England, so to speak, had the clothing of humanity in her right hand.
But Lord Inverforth also controlled flax, hemp, leather, and jute, so that the enemy's case was as hopeless as our own was secure.
These gigantic operations involved an expenditure of over L500,000,000.
They brought an actual profit to the British Government of over L20,000,000, saved the taxpayer Heaven only knows how many millions, and were conducted at an administrative cost of three shillings for every L100.
Nothing like it had ever been done before in the world.
Early in 1919 Lord Inverforth was asked to clear up war's rubbish-heap.
He became Minister of Munitions.

Within twenty-four hours his body of expert buyers had become the Disposal Board--a body of expert sellers.
The property of the British taxpayer was scattered over four continents, and in all manner of places in those four continents.

It was composed of 350,000 different kinds of things.
At once Lord Inverforth was again besieged by the rascals.

There was an army of them, composed of many "rings," seeking to buy up these "waste products of war" at a knock-down price.

At the same time came the blustering contractor, cheated by peace of his contract, with a claim for millions on one ground or another.
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.