Mr. Lloyd George in answer to all the criticisms explained
that, as General Trenehard had resigned and had not been dismissed, it was merely a question for Ministers whether it was wise to accept his resignation. The Cabinet asked General Smuts- to look into the matter, and came to the conclusion that General Trenehard's special qualities were not used to the best advantage as Chief of the Air Staff. In General Smuts's belief, the 'qualities of General Sykes, the new Chief of the Air Staff, were better fitted to the position than those of General Trenchard. The explanation amounts to this, that Lord Rothermere decided -.that General Trenchard was not the right man to be Chief of the Air Staff, and that the War Cabinet, -without interviewing General Trenchard, accepted Lord Rothermere's decision. Yet the Cabinet - shortly before had thought General Trenehard the best man or he would not have been appointed. The opinion of the whole Air Force, and indeed of the whole Army, counts for practically nothing. Yet, as Sir John Simon said, if you want to make the young men of the Flying Corps laugh, you have only to tell them that General Trenchard does not understand Staff work.
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