Lord Inverforth made it clear, first, that the stores were to be sold at a commercial value, and, second, that he would protect the taxpayer against extortionate claims on the part of contractors.  As regards this second difficulty, pressure was brought against him from the very highest political quarters to admit certain claims and to avoid legal action.  His reply was, “I will resign before I initial those claims.”

He fought them all, and he beat them all.  He saved the taxpayer millions of pounds.

As for the disposal of stores, he has already brought to the Exchequer over L500,000,000, and before these pages are printed that sum may be increased to something like L800,000,000.

The least imaginative reader will perceive from this brief statement that a veritable Napoleon of Commerce has presided over the business side of the war.  Where there was every opportunity for colossal waste, there has been the most scientific economy; where there was every likelihood of wholesale corruption, there has been an unsleeping vigilance of honesty; and where, at the end, there might have been a tired carelessness resulting in ruinous loss, there has been up to the very last moment an unremitting enthusiasm for the taxpayers’ interest which has resulted in a credit contribution to the national balance sheet of L800,000,000.

I have left to the last this not unworthy feature of Lord Inverforth’s labours.  Those labours have been given to the nation.  He, at the head of things, and the chiefs of the Disposal Board under him, have refused to accept any financial reward.  One and all they deserted their businesses and slaved from morning to night in the national interests, and one and all they gave their services to the State.

What has been Lord Inverforth’s reward from the public?  From first to last he has been attacked by a considerable section of the Press, and has been accused in Parliament of incredible waste and incorrigible stupidity.  Let it be supposed (I do not grant it for a moment) that he made mistakes, even very great mistakes, still, on the total result of his gigantic labours, does not the public owe him a debt of gratitude?  Has he not been an honest man at the head of a department where dishonesty had its chief opportunity?  Did he not strike a death blow at Germany when he secured, with a suddenness which ruined his rivals in the field, the wool-clip of the world?  Is there one man in these islands who thought for a moment that the overplus of stores would fetch a sum of L800,000,000?

I will say a word about Slough, which is still the favourite cry of Lord Inverforth’s critics, who have held their peace about the “dumps” since the publication of the White Paper describing the sale of stores.

Slough was the work of the War Office.  It was begun badly.  Mistakes of a serious kind were made.  It might have been a financial disaster.  But Lord Inverforth is a chivalrous man.  He has never disclosed the fact that he inherited Slough.  In the face of violent criticism he has maintained a dignified silence, letting the world think that he was the parent of the idea, and bending all his energies to make it a success.  He has had his reward.  Slough has been sold and the transaction shows a profit for the taxpayer.