NOW IN OFFICE

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 152, 24 December 1935, Page 9

NOW IN OFFICE

FOREIGN SECRETARY

SUPPORT FOR LEAGUE

POLICY CONTINUED

FRANCE'S FRIENDSHIP

(British Official Wireless.) i : RUGBY, December 23. Mr. Anthony Eden, who was yesterday appointed Foreign .Secretary, went to Sandringham this morning to receive the Official Seal from ihe King. He will lake up his duties at the Foreign Office formally tomorrow, after ■which-he is going north for a few days' holiday. During his absence from London he■ will be in close touch with his Department. ■ I .The Press generally gives a friend- ■ ly welcome to Mr. Eden as the youngest holder of the high office of i Foreign.Secretary for the last eighty years, and the appointment is felt to express happily a continuity of the Government's policy of firm and steady support" of the League Covenant," of which Mr. Eden has already for so long been the Government's mouthpiece at Geneva. The new Foreign Secretary has received from the French Premier, M.' Laval, congratulations expressing the I latter's sincere and confident friend-1 ship.' I M. Laval-added: "I am happy to pursue with you the. common task of our two countries for concord and, peace."

urging the peace plan, the "Manchester Guardian" points out that he did so as a subordinate, but now he is the prin-. cipal. He may be true to-his own instinct and convictions, consequently we should not have British"policy completely reversing as a fortnight ago.

The Rome correspondent of "The Times" says that the appointment of Mr. Eden is taken as further unmistakable evidence of. Britain's deliberate hostility to Italian ambitions and policy. Mr. Eden for months has been upheld to almost daily obloquy by the Press. Almost no rumour is considered too fantastic to be promulgated as an illustration of his supposed animosity to Italy and alleged personal differences with Signor Mussolini.

The appointment will inevitably be interpreted that Britain is more deeply than ever committed to sanctions, while it is regarded as shattering any hope of an early compromise or peace. Further uneasiness is aroused by the British soundings of Mediterranean States.