EDEN

In 1951 the Conservatives returned to office and Eden became Foreign Secretary for a third time. Churchill was largely a figurehead in the government, and Eden had effective control of British foreign policy for the second time, with the decline of the empire and the intensifying of the Cold War. Churchill wanted to appoint Eden Deputy Prime Minister as well as Foreign Secretary, but the King objected and said that the office did not exist in the UK constitution and might interfere with his ability to appoint a successor. He was not appointed Deputy Prime Minister, but he still considered himself Churchill's second-in-command. In April 1955 Churchill retired, and Eden succeeded him as prime minister.Provenance: From the family of H.M. Inspector of Taxes at the time who was allowed to keep these documents on his retirement.