Evening star., 1938-02-25
HALIFAX IS NAMED
EDEN'SSUCCESSOR
Formally Appointed Foreign
Secretary-Fight in Com.
mons Looms.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
LONDON. Feb. 25.-viscount Hall
fax. hitherto Lord President OF the
Council and former Viceroy Of India,
was formally named foreign secre-
tary today in spite Of the Labor Party's
sharp warning the appointment would
raise . constitutional issue.
Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain
announced that Lord Halifax, who was
his emissary on . special visit to
Reichsfuehrer Hitler last November,
would take over the post vacated by
Anthony Eden, who declined to follow
Mr. Chamberlain's realistic foreign
policy.
r. A. Butler, former undersecretary
for India. was named parliamentary
undersecretary for foreign affairs, to
represent the foreign ONCE in the
House of Commons.
Peer Cannot Answer in House.
Mr.. Chamberlain, however will deal
with all important matters Of foreign
policy In Commons, since Lord Hail.
fax. as q peer, can not answer ques-
tions in that House.
The announcement that King George
was pleased to approve" Lord Hail.
fax's appointment was made after the
Commons had adjourned for the week
end.
Clement r. Attlee, leader Of the
Labor opposition. gave notice the op-
position would wage a constant cam
paign against Lord Halifax. who has
been acting as head of the foreign
ONCE since Mr.. Eden's resignation
Sunday night.
Moving to give effect to Mr. Cham
berlain's policy of dealing realistically
with Fascist powers in the search for
European peace, Lord Halifax con-
ferred at length with the Earl Of Perth,
Ambassador to Rome.
Lord Perth is in London to receive
instructions for the Anglo-Italian talks
beginning In Rome next week, in
which Mr.. Chamberlain hopes to reach
with Premier Mussolini a new under
standing on questions long at issue
between the two powers.
Italian Aid Hoped For.
Meanwhile. diplomatic sources said
Italian support of Austrian indepen-
dence may give Britain the needed aid
to block further German dominance Of
Central Europe.
Chancellor Schuschnigg in his
speech to the Austrian Diet and nation
yesterday warmly praised Italy's
Premier Mussolini as one who UNDER
stood Austria's problems and always
tried to avoid any impressions of in
reference in our internal affairs"
This friendly reference must mean,
diplomatic quarters here said, that
Mussolini previously had reassured
Schuschnigg of his continued interest
in Austrian ndependence-despite de-
mails from Rome of any new pledges.
The other possibility was that
schuschnigg was praising II Duce in
an adroit move to bind Mussolini to
him in his determination to fight for
Austrian sovereignty and against the
rise Of Nazidom.
Hopes Still Held.
The praise for Mussolini coincided
with reports Chamberlain had from
Central Europe before Schuschnige
spoke that there "still is time" to save
Austrian independence.
Diplomatic quarters pointed out that
success of any move to aid Austria de-
pended wholly on keeping Schuschnies,
vigorously anti-Nazi the past four
years, in Office.
British officials were fully aware
Nazls would try to oust him.
Therefore. II anything we're to be
done, 1t seemed imperative that Cham
berlain and Mussolini should agree on
course of action without delay.
The opposition called today for mass
demonstrations Of loyalty to Mr.. Eden,
who quit rather than deal with the
Fascist States under what he con-
sidered pressure tactics. He carried
his defense to his Warvickshire con-
stituency today.