NEW DEFENCE MINISTER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 31 January 1939, Page 5

NEW DEFENCE MINISTER

OUTSTANDING REPUTATION AS FIRST SEA LORD PARLIAMENT TO REASSEMBLE TO-MORROW I tint inh Official Wirelencl .Received 31st January, 10.13 a.m.) RUGBY, 30th January. Parliament reassembles to-morrow, when there will be a debate on foreign affairs, but differences of opinion that may arise will not, however, be forced to a division. There will be a meeting to-day of the Cabinet Committee attended by Mr Chamberlain. Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir John Simon, the Colonial Secretary, Mr Malcolm MacDonald, the President of the Board of Trade. Mr Oliver 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, i Sir Reginald Hugh Dorman-Smith. at | the Ministry of Agriculture. Their Majesties are returning on Wednesday from Sandringham, and the King will hold a Privy Council on Thursday, at which it is expected the Ministers affected by the recent Cabinet changes will exchange seals of office. Chief interest in the Cabinet changes centres in the appointment of Lord Chat field, as Minister of Defence, and Sir Reginald Hugh Dorman-Smith as Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries. Lord Chatfield, who is at present in India, where he has just completed his work as Chairman of the Committee on Indian Defence, is expected to return to London at the end of the week. Newspapers recall that he won out-1 standing reputation as First Sea Lord and "The Times” remarks that his work with the staffs of the three services fits him most obviously to coordinate with them now. Sir Reginald Hugh Dorman-Smith’s appointment aroused special interest, as he is ex-president of the National Farmers’ Union, which has been active in criticisms of the Government agricultural policy. Interviewed last night. Sir Reginald said he believed agriculture could and would be placed on a sound and prosperous footing.