Autograph Letter Signed ('J. R. Clynes') from the Labour Party politician John Robert Clynes to his colleague the future spin-doctor Walton, announcing his appointment by Lloyd George as Minister of Food Control.

2pp., 4to. 20 lines. Good, on lightly-aged paper. At the time of writing Walton is recovering from a serious illness, and Clynes urges him not to 'hurry back at any risk to your health', and to 'take note of some of the advice you have given me not to over-work & break down'. Clynes reports that he has 'just come away from the P. M. [Lloyd George]', and that he has 'agreed to take on the full work [as Minister of Food Control]. Nothing else yet decided.' He expresses his gratitude to Walton 'for great fellowship - help in the year of my service so far', and he will be 'most happy to have you back with us - when you are quite recovered [last four words underlined].' Walton's entry in 'Who Was Who' describes how he was 'at Ministry of Munitions, then at Ministry of Food; on Lord Rhondda's personal staff, and later principal Private Secretary to Food Controller; Director of Publicity for Victory Loan in 1919'. For Walton's later and somewhat less meritorious activities, see Keith Middlemas's 'Politics in Industrial Society' (1979).