– in the House of Commons at on 13 March 1929.
Mr Harry Day
, Southwark Central
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his Department has received any notifications through the State Department at Washington of the occurrence in which Mr. J. W. Reid, a British subject, has been captured by Mexicans and insurgents in Mexico and is being held to ransom; and can he give particulars?
Mr Austen Chamberlain
, Birmingham West
The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, but His Majesty's Minister at Mexico City has reported that Mr. J. W. Reid, a British subject, together with an American citizen, has been kidnapped by bandits and is being held to ransom. Both men are employed by a mining company in the State of Durango. His Majesty's Minister and the United States Ambassador are in communication on the subject with the Mexican Government, and His Majesty's Vice-consul at Durango has been instructed to co-operate with his United States colleague in endeavouring to secure the release of the captured men.
Mr Harry Day
, Southwark Central
Can the right hon. Gentleman say what is the ransom to which Mr. Reid is being held?
Mr Austen Chamberlain
, Birmingham West
No, I cannot.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
