Ministerial Moves
Once more the Prime Minister has presented the country with a Ministerial shuffle of which the best that can be said is that it will be received with restrained enthusiasm. Much the best of the new appointments is that of Mr. Harold Macmillan to be Resident Minister in French North Africa. The desirability of having this country represented there by someone of weight and authority is obvious, and Mr. Macmillan, with his excellent record at the Colonial Office, where he will be far from easy to replace, is as good a choice as could have been made. Of the other changes, all that need be said is that there is no apparent reason for them, and no particular objection to them. Mr. W. S. Morrison, who held an office rather below his merits at the Post Office, is to be the Minister-Designate (legislation to create this post is necessary) for Town and Country Planning. Thus the Cohort of planners grows. There is Mr. Morrison, there is Lord Portal, there is Sir William Jowitt, who, though he becomes Minister without Portfolio instead of Paymaster-General (presumably in order that that office may be given to Lord Cherwell in recognition of his services as scientific and general adviser to the Prime Minister), will continue to plan reconstruction as he did before. The other moves call fol no particular comment except for a word of approval of the elevation of Captain Crookshank to Ministerial rank as Postmaster-General. As Financial Secretary to the Treasury for the last three years he has set a standard which his successor, Mr. Ralph Assheton, will find it none too easy to maintain.
