We are not in the Prime Minister's or Mr. Lloyd
George's con- fidence, but we can imagine both gentlemen being very much amused by this glaring example of what Disraeli used, somewhat pompously, to call " coffee-house babble." We understand that when Lord Kitchener started for what would necessarily have been a somewhat long absence from England on his visit to Russia, the Prime Minister took charge of his duties at the War Office. We see no reason why this arrangement should not be prolonged. The Prime Minister has already had experience of the War Office, and as head of the Government, and still more as chief of the War council, he has had during the war to be in perpetual communication with the Chief of the General Staff and the Army machine as a whole. Provided, then, that arrangements can be made to keep the lesser administrative wheels running satisfactorily, and to provide for rapid decisions on matters of detail, we should have thought that the temporary arrangement might continue for some time with advantage to national affairs. It is possible, however, that after a while it would be found more convenient to have a whole-timer in the office.
Previous page
