27 OCTOBER 1917, Page 3

Reflect that Mr. Churchill in any new position that he

might occupy would want to recover seine of the reputation and authority he has lost as the result of misjudgments in the past. If he found himself at the new Ministry, he might have just such opportunities for a dramatic and effective policy as he would desire. To say that ho would be inclined in the circumstances to make full use of his opportunities is not to attribute to him a greater degree of human nature than he is known to possess. But this is precisely the kind of risk which the nation and the whole Alliance cannot afford to incur. With his great talents and industry, Mr. Churchill might happen, of course, to do something brilliant ; but we have to set against that his recklessness, his willingness to gamble. We therefore earnestly hope that Mr. Lloyd George, in spite of his loyalty to friends, will recognize that, whatever other appointment, if any, he may have in contemplation for Mr. Churchill, he should most studiously exclude him from the Ministry of the Air.