NEW MINISTER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22974, 28 February 1938, Page 11

NEW MINISTER

FOREIGN OFFICE . VISCOUNT HALIFAX LABOUR DISSATISFIED CHALLENGE BY LEADER OTHER POSTS FILLED By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright (Received February 27. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON. Feb. 26 It is officially announced that Viscount Halifax has been appointed Foreign Secretary in succession to Mr. Eden. Mr. R. A. Butler, formerly Parliamentary Secretary of Labour, has been appointed Foreign Under-Secretary. Mr. A. T. Lennox-Boyd (Conservative, Mid-Bedford) succeeds Mr. Butler.

The Prime Minister, Mr. Chamberlain, will bo responsible for all the major aspects of foreign affairs as they arise jn debates and questions in the House of Commons. The leader of the Labour Party, Mr. C. R. Attlee, in an address to the Oxford University Labour Club, 6aid the appointment as Mr. Eden's successor of one safely stowed away in the House of Lords was the measure of the Cabinet's belief in popular representation. Labour would challenge that. The country possessed forces strong enough to drive Mr. Chamberlain from office. The Australian Associated Press says the announcement that Lord Halifax will retain the Lord Presidentship of the Council is regarded as confirmation of the earlier belief that Mr. Chamberlain contemplates a reconstruction of the Cabinet. Lord Halifax's Influence It is known that Lord Halifax informed Mr. Chamberlain that he did not desire to couple the two portfolios.. Lord Halifax does not. want to remain Foreign Secretary indefinitely, but is prepared to carry on during the negotiations between Britain and Italy and Britain and Germany. Lord Halifax is essentially a moderate Conservative and a kindly country gentleman. He is one of the most influential members of the Government. Behind the scenes his colleagues regard him as indispensable. He believes that war must be avoided at all costs and that Britain must reach an agreement with the dictators.

Mi\ Butler's appointment is likely to prove popular. He is one of the few coming young men and an excellent linguist Germany Approves Change Mr. Lennox-Bovd, the new Parliamentary Secretary of Labour, is an active young Conservative. His appointment certainly will arouse the Opposition to fury because frequently he has made speeches in favour of the Spanish rebel leader, General Franco, in the House of Commons. Mr. Chamberlain's refusal to meet the request of the Leader of the Labour Party, Mr. C. R. Attlee, that the Foreign Secretary should be in the House of Commons angered the Opposition, but hu compromised by assuming the responsibility for all major aspects of foreign affairs in the House of Commons and by reducing Mr. Butler's responsibilities mostly to departmental duties.

A message from Berlin states that a political spokesman says Germany greets Lord Halifax's appointment without prejudice. Having heard Germany's views from the person best authorised to express them (Herr Hitler), his appointment, it is felt, may pave the way for an understanding betweeD Britain and Germany.

The new Parliamentary Secretary of Labour, Mr. A. T. Lennox-Boyd, was born in November, 1904, and was educated at Sherborne School and at Christ Church, Oxford. He was elected for mid-Bedford in October, 1931, and again in November, 1935. SIGNOR MUSSOLINI POSITION ASSAILED MR. ATTLEE'S SUMMING UP (Received February -J7, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 20 In the course of his address to the Oxford University Labour Club, Mr. C. R. Attlee described Signor Mussolini's position as that of a bankrupt dictator spreading troops over a wide area, whose economic position was rotten, whose credit had vanished, and who could not bargain, so that even after six years of a National Government Britain should be able to come to an arrangement with him. EARL OF PERTH LONDON CONSULTATIONS i i (Received February 27, 5.5 p.m.) British Wireless RUGBY, Feb. 20 The British Ambassador to Italy, the Fail of Perth, to-day continued his consultations at the Foreign Office regarding the Government's plans for Anglo-Italian talks. Probably he will remain in London until the end of IH'Vf .. , |,