WAR MEMOIRS OF DAVID LLOYD GEORGE 1917

CREATING THE AIR MINISTRY 127
tions with leading Americans, I know that, unless there is swift
improvement in our methods here, the United States will rightly
take into its own hands the entire management of a great part of
the War. It will not sacrifice its blood and treasure to incompetent
handling of affairs in Europe.
"In saying all this, which is very much on my mind, believe me
that I have none but the most friendly feelings towards yourself,
and that I am greatly honoured by your suggestion.
Yours sincerely,
NORTHCLIFFE."
The publication of this letter in such a manner, or at all,
was characteristic of Lord Northcliffe's worst side. It was
what made it so difficult to have confidential dealings with
him. Where either his vanity or temper was implicated, he
had no regard for the decent behaviour which bound average
men of honour. There was of course nothing unusual in
the procedure by which he had been sounded as to his willingness
to take the Air Ministry. Such soundings always
have to be made before any reshuffling of offices in a Government
takes place, and obviously it is taken for granted
that persons so approached shall treat the matter in strictest
confidence pending the completion of the other arrangements
involved in the shuffle. Unless and until Northcliffe let
me know that he would undertake the Air Ministry, I clearly
could not approach Lord Cowdray with a proposal that he
should transfer to another ministerial post.
Thus the publication by Lord Northcliffe of the statement
that I had offered him the Air Ministry placed Lord
Cowdray in a very humiliating position. Not unnaturally,
he took bitter offence at learning for the first time through
the columns of the public Press, and not from me, that such
a change of Ministers was being contemplated. He promptly
sent me his resignation from the chairmanship of the Air
Board, in a letter of strong protest. He never forgave me the