Significance Of British Cabinet Changes

Northern Advocate, 31 January 1939, Page 5

Significance Of British Cabinet Changes

[British Official Wireless.] (Received 1.30 p.m.) RUGBY, January 30. Chief interest in the Cabinet changes centres in the appointment cf Lord Chatfield as Minister for the Coordination of Defence, and Sir R. H. Dorman-Smith as Minister of Agriculture.

Lord Chatfield, who at present is in India, where he has just completed work as chairman of the committe on Indian Defence, is expected to return to London at the end of the week. Agriculture’s Future. Sir R. H. Dorman-Smith’s appointment has aroused special interest, as he was formerly President of the National Farmers’ Union, where he has been active in criticisms of the Government’s agricultural policy. Interviewed last night, he said that he believed that agriculture could, and would, be placed on a sound and prosperous footing. Parliament reassembles to-morrow, when there will be a debate on foreign affairs, but differences of opinion that may arise will not be forced to a division.

Cabinet Committee Meets.

There was a meeting to-day of the Cabinet committee, attended by Mr Chamberlain, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir John Simon, the Colonial Secretary, Mr Malcolm MacDonald, the President of the Board of Trade, Mr O. Stanley, the President of the Board of Education, Earl de la Warr, and the new Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Mr W. S. Morrison, as well as his successor at the Ministry of Agriculture, Sir R. H. Dorman-Smith.

Their Majesties will return on Wednesday from Sandringham, and the King will hold a Privy Council on Thursday, at which it is expected that the Ministers affected by the recent Cabinet changes will exchange seals of office.