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Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations facts for kids

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The Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations was an important job in the Government of the United Kingdom. This person was a special minister who looked after the UK's relationships with countries in the Commonwealth of Nations. These countries were often former parts of the British Empire. The office that helped this minister was called the Commonwealth Relations Office (CRO).

This role was created in 1947. It combined two older jobs: the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs and the Secretary of State for India. Over time, the job changed. In 1966, it joined with the Secretary of State for the Colonies. This created a new role: the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs. Then, in 1968, this job merged again with the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. This led to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. Today, a similar job is the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs.

What Was the Commonwealth Relations Secretary?

The Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations was a top government official. Their main job was to manage the UK's connections with countries in the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth is a group of independent countries. Many of them used to be part of the British Empire. This minister helped keep good relationships and worked on shared interests.

How the Role Changed Over Time

The role of Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations did not last forever. It was created in 1947 to handle new relationships. Before that, there were separate ministers for "Dominions" (like Canada or Australia) and for India. As countries gained independence, the UK needed a new way to work with them.

In 1966, the job changed. It merged with the Secretary of State for the Colonies. This meant one minister looked after both Commonwealth countries and remaining colonies. Just two years later, in 1968, the role merged again. It joined with the Foreign Secretary's job. This created a single minister for all foreign and Commonwealth affairs. This change made the UK's international relations simpler.

Important Leaders: Secretaries of State (1947-1966)

Many important people held the position of Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations. They served during a time when many countries were becoming independent. Below is a list of the people who held this role. It shows when they served and which political party they belonged to. The "Ministry" column shows which Prime Minister was in charge at the time.

Portrait Name Term of office Political party Ministry
Christopher Addison, 1st Viscount Addison.jpg Christopher Addison
The Viscount Addison
7 July
1947
7 October
1947
Labour Attlee
(I & II)
Philip Noel-Baker 1942.jpg Philip Noel-Baker
MP for Derby
7 October
1947
28 February
1950
Labour
Patrick Gordon Walker.jpg Patrick Gordon Walker
MP for Smethwick
28 February
1950
26 October
1951
Labour
Ismay cropped.jpg General Hastings Ismay
The Lord Ismay
28 October
1951
12 March
1952
Churchill III
Robert Gascoyne-Cecil 1947.jpg Robert Gascoyne-Cecil
The Marquess of Salisbury
12 March
1952
24 November
1952
Conservative
Lord Swinton.jpg Philip Cunliffe-Lister
The Viscount Swinton
24 November
1952
7 April
1955
Conservative
Alec Douglas-Home (c1963).jpg Alec Douglas-Home
The Earl of Home
7 April
1955
27 July
1960
Conservative Eden
Macmillan
(I & II)
Duncan Sandys 1975.png Duncan Sandys
MP for Streatham
27 July
1960
16 October
1964
Conservative
Douglas-Home
Arthur Bottomley MP.jpg Arthur Bottomley
MP for Middlesbrough East
18 October
1964
1 August
1966
Labour Wilson
(I & II)
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