden went others might follow
It is learnt that before taking leave of
his colleagues Mr. Eden expressed a hope
that they would still support the Govern
ment. He explained his decision was pera
sonal and he did not wish to be involvel
in any political movement whatever. be
cause he would continue to support the
National Government.
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