MRS R. A. EDEN.

Waikato Times, Volume 117, Issue 19596, 7 June 1935, Page 3

MRS R. A. EDEN.

A POLITICAL MIX-UP.

■The life of Mrs Eden, wife of Mr R. A. Eden, Lord Privy Seal, as a public man's wife began with a rush, says a London writer. She was only 18 when she married, in the autumn of 1923, and almost immediately afterwards she and her youthful husband hurried to Warwick, which was seeking a Conservative candidate in succession to Sir Ernest Pollock, now 'Lord Hanworth. Mr Eden was adopted, and thereafter began a political “ family feud." Mr Eden Is the uncle of Lord Warwick, whose grandfather —a man of great culture and artistic ability—was then alive. His grandmother —now 'Frances, Countess of Warwick —was adopted as the Socialist candidate.

Faced with Dilemma. The present earl’s father-then Lord Brooke —was faced with a dilemma. Should he support the- Conservative candidate, who 'was. his brother-in-law? Should he support the Socialist candidate, who was his mother? ~ ' After a time Lord Brooke found a way out. He /.sent a letter to Air 'Eden wishing 'his luck, and thereafter refrained taking any part in the contest. But the family complexity did not end there. For 'Mrs Anthony Eden is the daughter of Sir Gervase Beckett. Sir Gervase is -the son-in-law of Frances, Countess of Warwick, for he married, as his second wife, the widow of the late Lord Feversham, who was killed in the war. Before her first marriage Lady Marjorie Beckett was Lady Marjorie 'Greville.

Fighting Against Relatives. In other words, Mr Eden was fighting against his sister’s mother-in-law. He was also fighting against his wife’s step-mother’s mother. This relationship is not easy to work out. The fact remains, however, that Mr Eden got into Parliament with a considerable majority.