Oral Answers to Questions — China. – in the House of Commons at on 15 October 1941.
Sir Geoffrey Mander
, Wolverhampton East
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will consider the advisability of ascertaining the views of the Chinese Government on the Atlantic Charter?
Mr Anthony Eden
, Warwick and Leamington
All reports indicate that the Anglo-American declaration was welcomed by the Chinese Government. His Majesty's Ambassador at Chungking telegraphed that it had been warmly received there and that the Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs had issued a statement expressing his gratification. In the circumstances I do not think it necessary to pursue by hon. Friend's suggestion.
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.
