New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-07-18
CARSON REPLACES
Law IN CABINET
England Has Big Shake-Up in
Ministry

London, July 17.-Andrew Bonar
Law. chancellor of the exdhequer,
has retired from the war cabinet, and
Is replaced by Sir Edward Carson.
Sir Edward has thus withdrawn from
the admiralty, and Sir Eric Compbell
Geddes has assumed the position of
| first lord of the admiralty.
Winston Spencer Churchill, whose
| retirement from the admiralty, COM
paratively early in the war, was the
outcome of serious controversies, has
again assumed a ministerial post.
the important one of minister of
munitions. succeeding DR.. Christie
pher Addison. DR.. Addison becomes
a minister without portfolio in
charge of reconstruction. Edwin
Samual Montagu a former cabinet
minister, is made secretary of India.
One Of the most acceptable ap-
pointments. as far as the general
public is concerned, Is that of Mr..
Montagu. He is one of the very few
members of the Asquith administra-
ton, In which he was minister of
munitions, to join the Lloyd George
ministry.
Mr.. Montagu has had considerable
experience in the affairs of India,
having once held the post of under
secretary for India. Lately, he has
been in charge of a large commit
tee exploring the ground for recon-
struction after the war, and before
the recent resignation of J Austen
Cha mberlin as secretary for India,
| was announced it was generally sup
hat Mr.
would become minister of recon-
struction. The necessity of finding a
new secretary for India, however
| caused a modification Of the plans,
and DR.. Addison, who had been
slated for the projected ministry of
health, now becomes head of his re-
| construction committee, which has
| been created into kind of min
! isterial department.
The new cabinet appointments
arising out of the resignation of Mr..
| Chamberiain as secretary for India
| and Andrew Bonar Laws desire to
| be relieved of his duties as a men,
| beer of the small war cabinet, which
| he found incompatible with his heavy
| responsibilities, first chancellor of
| the exchequer, and second, as leader
| of the house of commons, contained
two complete surprises-the appoint
ment of Sir Eric Geddes as head of
the admiralty, and Winston Spenser
Churchill as minister of munitions.
! Much controversy has revolved
for a long time past over the name
of Mr.. Churchill. 1t was stated
some time ago that he would succeed
Lord Cowdray as chairman Of the
| air board, but the idea, evidently
then contemplated by Premier Lloyd
| George, met with such strong OPP
| position in. influential quarters that
| the project had to be dropped.
| Mr.. Churchills appointment now
as minister Of munitions will I'M
| doubtedly lead to a revival of that
agitation and, although it was fore
! shadowed that he would re-enter the
! ministry, it was universally supposed
| that it would be as president of the
| air board
The appointment of Sir Eric Ged-
| DIES as first lord of the admiralty is
| another break with the tradition that
the ministers should be members Of
| one of the legislative houses. The
| new first lord is railway man, not
a politician. Until recently he was
| in charge of the whole army trans
| portation; then he became controller
VI TIC dulnlTdlLy WIN charge OF all
naval construction, and such a rapid
! rise to the position to which he is
| now appointed is quite remarkable
| and another instance Of how Premier
| Lloyd George breaks with old politi-
cal traditions
| The appointment of Sir Edward
| Carson to replace Mr.. Bonar Law as
! the fifth member of the war cabinet
! is likely to create more uneasiness
and stronger criticism among the
older liberals than any other APP
| pointment. The war cabinet now in
practice consists of only four men,
! Mr.. Henderson, the labor member
| being still on mission in Petrograd
OF these four, Earl Curzon, Lord
Miner and Sir Edward Carson are
| all conservatives of the most ex-
| IRENE type, and complaints, con-
stantly heard from the liberal and
radical press of the undue prepond-
erance Of conservative influence in
| the government since Mr. Lloyd
George took the helm, will now be
| intensified.
| Sir Eric Geddes received much OF
his practical education in the United
State, having been engaged in lum-
bering. in the south and also at one
| time having had a connection with
! the Baltimore & Ohio railroad He