Evening star., 1921-12-30
Who's Who e::a: cssi:..ss: .:~:
XXXVI-Col Sir Maurice P. A. Hankey.
.HE prince of secretaries" is
the title given by all the
leaders of the allied powers

the title given by all the
leaders of the allied powers
In the late war to Col. Sir
Maurice Hankey, secretary to the
British Empire delegation to the con-
ference on the limitation of armament
and far eastern questions. The Sec
retary of secretaries might also be
applied to him, for this brilliant
young statesmen has served as secre-
tary for all of the more important OF
British committees and councils for
the past decade. He is the first
secretary the British cabinet ever
had. He oils the machinery of the
meetings so that they run smoothly,
and is the connecting link between
the changing cabinets.
Sir Maurice Hankey is only forty
five years of age. His father was
South Australian, but he was born in
ENGLAND and educated at Rugby. In
1895 he entered the Royal Marine
Artillery, and within four years was
made captain. After serving in
various positions in the naval intelli-
gence and on committee that
studied the defensive needs of the
empire. he became assistant secre-
tary of the Committee of Imperial
Defense. Immediately his genius as a
secretary was appreciated and it be-
came necessary for him to resign
from the maripes in order to become
secretary of the Committee of Impe-
rial Defense in 1911.
From that time Sir Maurice Hankey
became recognized as an indispcnsa-
bic authority in the councils of the
empire. The responsibilities Of the
seeretariat We're great, and as its
l...A.l Il 1a l.
gifts of vision and initiative. his wide
knowledge of the complex problems
OF national defense. and his genius
for staff work.
Soon after the outbreak of the war
he became secretary to the war roun-
ell and in 1916 he was secretary to
ASquith'S war committee and later in
that year to Lloyd Georges war cabi-
net. continuing to hold that office
until the close of the war. In 1919 he
WAS British secretary to the peace
conference at Paris and secretary
to the council of four. He is the only
man who attended every political and
interalli"d conference held from the
outbreak Of the war to the present
time. including meetings of the SUI
Dreme war council He is now Secre-
tary to the cabinet and British secre-
'tary TO the supreme council. He
served as secretary of the imperial
tpfil Oh tHlS ear anu was given
credit by the Dominion representa-
tives for great share in the success
of the meeting.
British writer has said that when
the Paris conference started Sir
Maurice quietly took his place
among the other secretaries. but it
was soon found that it was he who
had all the data at his fingertipS, who
had all the suggestions for organiZa-
ton and ideas to work it out and it
was his staff who could always sup
ply Information when wanted. So that
the delegates of the different nations
came to rely on him. 1t is told that
Clemenceau took a great liking to
him and, whenever document was
wanted. would turn to him and say
laughingly. Come along, now. pull it
out of that bag of yours"
That bag" Sir Maurice Hankey's
brief case, has become famous
throughout all Britain. Before at
1snding a meeting he tells his as
sistant what documents to provide.
and it is said that no matter how wide
a range of topics has been discussed