BRITISH CABINET

Evening Star, Issue 23103, 1 November 1938, Page 9

BRITISH CABINET

CHANGES ANNOUNCED LORD HAILSHAM RESIGNS PRESIDENCY OF COUNCIL (British Official Wireless.) Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright RUGBY, October 31. (Received November 1, at 11 a.m.) It is officially announced that the King has accepted the resignation of Lord Hailsham, Lord President of the Council, and has approved the following appointments:—Lord President of the Council, Lord Runciman; Lord Privy Seal, Sir John Anderson; Secretary for Dominions, Mr MacDonald. In letters exchanged between Lord Hailsham and Mr Chamberlain the former makes it clear that his resignation was not due to any difference of opinion or divergence over policy, and was actuated solely by the desire to leave at Mr Chamberlain’s disposal a post which does not involve administration of any great department of State and so increase his opportunity of wider reinforcement of Cabinet. Mr MacDonald retains the Colonial Secretaryship, and the size of the Cabinet is thus reduced by one. In speculation on Cabinet reconstruction in the Press in recent weeks Sir John Anderson’s name has been frequently mentioned in connection with the office of Lord Privy Seal on the assumption that his services would be used within, the Government, particularly in relation to questions affecting what is loosely described as national service. [Sir John Anderson was born in Glasgow in 1878. During the European war he organised many important works for the Government.] PARLIAMENT REASSEMBLES TO-DAY GENERAL DEBATE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 31. (Received November 1, at 11 a.m.) Parliament reassembles to-morrow, and the Cabinet held a special meeting to-day. It is expected that there will be, a general debate in the House of Commons lasting three days, which will range over the immediate past and future of international affairs as well as defence questions. The newspaper's anticipate that Mr Chamberlain will himself deal with the international side of the debates, defending his own policy and explaining any developments which it may undergo, while the answer to the Labour motion of air raids precautions will be made by Sir Samuel Hoare.