The silent service is in danger of losing its reputation.
No Minister today is more vocal than the First Lord of the Admiralty. Monday morning's papers are sure to contain reports of at least one week-end speech by Mr. Alexander, and the mid-week is often equally privileged. I am sure the First Lord devotes to the preparation of his speeches all the time and care they deserve, and he often has to travel some distance to deliver them. That must tax his time and energies very considerably. He speaks extremely well, but running the Navy can hardly be less than a full-time job in days like these ; the speaking engage- ments of the two other Service Ministers are conspicuously few. Political speeches do not cease to be important in war-time, but they ought not to be expected, except on special occasions, from Ministers with heavy executive duties.
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