10 NOVEMBER 1939, Page 6

Billeting negotiations lead sometimes to slight misunder- standings. Suitable quarters

were recently sought for a certain Cabinet Minister and his personal staff, in the event of the Department leaving London. The choice, so the story goes, fell on a conveniently situated country house, and a deal was struck with the lady whose property it was. But to her, it seems, evacuation only meant one thing, school children, and a preliminary inspection which was fortunately arranged revealed a clean but austere attic, adorned with three neat truckle beds, presumably for the Minister and his two secretaries—one of whom, but only one, is of the same sex as his chief.