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.

He was in many ways a lovable man.  The quality which chiefly drew people to him was his extreme boyishness.  The remarkable beauty of his face always seemed to me an expression of this delightful boyishness—­his smile deepening this effect in a most charming manner.  He loved life with a boy’s fervour, regarding it always as an opportunity for winning success.  The difficulties of work, like the difficulties of a mathematical problem called out the athletic qualities of an otherwise shy and almost effeminate nature.  He loved to pit his brains against other men, rejoiced to discover obstacles in his path, never despaired when things went against him, and infinitely preferred the battle for success to the success itself.  In this, too, he was a boy; he had to win a fight fairly and honourably to enjoy the victory.  I believe him to have been one of the most honest and straightforward men that ever made a fortune in business.