Mr. Lyttelton in Washington
Mr. Oliver Lyttelton's visit to America is a reminder that a com- bined policy of production for the United Nations is just as important as a combined strategy. Long ago the United States was sending material to us, and both she and Great Britain were sending material to Russia ; and supplies have to be sent to Australia and the Middle East, and allotted to the various countries according to their needs. On the production side Mr. Lyttelton's first task was to stimulate and bring order into war production in this country ; but it is scarcely less important to align this effort with that of the United States and carry the planning on to a higher level so that the needs of both countries can be satisfied by harmonious action. In Washington, Mr. Lyttelton will meet President Roosevelt and confer with Mr. Donald Nelson and Mr. Harry Hopkins, and it seems likely that a Joint War Production Board will be set up to complete the work already being carried out by Boards dealing with the pooling of munitions, shipping and raw materials. It is supremely important to organise planning so that each country—the Dominions, of course, being included—should produce according to its special capacity, and with a view to the needs of theatres of war most accessible to it. Mr. Churchill and the Service chiefs have been discussing major questions of strategy with our visitors from America, General Marshall and General Arnold. It is for Mr. Lyttelton with his opposite number in Washington to discuss similar closely concerted action in the sphere of production.
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