Frederick Phillips

Few civil servants have ranged more widely than Frederick Phillips. First place on entry in 1908; promotion after four years, in those days a signal event, and even scandalous, leading to a parliamentary question by one who later, as Chancellor of the Exchequer, recognised good reasons for the choice. In 1917–18 a chief originator of food rationing as Lord Rhondda testified. Then years of effort wrestling with the finances both of this country and of others. Among Phillips’s special interests was the League of Nations; he took a leading part in all its financial activities, and was Chairman of the Financial Committee of the League. Moreover, as a good Treasury man, he knew the League must have a sound budgetary position if it were to survive at all, and his skill and experience contributed to this result.