Evening star., 1941-07-21
ChurehiII's Parliamentary
Secretary Appointed to
information Ministry
BY the Associated Press.

such sharp criticism.
The exact nature of Mr.. Duff
Cooper's new assignment was not
disclosed, but it was understood his
duties would be similar to those of
Capt. Oliver Lyttleton, government
co-ordinator in the Near East.
Mr.. Duff Cooper-51-year- -old
Conservative who resigned as Prime
Minister Chamberlain's first lord of
the admiralty because he disap-
proved of his appeasement policy
was believed headed for Singapore,
potential hot spot if Japan should
attempt an oft-predicted southwark
thrust.
Unlike Capt. Lyttleton, who is
special minister of state, Duff
Cooper will not be a member of the
inner war cabinet. He remains a
member Of the government, how
ever, by virtue of his appointment
as chancellor of the Duchy of Lam
caster in place Of Lord Hankey.
Butler Is Elevated.
Other government changes saw
Lord Hankey appointed paymaster
general and 38-year -old Richard
Austen Butler elevated from parlia-
mentary undersecretary for foreign
affairs to president of the Board
of Education.
Mr.. Butler replaces Herwald
Ramsbotham. who was appointed
chairman of the Unemployment
Assistance Board to succeed Lord
Rushcliffe, now retired. Rams
botham was made a baron.
Initial press comment on the
changes, which also included
switches in several undersecretary-
ships, was characterized chiefly by
criticism of Mr.. Churchills failure
to heed oft-repeated demands for
appointment Of a minister of
production.
Some well-informed sources, how
ever, said Mr.. Churchill was con-
sidering such an appointment and
might announce creation of the
ministry at the forthcoming parlia-
mentary debate on production.
Most observers believed the choice
In that event would lie between Lord
Beaverbrook, now minister Of supply,
and Ernest Bevin, minister Of labor.
Assignment Held Justified.
In general. the press reaction was
that Mr.. Duff Cooper's assignment
to the Orient was justified.
The Daily Mail pointed out that
1T there are any serious develop
ments in that region the duties may
become even more important than
those In the Middle East" The same
paper, however, called for drastic
departmental reorganization" of the
government, with appointment of
ministers Of production and civil
defense and "a new start based on
scientific planning"
The Daily Herald said Mr..
Churchills failure to appoint pro-
duction minister was deeply disap-
pointing"
Political circles regarded the
changes merely as a Tightening of
| governmental machinery and a re-
Election of Mr.. Churchill's desire to
get younger men into responsible
positions.
Mr.. Bracken. for instance, before
the war chairman of the financial
news and editor Of the Banker, Is 40.
Other Appointments.
Other appointments announced
were:
Ernest Thurtle, so, who was born
In Port Jervis, N. Y, parliamentary
secretary for the ministry OF in
formation.
Edwin Duncan Sandys, 81, Mr..
Churchill's son-in-law, financial Sec
retary of the war Office.
Richard Kidston Law, formerly a
newspaperman in the United States,
parliamentary undersecretary of
state for the foreign Office.
Sir Hugh Seeley, AZ, former COM
mander of a bombing squadron, ad-
ditional parliamentary undersecre-
tary of state for the Air Ministry.
Col. George Stevens Harvie Watt,
parliamentary private secretary to
Mr.. Churchill, to succeed Mr..
Bracken.
Three new members Of the Kings
Privy Council, which advises his
majesty on affairs of government
| and state, also were named:
H. H. Balfour, parliamentary rm-
dersecretary of state for the Air
Ministry; Tom Williams, joint par
liamentary secretary for the Agri-
culture Ministry, and Maj. Gwilym
Lloyd George. parliamentary secre-
| tary for the Food Ministry.