First Lord of the Admiralty A. V. Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Hillsborough

alexander @ desk @ admiralty during second world war

although many had expected alexander appointed president of board of trade, position went william graham, protégé of chancellor of exchequer, philip snowden. instead, alexander became first lord of admiralty, labour member hold position cabinet rank. admiralty political power in own right, , able resist pressure treasury , downing street. macdonald s primary concern international disarmament, , alexander persuaded admiralty reduce demands new cruisers prelude negotiations aimed @ ending naval rivalry u.s.. in january 1930, conference between 5 major naval powers (britain, u.s., france, italy , japan) held in london. resulted in treaty between britain, america , japan, limit growth , maintain parity of naval forces. in spring of 1931, alexander , foreign secretary, arthur henderson, negotiated france , italy s entry treaty. though alexander came conflict admiralty on expansion of fleet, defended against criticism of spending , staffing levels. introduced system make easier working-class recruits become officers. during economic crisis in mid-1931, alexander supported snowden s defence of free trade against macdonald , henderson s proposals protectionism, sided henderson against snowden , macdonald s proposed cuts in government spending, unemployment benefit. organised cabinet opponents cuts, advocated socialist economy.

faced cabinet split, prime minister formed coalition conservative , liberal parties. snowden , few others labour mps stayed macdonald, party went opposition. alexander prominent on opposition front bench, leading attacks on government s policies, careful not exploit widespread dissatisfaction pay cuts in armed forces (especially invergordon mutiny), concerned military should not become involved in political matters. number 2 after henderson in parliamentary labour party, being talked of future leader. both alexander , henderson lost seats in 1931 general election. henderson succeeded george lansbury, , alexander s contemporary, clement attlee, became deputy leader.

for next 4 years, alexander s main role again co-op s parliamentary secretary. led opposition renewed government plans impose corporation tax on co-op stores, fight lost time 1933 finance bill. worked have consumer interests represented on new agricultural marketing boards. active in brotherhood movement (an organisation nonconformists), spoke @ rallies league of nations, wrote columns reynold s news , gave lectures on bbc. regaining hillsborough seat in 1935, alexander became front bench spokesman on trade , foreign affairs. attlee, leader of plp, asked him join new defence committee, working shinwell , jack lawson reverse pacifist ideals had prevailed under lansbury. alexander had been warning of dangers posed fascism several years, , criticised government s policy of appeasement. in 1937, hugh dalton , hastings bertram lees-smith, persuaded plp put aside mistrust of baldwin government , support service estimates bill began rearmament. in october 1938, closed debate on munich pact, attacking government s abandonment of sudeten germans.