Oral Answers to Questions — Iran. – in the House of Commons at on 1 October 1941.
Mr Thomas Horabin
, Cornwall Northern
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will inform the Finnish Government that this country will not hold itself morally responsible for the future of Finland if Finland does not come to a settlement with Russia?
Mr Anthony Eden
, Warwick and Leamington
Yes, Sir. His Majesty's Government have already addressed a warning to the Finnish Government through the Norwegian Minister at Hel-singfors to the effect that, if the Finnish Government persist in invading purely Russian territory, His Majesty's Government will be forced to treat Finland as an open enemy, not only while the war lasts but also when peace comes to be made.
Sir Geoffrey Mander
, Wolverhampton East
Has any reply been received to that, and is there any time limit?
Mr Anthony Eden
, Warwick and Leamington
No reply has been received.
Sir Kenneth Pickthorn
, Cambridge University
Can my right hon. Friend explain what meaning he attaches to the words about this country holding itself morally responsible for another one, and, if he attaches any meaning, can he give us an assurance that we will not hold ourselves morally responsible for the future of any other country?
Mr Anthony Eden
, Warwick and Leamington
That phrase was used in the Question. My answer was what I stated.
Sir Geoffrey Mander
, Wolverhampton East
Will the right hon. Gentleman consider imposing a time limit so that the matter will not drag on?
Mr Anthony Eden
, Warwick and Leamington
I should be grateful if my hon. Friend would leave me to handle these negotiations in my own way.
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.
