These changes are intended in the first place to establish
what has long been wanted at the Admiralty—a true Naval Staff—and to free the First Sea Lord from serving tables and doing adminis- trative and routine work rather than brain work. The principle, of course, is absolutely sound. As Carnet told his colleagues in the Committee of Public Safety, the business of the people at the very top is to think, and therefore to will and order, but not to admin- ister. To be really free to think a man must be untrammelled by the calls of executive action. Tho other object of the changes is to strengthen the shipbuilding and production departments of the Admiralty, and to utilize our construction resources in this country so as to give full play to all our requirements, combatant and non- combatant. Sir Eric Geddes, who would seem to be a man cut out for such a post, will, it is intended, keep in touch with the Ministry of Shipping and ensure that there shall be no overlapping.
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