BRITISH CABINET

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21304, 24 December 1940, Page 5

BRITISH CABINET

NEW MINISTER OF WAR CAPTAIN D. MARGESSON EDEN FOREIGN MINISTER (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Dec. 22. It is officially announced that Viscount Halifax, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, has been appointed Ambassador to Washington in succession to the late Marquess of Lothian. Mr Anthony Eden, Secretary of fnr War tniccpprlc T ,nrrl Halifav

as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. Captain David Margesson, now a Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury, and Government Chief Whip since 1931, becomes Secretary of State for War. Viscount Cranborne, Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, has been created a baron in his own right (he is the elder son of the Marquess of Salisbury), thus enabling him to handle foreign affairs in the House of Lords in place of Lord Halifax. Viscount Halifax has had wide and varied experience in politics, gained distinction as Viceroy of India irom 1926 to 1931, and is known as a man of deep religious faith. He entered Parliament in 1910. At various time he has been assistant

Minister of National Service, 191718, after serving in the Great War, Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, President of the Board of Education, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Viceroy of India, Secretary of State for War, Lord Privy Seal, Lord President of the Council, and Foreign Secretary. He was married in 1909 to Lady Dorothy, youngest daughter of Lord Onslow, a former Governor of New Zealand. Mr Eden has already served Britain as Foreign Secretary. At 33 he was the youngest British statesman *o hold the position since Granville in 3851. Mr Eden has held many important diplomatic and Parliamentary posts since his first appointment \n 1924. He served in the last war, winning the Military Cross and finishing as a brigade major. As Parliamentary private secretary to the Under-Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Eden visited New Zealand in 1925 on his way to the Imjperial Press Conference at Melbourne. His association with the League of Nations brought him worldwide prominence, but a difference with the late Mr Neville Cham berlain led him to resign in 1938. He returned to the Cabinet as Secretary for the Dominions last year. He became Secretary for War last May. and recently visited Empire troops in the Middle East. The new Secretary of State for War, Captain David Margesson, is soldier and politician. He spent three years on active service. His political career began in 1922, when he was elected to the House of Commons for a West Ham seat. He became assistant Government Whip in 1924 and Chief Government Whip in 1931. In June, 1935, he was made a member of the Privy Council. Captain Margesson, who married an American, was a Junior Lord of the Treasurv from 1926 to 1929, and again in 1931. FOSTERS TORN DOWN INDIGNATION IN PARIS NAZIS THREATEN REPRISALS CUnited Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Dec. 22 i The Free French news agency ■ states that posters, signed “Comj mandant Constantine.” which re- , cently appeared on the walls of J buildings in Paris, invited airmen to I volunteer for service in the German i air force. All were torn down the ; same night. New posters soon appeared, | threatening reprisals. Within two | hours young Frenchmen, in daylight and under the eyes of the German l police, ripped them down.