Lord of Swrang-sngrar

The Hon.′Ap, Lord of Srong-sngrjar PC (Shinasthana: 雙山侯鞥, srong-sngrjar-go-′ap; Mar. 13, 1907 – Aug. 10, 1990) was a Themiclesian diplomat, military officer, and politician. Due to the party leader's unexpected death after winning a Conservative majority, he became prime minister between 1971 – 72, being the final holder of that office who was not an elected member of parliament. Though belonging to the Conservative Party most of his career, he became an independent in 1987.

Name and title

The family name of the Lord of Srong-sngrjar is Ga (弧), though by custom it is not mentioned when his title is. The Srong-sngrjar's Ga name is that of the Gos-ljang County (後陽弧氏), but the lineage is not a prominent one in recent ages. He inherited his title as eldest son upon his father's death in 1961, but due to his assignment abroad he only took his seat in the House of Lords in 1962. The title, created in 1847 for his great-great-grandfather, is based on Srong-sngrjar Commune (雙山里) in the capital city, though none of the title-holders have actually lived there. Incidentally, he is clansman with another member of his ministry, Harry S. G. Ga MP (1919 – 1992).

Military career

In 1935, Srong-sngrjar was appointed captain in the East Expedition Force, on the strength of his degree in literature from the Army Academy; however, most of his duties were actually discharged by his second-in-command, H. R. Pek, a warrant officer.

Political career

Following his embassy to Hallia between 1962 and 1965, a period in which defensive arrangements were paramount, he became the de facto Opposition leader in the House of Lords.

In 1970, Srong-sngrjar chaired the Special Committee on the Government's Press Conduct, which investigated whether the Liberal government had abused its authority over the armed forces to produce stories favourable to its political commitments in the media. He made the unprecedented decision, for a House of Lords committee, to summon enlisted men for their testimonies. Srong-sngrjar personally conducted examinations on 41 officers and men, producing a list of laws that the Government has broken and of other occasions in which it has seriously misrepresented important facts or published outright untruths.

In the June 1971 general election, Srong-sngrjar was designated as the next foreign secretary for his experience and work acclaimed by both parties. However, Ben Gu, the Government leader, suddenly died nine days after the election, on June 21.

See also

• Themiclesia