Evening star., 1942-02-20
Beayerbrook Is Seen
As Supreme Supply
Co-ordinator in U. 5.
Increase in Efficiency
OF War Effort Moy
Follow London Chnnses
By BLAIR BOLLEs.

BY BLAIR BOLLES.
Allied officials in Washington
forecast today that Lord Beaver
brook, dropped from Winston
Churchill's war cabinet so he
could be sent to the United
States, will act here IS supreme
co-ordinator of the supply phase
Of the Allied war plan, working
closely with Harry Hopkins, who
is the Presidents leading supply
adviser. The fact that Beaver
brook Is out of the cabinet will
not lesson his personal influence
with Prime Minister Churchill, 1t
Is said, any more than Mr.. Hop
kins' authority with the White
House Is diminished by the fact
that he lacks an American cabi-
net post.
The long urged cabinet changes In
London gave birth to confidence here
that the Allied peoples can now ex-
pect quick increase in the eff1-
cheney Of the United Nations war
conduct and war preparations. The
political troubles besetting Mr..
Churchill at home have reduced the
vigor OF the British contribution to
joint war planning during the past
few weeks and have caused post
ponement Of decision on the vital
matter Of establishing a Joint War
Production Board.
The feeling in WASHINGTON among
those in the know Is that Mr..
Churchills domestic difficulties now
are at an end and that a new phase
Of the Allied effort Is at hand.
Yet to come may be several re-
placements of ofncials, military
naval and civilian, who now hold
important posts both in England
and the United States.
Halifax Out Of Cabinet.
Viscount Halifax, the British Am
to the United States, was a
member Of the war cabinet but his
name Is missing from the reorgan-
lied cabinet announced in London.
He left the post of Foreign Minister
to come here as Ambassador because
Mr.. Churchill wished to compliment
the United States by sending one of
his most exalted associates.
Lord Halifax Is q victim of q de-
ciSion In London, reported here by
the British Press Service, to ban
from the War Cabinet all officials
whose absence abroad makes i'm
possible their routine participation
in the cabinet councils. The rule
serves also to keep United States
bound Beaverbrook from staying in
the War Cabinet. Anthony Eden,
who succeeded Halifax at the For
eign Once. stays in the War Cabi-
net.
For a month past, the Prime Min
lister has been adamant in his view
that Lord Beaverbrook could func-
ton well in the two-fold Job of
production chief at home and gen.
eral overSeer of United Nations war
production. The English clamor
protested that England's production
chief should stay on the job in Eng
land and not visit the United States
and Russia. The popular protest
won and Mr.. Churchill changed his
view.
Effect on Agencies Undecided.
What changes the assignment of
Lord Beaverbrook and the corol-
larry appointment of Oliver Lyttle-
ton as Minister Of State in charge
Of production here will effect in the
huge establishment of the various
British procurement agencies re-
mains a question. The choice not
long ago of Beaverbrook for the new
position of Production Minister was
based on a desire to coordinate the
work of the three major agencies
here-the British Purchasing Com
mission. which buys for the army
and for official non-military uses as
sociated with the war; the naval
mission, which buys for the Ad-
miralty, and the air mission, which
buys for the Ministry of Aircraft
Production.
These three groups are incorpo-
rated into one beaureaucratic struc-
ture known as the British Supply
Council in North America, with
which are associated the buying mis-
sions Of the dominions, India and
Rhodesia. The Supply Council has
a chairman. Morris Wilson, and a
Edward Taylor. Lord
Beaverbrook is expected to act as the
bridge linking the council of Mr..
Wilson and the operations of Harry
Hopkins, but it is thought at the
same time that Mr.. Lyttleton may
order a few changes In the councils
arrangement.
Until last night Mr. Wilson and
Mr.. Taylor had been responsible to
Lord Beaverbrook and were his per.
sonal appointees.
Lyttleton Well Known Here.
Capt. Lyttleton is well known to
many American officials of the
United States working on the for
eign phases of the war who met him
in London when he was president
Of the Board Of Trade and in Cairo
when he was Mr.. Churchill's poll
tical representative in the Middle
East. He has worked closely In the
past with Averill Hartman, the
American lend-lease expediter in
London.
Capt. Lyttleton is credited with
having performed q sound job in
his Board of Trade post in arrang-
ing the conversion of civilian in
duStry to a war industry. How ex-
tensive his power will be in his new
post is yet to be seen. Whereas
Beaverbrook was Minister of Pro-
duction, Capt. Lyttleton is Minister
OF State in charge Of production.