Finally, we come to Lord Haldane's defence of the late
Government's policy as to munitions. He accepted the blame for the late Government, entirely exonerating General von Donop, the head of the Ordnance Department at the War Office. His excuse for the Government was that they placed orders for an ample supply of shells with the contractors. But surely that was not enough. They based their optimistic assurances to the country on the assumption that the contractors would not fail to deliver the goods punctually. Having placed the contracts, they apparently dismissed the matter from their minds. But was that a reasonable assumption to make about any contractors P A private person who is having a house, or a yacht, or a motor-car built by a contractor knows that if he requires it by the contract date he must begin worrying the week after the contract is signed, and keep, on worrying till delivery. Otherwise the contractor will be sure to plead that his sub-contractors have failed him. There is generally delay and always an excuse. Surely if a private person takes such precautions the Government should have taken them ten times over.
Previous page
