A TOUGH MAN

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 46, 24 February 1942, Page 5

A TOUGH MAN

NEW WAR MINISTER

COMMENT ON CHANGES IN

CABINET

LONDON, February 23

Commenting on the Cabinet changes, the political correspondent of the "Daily Express" says that a close friend of Sir James Grigg, the new Minister of War, described him as the toughest man in Whitehall —so ruthless in his insistence on efficiency that he cares for nobody, "brass-hat," Minister, or civil servant. He does what he thinks right, whatever anybody says or does. He is a stern but just man, full of ideas and determination.

Sir James Grigg had a brilliant career at Cambridge in mathematics, and was principal private seci'etary to a long succession of Chancellors of the Exchequer. Eight years ago he went to India as finance member of the Viceroy's Executive Council, which virtually made him India's Chancellor of the Exchequer. He returned to England to the War Office.

Lord Cranborne, Secretary for the Colonies, is taking over the leadership of the House of Lords from Lojd Moyne.

Lord Wolm'er, Minister of Economic Warfare, was formerly Assistant Post-master-General, but resigned because of differences with the Civil Service.

A successor to Mr. Oliver Lyttelton as Resident Minister in the Middle East is to be announced shortly. The political correspondent of the "Daily Mail" understands that Mr. Churchill has asked Mr. Duff Cooper to become Resident Minister in Cairo.

Lord Halifax's position has not been clarified. His name is not contained in the new list of members of the War Cabinet, and therefore it can be assumed that he is no longer a member of the Government. £

The name of the Ministry of Works and Planning has again been changed to Works and Buildings.

The "Daily Mail," in a leader, says: "One of the most disappointing features of the Cabinet appointments is that they do not include the name of anyone unknown to past or present Administrations except Sir James Grigg. It is another reshuffle. There is no business man included. Particularly for the Minister of "Aircraft duction, it would have been better to appoint a first-class industrialist who knows modem production methods. Dr. Dalton has gone from post to post without betraying exceptional brilliance, but at least at the Board of Trade his talent for the more sublime type of optimistic oratory will be curbed. It is clear that we must look more to the new War Cabinet than to the Ministers outside for the new spirit which must infuse our war effort."