The position of Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs was a British cabinet level position created in 1925 responsible for British relations with the Dominions — Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Newfoundland, and the Irish Free State, as well as the self-governing colony of Southern Rhodesia. When initially created 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 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.
| Name | Portrait | Took office | Left office | Political party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leo Amery | 11 June 1925 | 4 June 1929 | Conservative | ||
| The Lord Passfield | 7 June 1929 | 5 June 1930 | Labour | ||
| James Henry Thomas | 5 June 1930 | 22 November 1935 | Labour | ||
| Malcolm MacDonald | 22 November 1935 | 16 May 1938 | National Labour | ||
| Lord Stanley | 16 May 1938 | 16 October 1938 | Conservative | ||
| Malcolm MacDonald | 31 October 1938 | 29 January 1939 | National Labour | ||
| Sir Thomas Inskip | 29 January 1939 | 3 September 1939 | Conservative | ||
| Anthony Eden | 3 September 1939 | 14 May 1940 | Conservative | ||
| The Viscount Caldecote | 14 May 1940 | 3 October 1940 | Conservative | ||
| Viscount Cranborne | 3 October 1940 | 19 February 1942 | Conservative | ||
| Clement Attlee | 19 February 1942 | 24 September 1943 | Labour | ||
| Viscount Cranborne | 24 September 1943 | 26 July 1945 | Conservative | ||
| The Viscount Addison | 3 August 1945 | 7 July 1947 | Labour | ||
The Viscount Addison took up the new post of Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations on 7 July 1947.
| History of UK Government Departments with Responsibility for Foreign Affairs | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colonial Office 1768 – 1782 Secretaries Undersecretaries |
Home Office 1782 – 1794 Secretaries Undersecretaries |
War Office 1794 – 1801 Secretaries Undersecretaries |
War and Colonial Office 1801 – 1854 Secretaries Undersecretaries |
Colonial Office 1854 – 1925 Secretaries Undersecretaries |
Colonial Office 1925 – 1966 Secretaries Ministers Undersecretaries |
Commonwealth Office 1966 – 1968 Secretaries Ministers Undersecretaries |
Foreign and Commonwealth Office 1968 – Present Secretaries Ministers Undersecretaries |
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| Dominions Office 1925 – 1947 Secretaries Undersecretaries |
Commonwealth Relations Office 1947 – 1966 Secretaries Ministers Undersecretaries |
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| . | India Office 1858 – 1937 Secretaries Undersecretaries |
India and Burma Office 1937 – 1947 Secretaries Undersecretaries |
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| Foreign Office 1782 – 1968 Secretaries Ministers Undersecretaries |
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