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jrHTS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT)
IS E C R E T .
re E
V
I
S
COPY NO.
E.
C A B I N E T
59 ( 5 5 ) .
lee t i n g o f the C a b i n e t t o he held, a t 1 0 , Downing
S t r e e t , S . W . I . , on MONDAY, 22nd JULY, 1935,
a t 1 1 . 0 a.m.
A G E N D A .
1.
DISPUTE BETWEEN ITALY AND ABYSSINIA
(Reference
(i)
C a b i n e t 38 ( 3 5 )
Subsidiary
(ETHIOPIA).
Conclusion
l).
Questions.
Memorandum by t h e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e f o r
Foreign A f f a i r s .
C P . 147 ( 3 5 )
circulated-herewith.
(ii)
Probable Procedure at
Geneva.
Memorandum by t h e M i n i s t e r f o r League o f
Nations A f f a i r s .
C P . 151 ( 3 5 )
t o be c i r c u l a t e d .
(iii)
Supply o f Arms t o A b y s s i n i a .
Memorandum by the S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e f o r
Foreign A f f a i r s .
C P . 138 ( 3 5 )
already circulated.
Memorandum by the S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e f o r
the C o l o n i e s .
C P . 146 ( 3 5 )
already circulated.
I F TIME PERMITS.
2.
LABOUR PARTY RESOLUTION IN HOUSE OF COMMONS ON
TUESDAY, JULY 2 5 r d , ON REPORTS OF COMMISSIONERS
FOR THE SPECIAL AREAS.
(Reference
C a b i n e t 37 ( 3 5 )
Conclusion 2 ) .
N o t e by the M i n i s t e r o f Labour.
C P . 148 ( 3 5 )
circulated
(Signed)
M.P.A.
Secretary
I
I
2, Whitehall Gardens,
19th J u l y ,
1935.
S.W.I.,
herewith.
HANKEY,
t o the
Cabinet.
g 0 RET.
COPY NO.
C A B I N E T
59 ( 5 5 ) .
CONCLUSIONS o f a M e e t i n g o f the C a b i n e t held, a t
10, Downing S t r e e t , S.W. 1. , on MONDAY',
22nd JULY, 1935, a t 1 1 , 0 a,m.
PRESENT:
The R i g h t Hon. S t a n l e y B a l d w i n , M . P . ,
Prime M i n i s t e r .
( i n the C h a i r ) .
!e R i g h t Hon.
J. Ramsay MacDonald, M . P . ,
J Lord P r e s i d e n t o f t h e C o u n c i l .
The R i g h t Hon.
N e v i l l e Chamberlain, M.P.,
Chancellor o f the Exchequer.
flhe R i g h t Hon.
The V i s c o u n t H a i l s h a m ,
Lord C h a n c e l l o r .
The R i g h t Hon.
S i r John Simon, G . C . S . I . , K . C . V . 0 .
O.B.E., K.C., M.P., Secretary
o f S t a t e f o r Home A f f a i r s .
Ihe R i g h t Hon..
Sir Samuel H o a r e , B t . , G . C . S . I . ,
G.B.E., C . M . G . , M . P . , S e c r e t a r y
of S t a t e f o r F o r e i g n A f f a i r s .
The Most Hon.
The Marquess of L o n d o n d e r r y ,
K.G., M.V.O., Lord P r i v y
Seal.
The Right Hon.
The V i s c o u n t H a l i f a x , K . G . ,
G.C.S.I., G.C.I.E., Secretary
of S t a t e f o r War.
The R i g h t Hon.
J . H . Thomas, M . P . ,
Secretary of State for
Affairs.
The Right Hon.
Sir P h i l i p C u n l i f f e - L i s t e r ,
G.B.E., M.C. , M.P. , S e c r e t a r y
of S t a t e f o r A i r .
The Most Hon.
The Marquess of Z e t l a n d , G . C . S . I .
G . C . I . E . , Secretary of State
for India.
The Right Hon.
Sir G o d f r e y C o l l i n s , K . B . E . ,
I C.M.G. , M.P. , S e c r e t a r y o f
I State f o r S c o t l a n d .
The R i g h t Hon.
Malcolm MacDonald, M . P . ,
S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e f o r the
Colonies.
Ihe Right Hon.
f a l t e r Runciman, M . P . ,
P r e s i d e n t o f the Board o f
The R i g h t Hon.
S i r B o l t o n Eyres M o n s e l l ,
M . P . , F i r s t Lord o f the
Admiralty.
Trade.
Dominion
G.B.E.,
the Right Hon.
Anthony Eden, M . C , ' ; ^ , . , . ,
M i n i s t e r f o r League e f N a t i o n s
Affairs.
The R i g h t Hon.
L o r d Eustace P e r c y ,
Minister without P o r t f o l i o .
Ihe R i g h t Hon.
Walter E l l i o t , M . C . , M . P . i
M i n i s t e r o f A g r i c u l t u r e ana.
Fisheries.
The R i g h t Hon.
O l i v e r Stanley, M.C., M.P.,
P r e s i d e n t o f t h e Board o f
Education.
f t e Right Hon.
S i r K i n g s l e y Wood, M.P.
Minister of Health.
The R i g h t Hon.
E r n e s t Brown, M . C . ,
M i n i s t e r of Labour.
M
P
n T
c
The R i g h t Hon.
W. Ormsby-Gore, M . P . ,
F i r s t Commissioner o f Wsrks.
M.P.,
1 . I n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e C o n c l u s i o n mentioned
InisHJTE
BETWEEN
ITTALY A N D
IABYSSINTA
!(ETHIOPIA) .
[
general.
(pj*eyi ous
Reference:
Cabinet 38
( 3 5 ) , Con­
c l u s i o n 1.)
i n the margin,
mainly
the Cabinet h e l d a S p e c i a l
to consider
Abyssinia,
Meeting
t h e d i s p u t e between I t a l y
and had b e f o r e
them a number o f
On t h e g e n e r a l q u e s t i o n t h e S e c r e t a r y
for
Foreign Affairs
the Minister
for
had c i r c u l a t e d
league of
and
documents.
of
State
a Memorandum by
Nations
Affairs
p r o b a b l e p r o c e d u r e a t Geneva when t h e
on t h e
Italo-Abyssinlan
comes b e f o r e t h e C o u n c i l towards t h e end of
dispute
t h e month ( C . P . - 1 5 1
The S e c r e t a r y
(35)).
of S t a t e f o r
Foreign
Affairs
i n f o r m e d t h e C a b i n e t t h a t when he asked f o r
p r e s e n t M e e t i n g h e had thought
Meeting
of t h e C o u n c i l
take place
on Thursdav
of
it
the
c e r t a i n that, t h e
t h e l e a g u e o f N a t i o n s would
or F r i d a v n e x t .
Now i t
seemed
p r o b a b l y t h a t t h e M e e t i n g would b e postponed f o r
few d a y s .
At f i r s t
S i g n e r M u s s o l i n i had
favourable
to a meeting
r e p r e s e n t e d at G e n e v a .
Italian
Foreign Office
e i t h e r a meeting
or o f
showed s i g n s
of the parties
of
in his
the
opposition
t o t h e 1906
,,T!
to
reaty
He h i m s e l f ,
instructions
to
the
Ambassador a t Rome t h a t h e saw no p r o s p e c t
of the p o s s i b i l i t y
Council
or o f
of postponing the Meeting of
confining
t o who was t h e o r i g i n a l
it
still
t o t h e mere q u e s t i o n as
o f a m e e t i n g under t h e 1906
held the f i e l d .
If,
however,
t h a t n o t h i n g was coming out o f
it
was
i t , h e was
f r o m our b e i n g drawn i n t o a b l i n d a l l e y ,
c a r d i n our hands was t h e d e t e r r e n t ,
w h i c h h e meant p u b l i c i t y
averse
more he
s t u d i e d t h e q u e s t i o n t h e more s t r o n g l y h e f e l t
the only
the
a g g r e s s o r at W a l - W a l .
At present the p o s s i b i l i t y
clear
the
More r e c e n t l y , h o w e v e r ,
h o w e v e r , had made c l e a r
Treaty
of
I t a l y would, b e
I t a l i a n r e p r e s e n t a t i o n a t Geneva.
British
appeared
of the s i g n a t o r i e s
Treat;/ o f 1906 and had i m p l i e d t h a t
a
that
by
and c o n v e r s a t i o n s w i t h
the
French i n o r d e r t o g e t
before
them t o put p r e s s u r e on
t h e Geneva d i s c u s s i o n s .
T h e r e was g e n e r a l agreement t h a t
important
to
i t was most
Induce M. L a v a l t o t a k e t h e
more s e r i o u s l y
view
Italy'
question
than he had done h i t h e r t o , w i t h a
to very strong j o i n t
p r e s s u r e b e i n g put upon
Italy.
Among t h e p r o p o s a l s
were t h e
(i)
discussed at the Meeting
foilowing
That t h e M i n i s t e r
Affairs
f o r League o f
should s e e M . L a v a l ,
Nations
either
h i s way t o Geneva or a t Geneva,
on
and
should be authorised t o inform him,
the privacy
o f n e g o t i a t i o n but n o t
p u b l i c , that
prepared
their
in the l a s t r e s o r t
had b e e n t h e i r
to f u l f i l
opinion in this
on i f
it
led
i t would probably
irritation
.
this
country
to w a r ) ,
leak
to I t a l y ,
that
attitude.
c o u r s e w o u l d be
consistent with the presenttrend
later
were
engagements under t h e Covenant and
W h i l e i t was s u g g e s t e d t h a t
public
:
in
t h e B r i t i s h Government
would e v e n t u a l l y h a v e t o announce
this
in
of
development
(though not
of
necessarily
t h e comment was made t h a t
out at
and t h a t
once and cause
great
i n any e v e n t M* L a v a l
would b e under a s t r o n g t e m p t a t i o n t o i n f o r m
Italy
and o b t a i n t h e c r e d i t
proposal
for
sanctions-.
not l i k e l y
This
f o r h a v i n g b l o c k e d our
course, i t
t o be s u c c e s s f u l
was s u g g e s t e d , was
in stopping I t a l y
making war on A b y s s i n i a , b e c a u s e i t was
unlikely
Even i f
that
F r a n c e would
and. t h e r e w e r e s i g n s
to
i t might
co-operate,
t h a t French
o p i n i o n i n t h i s m a t t e r was r a t h e r
M, L a v a l —
extremely
co-operate i n sanctions .
France should be w i l l i n g
however —
from
i n advance
l e a d t o war between
the
public
of
U n i t e d Kingdom and F r a n c e on one B i d e and I t a l y
the other .
Wars w e r e e a s i e r t o s t a r t
and. i t was d i f f i c u l t
than t o
t o f o r e s e e how f a r
9 ' i t u a t i o n might l e a d i n Fur ope t o d a y .
on
stop,
such a
What,
it
was
a s k e d , would he t h e r e a c t i o n on Y u g o - S l a v i a
towards
Italy,
on Germany towards A u s t r i a ,
the
effect
of
In fact,
and what
t h e i n e v i t a b l e bankruptcy
of
Italy?
t h e q u e s t i o n o f s a n c t i o n s had t o be w e i g h e d
i n the l i g h t
of
its
effect
on t h e w h o l e
European
s itnation .
(ii)
A second s u g g e s t i o n was t h a t t h e M i n i s t e r
for
League o f N a t i o n s A f f a i r s
intimate
view
t o M. L a v a l t h a t
(citing
speech)
should
in his
personal
S i r Austen C h a m b e r l a i n ' s
t h e B r i t i s h Government would b e
c o m p e l l e d t o announce i t s w i l l i n g n e s s
fulfil
its
obligations
under t h e
o r a t any r a t e t h a t , i f
taken,
t h e y had been w i l l i n g but
m
that
official
could hardly be i n s t r u c t e d ,
express
(iii)
personal
negotiations
abroad
or e x p e c t e d , m e r e l y
to
opinions.
as F r a n c e , as a neighbour o f
b e more a f f e c t e d
hostilities
i n so much ­
Italy,
would
by t h e p o s s i b i l i t y
with that
of
country than anyone
e l s e , we s h o u l d be j u s t i f i e d
M. Laval t o s t a t e f i r s t
Italy.
other
a Minister
A t h i r d s u g g e s t i o n was t h a t
attitude
that
unwilling.
h e comment, was made, h o w e v e r , t h a t
engaged i n c o n d u c t i n g
Covenant,
no a c t i o n w e r e
t h e y would have t o s t a t e
n a t i o n s had been
to
in
pressing
what was h i s
i n the event of a default
by
(iv)
A f o u r t h p r o p o s a l was t h a t t h e r e
should
h e a C o n f e r e n c e w i t h t h e French Government,
the object
survey
o f which s h o u l d b e t o make a
o f t h e r e a c t i o n t h a t an T t a l o ­
- A b y s s i n i a n war would, h a v e on Europe, and
t o b r i n g home t o M. L a v a l t h e consequences
on France i n p a r t i c u l a r
the provisions
o f t h e Covenant and i t s
possible reactions
If
arrangements.
o f a breakdown o f
on o t h e r mutual
this
ooxurse w e r e a d o p t e d
t h e aim would b e , not s o much f o r
t o press
country
security
either
t h e o t h e r as t o i t s
attitude
on. s a n c t i o n s , but t o examine t h e q u e s t i o n
from an A n g l o - F r e n c h p o i n t
t o d i s c o v e r what s t e p s
avert
the serious
of view,
in order
c o u l d be taken t o
consequences
o f an outbreak
of war.
The C a b i n e t w e r e i n f o r m e d , h o w e v e r ,
difficult
t o p r o p o s e a new C o n f e r e n c e w h i l e t h e 1906
C o n f e r e n c e was s t i l l
(v)
t h a t i t would, be
A fifth
the
under
consideration.
s u g g e s t i o n , which had a r i s e n out o f
e n q u i r i e s , by t h e A d v i s o r y
t h e Committee o f I m p e r i a l
Questions
Committee o f
Defence
on T r a d e
i n Time o f War, namely,^Miat
c o u l d not be a p p l i e d
collective
sanctions
effectively
without
the exercise
belligerent
rights,
a financial
could, be a p p l i e d
of
sanction
( i n f a c t was a l r e a d y
b e g i n n i n g t o apply
itself
by m e r e l y
credits
refusing
w o u l d o n l y be n e c e s s a r y
and t o r e f u s e
while
any c r e d i t
automatically)
to I t a l y .
t o remain
or l o a n .
It
passive
A difficulty
in this
p r o p o s a l was t h a t
o p e r a t e soon enough t o
(vi)
deter
it
war.
A s i x t h s u g g e s t i o n was t h a t t h e
of
state for
Foreign A f f a i r s
a Despatch t o His M a j e s t y ' s
Paris
setting
national
f o r t h not
aspects
particularly
d i d not
Secretary
should
prepare
Ambassador
only the
inter­
of t h e q u e s t i o n , and more
their vital
interest
to
France,
but a l s o t h e p r o b a b l e r e a c t i o n o f an
A b y s s i n i a n war on t h e n a t i v e s
Africa
Empire and France as
A f r i c a n Powers .
further
Italo-
throughout
- r a m a t t e r which e q u a l l y
the B r i t i s h
in
concerned
great
The Ambassador would, b e
instructed,
on r e c e i p t
of
the
D e s p a t c h , t o t a k e tip t h e s e q u e s t i o n s , w i t h
M. L a v a l and so t o p r e p a r e t h e way
c o n v e r s a t i o n s by t h e M i n i s t e r
o f Nations A f f a i r s
for
on h i s way t o ,
for
League
or
at,
of State
for
Or eneva *
At the request
Foreign
Affairs
o f the Secretary
t h e Cabinet agreed
o a d j o u r n a d e c i s i o n u n t i l Wednesday
n e x t , " J u l y 2 4 t h , in- o r d e r t o g i v e t h e
S e c r e t a r y " of S t a t e time f u r t h e r t o
c o n s i d e r ' t h e m a t t e r and t o f o r m u l a t e
fresh proposals in the l i g h t of the
d i s c u s s ! on and more p a r t i c u l a r l y t h e
l a s t - n a m e d p r o p o s a l t o send a Despatch
t o Paris .
m
$pUTE
IP
2.
BETWEEN
AND
IYSSINIA
IIHIOPIA).
The C a b i n e t had b e f o r e
them the
following
documents d e a l i n g w i t h c e r t a i n s u b s i d i a r y matters:
i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e d i s p u t e between I t a l y
Abyssinia,
p l y o f Arms
yibyssinia.
and
namely:
A Memorandum by t h e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e
f o r F o r e i g n A f f a i r s ( C P . 147 . ( 3 5 ) )
d e a l i n g w i t h the t r a n s i t of consignments
o f arms t o A b y s s i n i a through B r i t i s h
contiguous t e r r i t o r y ;
the g r a n t i n g o f
l i c e n c e s f o r t h e e x p o r t o f arms;
a p p l i c a t i o n s from p r i v a t e persons f o r
p e r m i s s i o n t o take s e r v i c e w i t h t h e
fgvious
ference:
n e t 38 ( 3 5 )
$elusion 1 ) .
i b i
Abyssinian
forces;
the
use
of
retired
B r i t i s h Army O f f i c e r s as P o l i c e
Instructors in Abyssinia;
r e q u e s t s from
Abyssinia f o r h e l p from the B r i t i s h Red
Cross S o c i e t y ;
the p r o t e c t i o n of B r i t i s h
subjects in Abyssinia:
A Memorandum by t h e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e ­
f o r F o r e i g n A f f a i r s ( C P . 138 ( 3 5 ) )
e x p l a i n i n g t h e p o s i t i o n under the T r e a t y
s i g n e d i n P a r i s on August 2 1 , 1930,
b e t w e e n t h e U n i t e d Kingdom, F r a n c e , I t a l y
and E t h i o p i a :
A Memorandum b y the S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e
f o r the C o l o n i e s ( C P . 146 ( 3 5 ) ) s t a t i n g
t h a t a d e c i s i o n was r e q u i r e d as t o
w h e t h e r any l a r g e consignments o f arms
d e s t i n e d f o r A b y s s i n i a s h o u l d be
p e r m i t t e d t o b e t r a n s p o r t e d through
B r i t i s h Somaliland.
The C a b i n e t were i n f o r m e d t h a t
1930 bound us t o a l l o w t h e t r a n s i t
British
territory
condition of
or p u b l i c
unless
Ethiopia
o f arms
the a t t i t u d e or
disturbed
peace
order.
Governor o f S o m a l i l a n d t h a t i n t h e
Protectorate
ef
the
interests
of
e s c o r t s would have t o he p r o v i d e d
the c o n s i g n e r ' s
available
reminded t h a t
of
of
through
constituted a threat to
In c o n n e c t i o n w i t h the proposal
forces
the T r e a t y
e x p e n s e ) from
the m i l i t a r y
in Somaliland,
or
the
(at
police
the C a b i n e t w e r e
t h i s was o n l y p a r t o f t h e normal
duty
the Government and would be a p p l i e d w i t h o u t
question i f ,
question.
for
e x a m p l e , a caravan o f
Only r e c e n t l y
g o l d were
in
the R o y a l A i r F o r c e a t Aden
had b e e n used t o ensure
the p e a c e f u l
caravan i n the h i n t e r l a n d .
justification.for
this
transit
of a
The I t a l i a n s would have no
protesting against a precaution
of
Kind.
On the o t h e r hand, the C a b i n e t were a s s u r e d
to provide escorts
feeling
in
i n t h i s way would c r e a t e much
that
ill­
Italy.
On the q u e s t i o n o f e x p o r t
the C a b i n e t were
i n f o r m e d t h a t we had no o b l i g a t i o n under the 1930 T r e a t y
to grant l i c e n c e s
Office
though i n
the v i e w o f
the
Foreign
i t would be i n a c c o r d w i t h t h e s p i r i t
Treaty not to withhold
of
the
licences.
On the o t h e r hand, the C a b i n e t were reminded
t h a t F r a n c e , Germany, Belgium and C z e c h o s l o v a k i a
g i v e n I t a l y assurances
that henceforth
exports
had
of
arms
from t h e s e c o u n t r i e s d e s t i n e d f o r E t h i o p i a would b e
prohibited.
If
l i c e n c e s were g i v e n f o r
the
o f B r i t i s h arms i t would be s a i d i n I t a l y
casualties
of
export
that
the
the I t a l i a n army had been i n f l i c t e d
by
B r i t i s h weapons and ammunition.
W h i l e no arms o r m u n i t i o n s had been
t o E t h i o p i a from the U n i t e d Kingdom s i n c e
1934,
exported
September
some v e r y s m a l l consignments had oeen sent
Italy.
Both c o u n t r i e s
British
sources.
had o b t a i n e d p e t r o l
Italy
from
had become l a r g e l y
f o r w a t e r on c o n d e n s e r s s u p p l i e d from G r e a t
dependent
Britain
and was drawing l a r g e s u p p l i e s o f v a r i o u s kinds
B r i t i s h East A f r i c a n C o l o n i e s .
a number o f motor
to
from
A b y s s i n i a had r e c e i v e d
lorries.
The S e c r e t a r y
of State f o r
Foreign A f f a i r s
said
t h a t w h a t e v e r d e c i s i o n was a d o p t e d , he had p r o m i s e d
t o inform
I t a l y , and he a l s o p r o p o s e d t o
inform
t h e French Government and t o t r y t o o b t a i n common
action.
parties
Whatever d e c i s i o n vrere t a k e n ,
ought
t o be t r e a t e d a l i k e .
both
On h i s
suggestion,
the C a b i n e t
agreed;
To postpone the q u e s t i o n u n t i l
t h e i r m e e t i n g on Wednesday,
July 24th.
-8­
SPECIAL AREAS.
reports of
Commissioners .
—
Labour P a r t y
Resolution in
the House o f
Commons.
3.
^he C a b i n e t had b e f o r e them a Memorandum, by
the M i n i s t e r
the l i n e s
Resolution
o f Labour' (C . P . - 1 4 8 ( 3 5 ) )
of the reply
suggesting
t o be made t o t h e Labour
i n t h e Fou.se o f Commons on t h e
day on t h e R e p o r t s
o f t h e Commissioners
following
for
Special
Areas .
(Previous
Reference:
Cabinet 37
( 3 5 ) , Con­
elusion 2.)
W(jid)l5.
The M i n i s t e r
o f Labour r e p o r t e d
R e s o l u t i o n had now become a V o t e o f
that
the
Censure,
The C a b i n e t approved the g e n e r a l
t e n o r o f the l i n e s o f t h e r e p l y
p r o p o s e d by t h e M i n i s t e r o f
Labour ( C P . 148 ( 3 5 ) ) and a g r e e d :
(a)
That the M i n i s t e r o f Labour
should be p r e p a r e d t o speak
e a r l y i n the D e b a t e :
-
(b)
Party
That the Home S e c r e t a r y should
spealc a t the end o f t h e D e b a t e .
4.
IlNDlA.
The C h a n c e l l o r o f
matter o f
Suggested use
bf Tear Gas
tor Dispersing
liiobs.
urgency the
in
main o b j e c t i o n
gas
d i s p e r s i n g mobs and d e a l i n g
India.
The S e c r e t a r y
(previous
Reference:
-Cabinet 4S^C^)
I Conclusion^li).
question of whether t e a r
c o u l d n o t be used f o r
with r i o t s
the Exchequer r a i s e d as a
of State f o r
t o the use o f
case^ was t h e danger o f
communal crowds.
India
said that
the
t e a r gas i n t h a t k i n d o f
c r e a t i n g a p a n i c among l a r g e
Hitherto
i t had o n l y been used
t o smoke out armed c r i m i n a l s "brought t o pay
i n a house or p l a c e
of
refuge.
The C a b i n e t were i n f o r m e d , h o w e v e r ,
that
the
Governor o f Bombay had been a s k e d a few months ago
to i n i t i a t e
an i n q u i r y i n t o t h e use o f
t h a t the m a t t e r was s t i l l
2 , W h i t e h a l l G a r d e n s , S.7T.1.-,
22nd J u l y ,
1935.
under
t e a r gas and
consideration.