The position of secretary of state for dominion affairs was a secretary of state in the Government of the United Kingdom, responsible for British relations with the Empire’s dominions – Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Newfoundland, and the Irish Free State – and the self-governing Crown colony of Southern Rhodesia.

When initially created in 1925, the office was held in tandem with that of secretary of state for the colonies; this arrangement persisted until June 1930. On two subsequent occasions the offices were briefly held by the same person.

The secretary of state was supported by an under-secretary of state for dominion affairs. In 1947, the name of the office was changed to the secretary of state for commonwealth relations.

Secretaries of state for dominion affairs, 1925–1947

ConservativeLabourNational Labour
PortraitName Honorifics & constituencyTerm of officePolitical partyPrime MinisterForeign Secretary
Leo Amery MP for Birmingham Sparkbrook (also Sec.State for the Colonies)11 June 19254 June 1929ConservativeBaldwinChamberlain
Sidney Webb, 1st Baron Passfield (also Sec.State for the Colonies)7 June 19295 June 1930LabourMacDonaldHenderson
James Henry Thomas MP for Derby (also Sec.State for the Colonies, Aug–Nov 1931)5 June 193022 November 1935Labour
National LabourReading Simon
Malcolm MacDonald MP for Ross and Cromarty22 November 193516 May 1938National LabourBaldwinHoare Eden
Chamberlain
Edward Stanley, Lord Stanley MP for Fylde16 May 193816 October 1938†ConservativeHalifax
Malcolm MacDonald MP for Ross and Cromarty (also Sec.State for the Colonies)31 October 193829 January 1939National Labour
Sir Thomas Inskip MP for Fareham29 January 19393 September 1939Conservative
Anthony Eden MP for Warwick and Leamington3 September 193914 May 1940Conservative
Thomas Inskip, 1st Viscount Caldecote14 May 19403 October 1940ConservativeChurchill
Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, Viscount Cranborne MP for South Dorset until 1941 Baron Cecil of Essendon after 19413 October 194019 February 1942ConservativeEden
Clement Attlee MP for Limehouse19 February 194224 September 1943Labour
Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, Viscount Cranborne Baron Cecil of Essendon24 September 194326 July 1945Conservative
Christopher Addison, 1st Viscount Addison3 August 19457 July 1947LabourAttleeBevin

Viscount Addison took up the new post of secretary of state for commonwealth relations on 7 July 1947.

Notes

External links

History of English and British government departments with responsibility for foreign affairs and those with responsibility for the colonies, dominions and the Commonwealth
Northern Department 1660–1782 Secretaries — UndersecretariesSouthern Department 1660–1768 Secretaries — Undersecretaries—
Southern Department 1768–1782 Secretaries — Undersecretaries 1782: diplomatic responsibilities transferred to new Foreign OfficeColonial Office 1768–1782 Secretaries — Undersecretaries
Foreign Office 1782–1968 Secretaries — Ministers — UndersecretariesHome Office 1782–1794 Secretaries — Undersecretaries
War Office 1794–1801 Secretaries — Undersecretaries
War and Colonial Office 1801–1854 Secretaries — Undersecretaries
Colonial Office 1854–1925 Secretaries — UndersecretariesIndia Office 1858–1937 Secretaries — Undersecretaries
Colonial Office 1925–1966 Secretaries — Ministers — UndersecretariesDominions Office 1925–1947 Secretaries — Undersecretaries
India Office and Burma Office 1937–1947 Secretaries — Undersecretaries
Commonwealth Relations Office 1947–1966 Secretaries — Ministers — Undersecretaries
Commonwealth Office 1966–1968 Secretaries — Ministers — Undersecretaries
Foreign and Commonwealth Office 1968–2020 Secretaries — Ministers — Undersecretaries
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Since 2020 Secretaries — Ministers — Undersecretaries