New-York tribune., 1917-07-18
Orange Leader Resigns;
Joins War Council With.
out Portfolio
Montagu Chosen
Secretary for India
Former First Lord Minister
of Munitions in Add.
sons Place

London, July i7.-Sir Edward Carson
has relinquished his post as First Lord
of the Admiralty and Joined the war
Cabinet without portfolio, according to
an Official announcement of new min
isterial appointments issued this even
ing. Sir Edward will be succeeded by
Sir Eric Campbell Geddes, who has
been Director General of Munitions
Supply.
Winston Spencer Churchill succeed,
DR.. Christopher Addison as Minister of
Munitions. DR.. Addison becoming q
minister without portfolio in charge Of
reconstruction. Edwin Samuel Montagu,
former Cabinet minister, is made Sec
retary for India.
The new Cabinet appointments sris-
ing out of the resignation OF Mr..
Chamberlain as Secretary for India
and Andrew Bonar Laws desire to he
relieved Of his duties as a member
Of the small war cabinet, which he
found incompatible with his heavy
responsibilities. first, as Chancellor Of
the Exchequer, and, second, as leader
of the House of Commons, coptained
two complete surprises-the appoint
ment Of Sir Eric Geddcs as head OF
the Admiralty and Winston Spencer
Churchill as Minister of Munitions.
C.II~.'. D...
The appointment OF Sir Eric is an
other break with the tradition that the
ministers should be members Of one
of the legislative houses. The new
First Lord is q railway man, not
politician. Until recently he was in
charge of the whole army trarspor,a-
tion, then he became controller of the
Admiralty, with charge OF all naval
construction, and such q rapid rise 10
the position to which he is now ap-
pointed is quite remarkable, and an
other instance of how Premier Lloyd
George breaks with old political trsdi-
tions.
Much controversy has revolved for a
long time past over the name of Mr..
Churchill. IL 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 opposition in influential quar-
ters that the project had to be dropped.
Mr.. ChurchilPs appointment now as
Minister of Munitions will undoubted-
ly lead to revival of that agitation.
and although IL was foreshsdowed that
he would re-enter the ministry, il was
supposed that il would be
as president of the Air Board. His
appointment is looked upon as victory
for those whoh ave been demanding re-
prisals for German air raids.
Criticise Carson's Change
The appointment Of Sir Edward Car
son 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 appointment.
The War Cabinet now in practice con-
sists of only four men. Mr.. Hender-
son. the Labor member, being still on
a mission in Petrograd. OF these four.
Earl Curzon. Lord Miner and Sir Ed
ward Carson are all Conservatives OF
the most extreme type, and complaints
constantly heard from the Liberal and
Radical press of the undue preponder-
ance of Conservative influence in the
government since Mr.. Lloyd George
took the helm will now be intensified.
One Of the most acceptable appoint
ments. as far "a the general public is
is that Of Mr. Montagu. He
is one of the very few members of the
Asquith administration, in which he
was Minister Of Munitions, TO join the
Lloyd George ministry.
Mr. Montagu has Rad considerable
experience in the affairs Of India, hav-
ing once held the post Of Under Sec
I etary for India Lately he has been
in charge OF large committee explor-
ing the ground for reconstruction after
the war. and before the recent resigna-
ton of J. Austen Chamberlain as Sec
retary for India was announced IL was
supposed that Mr.. Montagu
eventually would become Minister OF
Reconstruction. The necessity for find
ing a new Secretary for India, however.
caused modification in the plans, and
DR.. Addison, who had been slated for
the projected Ministry Of Health, now
becomes head Of this reconstructive
committee which has been created into
a kind Of ministerial department.