21 MARCH 1931, Page 3

The Yes - Men In his evidence before the Commission on the

Civil Service on Monday, Sir Josiah Stamp expressed his fear of what Americans call " yes-men " in the Civil Service. He emphasized the importance of selecting men who would speak their minds to a Minister without fear or favour, counselling him if necessary to adopt a course contrary to popular clamour and electoral interests. There are, however, other dangers, and possibly Sir Josiah may have exaggerated this one. We should like to hear the subject debated by Sir Josiah and Lord Hewart, whose book, The New Despotism, suggests that the fault of the Civil Servant is not docility but a craving for power.

* *