§ Mr. TOOTILL(by private Notice) asked the Prime Minister whether it is intended that Lord Northcliffe should remain at the head of the Departmental Missions in America as long as they are required or if his visit is a temporary one?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWIt is hoped that Lord Northcliffe will be able to carry on the work begun by Mr. Balfour in this respect as head of the British Mission in America so long as the need for the mission exists. The following telegram, which has been sent to the various heads of Departmental Missions explains the scope of his work:
As has already been announced, Lord Northcliffe has been appointed by the War Cabinet with direct responsibility to them as head of the British War Mission, to co-ordinate and supervise the work of all the Departmental Missions in the United States, to prevent conflict of interests and loss of effort, to determine priority, and to maintain friendly relations both with the Allied representatives in the United States and with the United States authorities themselves. Lord Northcliffe will have the right of communicating direct with the Prime Minister and also with the various departmental Ministers either direct or through the Department's representative in the United States of America. He will have full authority over the various Departmental Missions.I desire to add that he accepted the appointment at the urgent request of the Government, with the full approval of the 957 Departments concerned, and that His Majesty's Government feel that in undertaking this highly important duty, at much personal' inconvenience to himself, he is rendering a great public service.