London, Feb. 26, appointment of Viscount Halifax as Foreign Secretary has caused considerable satisfaction both in Rome and Berlin.
Political circles in the Italian capital say that it ought to be good augury for the success of the forthcoming talks between the two nations, Lord Halifax' appointment was made despite strong objection on the part of the Parliamentary Labour Party.
Mr. R. A. Butler, Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, has been made Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, while Mr. A. T. Lennox-Boyd, Conservative M.P. for Mid-Bedfordshire and President of the Oxford Union, has been appointed to succeed Mr. Butler.
As the new Foreign Secretary is a member of the House of Lords, communications received from a the Prime Minister, Mr. Neville foreign government was "now or Chamberlain, will deal" with all imnever." His view remained unk portant aspects of foreign affairs changed, but he was not prepared to which are the subject of debate press his colleagues on this important or of questions in the House of issue of interpretation, for he did Commons. not believe that it was in the interest The Labour Opposition in the of the nation, House of Commons has indicated that Mr. Eden " appreciated the _imfull debate on the appointment of possibility of publishing r&levant Lord Halifax will be demanded. documents at present. He was con-Both Mr. C, R, Attlee, Leader of the tent to await the verdict of history. Labour Party, and Captain William The suggestion that his resignation Wedgwood Benn, Labour member for the Gorton division of Manchester, made it clear yesterday that they felt strongly that the Foreign Secre~ tary should be a member of the House of Commons instead of the House of Lords. The debate will probably take place next week.
The appointment of Lord Halifax, according to a political spokesman in Berlin, may smooth the way to an understanding between Great Britain and Germany, although it may be Tong before a rapprochement is final= ly reached.
Lord Halifax, he points out, has learned Germany's views from Herr Hitler, and has no anti-German bree judges, Consequently, the spokes man adds, Germans have confidence him.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.