Paradoxically enough the North Atlantic Treaty Organisa- tion will gain
much, and the British Cabinet will lose little, by the appointment of Lord Ismay as Secretary-General of the former. The reason for the latter conclusion is that he is to be succeeded as Secretary -for Commonwealth Relations by Lord Salisbury, who has been Secretary for the Colonies and the Dominions. in his time, and whose outstanding ability no one has ever questioned. There will be no loss in the exchange. Lord Ismay, at the same time, is peculiarly well qualified for his new office, better qualified, indeed, on the purely technical side than either Sir Oliver Franks or Mr. Lester Pearson, and like them, is well accustomed to work harmoniously with the Americans. He was throughout the war Mr. Churchill's right-hand man at the Ministry of Defence as well as a member of the. Chiefs of Staff Committet. Familiar in every detail with the working of the extensive alliance which won the war, he comes near being the ideal man to guide the destinies of N.A.T.O. Prolonged consideration of possible candidates has brought an ample reward.
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