FEBRUARY 19 1942
 
                              9:27 AM
 
FROM AMEMBASSY LONDON
          TO MILID
 
     N0. 1996 SECTION THREE FEBRUARY 19TH URGENT
     THIRD PART PD LYTTELTONS ACTIVITIES NOT YET
CLEARLY DEFINED PD WILL PROBABLY PRESIDE AT CHIEF OF STAFFS
MEETINGS AND CERTAIN OTHER COMMITTEE AND COUNCIL MEETINGS 
WHICH HAVE PREVIOUSLY TAKEN SO MUCH OF PRIME MINISTERS TIME
PD WILL GENERALLY ASSIST PRIME MINISTER IN THE DIRECTION OF
MINISTER RETAINS COMPLETE CONTROL PD PARA
     POSITION OF MINISTER OF PRODUCTION MAY BE ABAN-
DONED WITH SOME OTHER SYSTEM OF COORDINATION SET UP PD
PARA
     IT IS DIFFICULT TO APPRAISE FULLY REASONS FOR BEAVERBROOKS
RESIGNATION PD PRIME MINISTER OFFERED HIM ALMOST ANY POSITION IF HE
WOULD STAY CMA LORD PRIVY SEAL AND AIR MINISTRY PD PARA
     UNDOUBTEDLY HIS HEALTH IS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR PD
THIS IS TO BE GIVEN AS THE PUBLIC REASON PD OTHER REASONS
UNDOUBTEDLY INCLUDE THAT HE IS TIRED OUT AND REALIZES THAT
HIS BAD TEMPER INTERFERES WITH THE SMOOTH WORKING OF THE CABINET AS
A TEAM
                         MCCLURE