The Mirrors of Downing Street: Some Political Reflections by a Gentleman with a DusterBegbie, Harold
History
The Mirrors of Downing Street: Some Political Reflections by a Gentleman with a Duster
Begbie, Harold
Great Britain -- Politics and government -- 1910-1936; Statesmen -- Great Britain
By the power of his imagination Lord Rhondda saw that the first step
towards saving a very perilous situation was to convince this vast world
of seething discontent that absolute justice should characterize the
administration of his office. To this end, satisfied that those about
him were men of devoted zeal and real talent, he set himself to the
creation of a public opinion favourable to the discharge of his duties.
And by a stroke of inspiration he saw that to achieve this tranquillity
of the public mind he must give his own personality to the world. His
character must become a public possession. A man, and not an office,
must stand for Food Control. The instinct of the Briton for justice and
fair play must receive assurance from a moral personality.
Therefore no member of the Government was more accessible, or more ready
to be interviewed and photographed, than the Food Controller. It was not
vanity, but foreseeing statesmanship, which opened his door to the
humblest newspaper reporter who visited the Ministry. His personality--a
moral, just, fearless, and confident personality--had to be conveyed to
the mind of the public, and every interview he gave to the Press had
this important objective for its reason. He saw the morals of an
economic situation, and he solved those economics very largely by making
a moral impression on the public mind.
The work of his office was carried to victory by Sir William Beveridge,
Captain Tallents, Professor Gonner, and other very able men in charge of
rationing; but this work must have failed had it not been for public
confidence in Lord Rhondda's integrity; and, moreover, Lord Rhondda's
character played no small part in firing that work with a zeal and
passion which were excelled by no other department of public service.
Men not only worked hard for him, they worked for him affectionately.
His choice of Mr. J.H. Clynes was inspired by the same idea. He had
heard this labour member speak, and had been impressed by the moral
qualities of his oratory; he knew that in choosing him to represent the
Food Ministry in the House of Commons he might be sure of the confidence
of Labour, both there and in the circles of trade unionism. He was not
deceived. Mr. Clynes was the most loyal and impressive of lieutenants,
who, on one occasion in particular, saved a difficult situation.
Lord Rhondda realized the moral qualities of statesmanship. He appealed
to the highest instincts of his countrymen. This was his greatest
achievement.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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