(THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY 01 HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT)
ft g C R E T.
COPY NO.
C A B I N E T
Meeting of
Street,
41 ( 3 5 ) .
the C a b i n e t t o be h e l d a t No. 10, Downing
S . W . I . , on WEDNESDAY, 31st J u l y , 1935,
a t 1 1 . 0 a.m.
A G E N D A .
1.
2
*
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
MALTA:
-
(if
required).
PROPOSED LEGISLATION.
(Reference
Cabinet 5 ( 3 5 )
Conclusion 6 ) .
Memorandum by t h e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e f o r the
(C,I .
156 ( 5 5 )
already c i r c u l a t e d ) .
Colonies.
J
3.
REMOVAL OF ROYAL ORDNANCE FACTORIES
WALTHAM, E T C . ; .
N o t e b y the S e c r e t a r y
(WOOL./!OH, ENFIELD,
covering:-
Memorandum by the S e c r e t a r y
R e p o r t of an I n t e r - S e r v i c e s
of State f o r
Committee.
War c o v e r i n g
E x t r a c t from the 269th M i n u t e s o f t h e Committee
Imperial Defence.
of
J o i n t Memorandum by the T r e a s u r y and t h e War O f f i c e ,
c i r c u l a t e d w i t h the a p p r o v a l o f the C h a n c e l l o r o f
t h e Exchequer and t h e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e f o r War. ­
(CP.
4.
145 ( 3 5 )
-
already
circulated).
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE (NORTHERN IRELAND) AGREEMENT.
Memorandum by t h e C h a n c e l l o r
draft B i l l .
(CP.
158 ( 3 5 )
-
of
circulated
the Exchequer,
covering
herewith).
5. ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE RECESS.
(Reference
C a b i n e t 31 ( 3 4 ) ' C o n c l u s i o n 9 ) .
( S i g n e d ) M.P.A.
Secretary
2
'
V / h i
tehall
Gardens, S . V . I . ,
29th J u l y ,
1935.
HANKSY.
t o the
Cabinet.
(THIS DOCUMENT I S THE P R O P E R T Y Oir HIS BRITANNIC M H J E S T Y ' S GOVERNMENT)
^
C E E T,
COPY NO.
C A B I N E T
41 ( 3 5 ) .
CONCLUSIONS o f a M e e t i n g of t h e C a b i n e t h e l d a t
10, Downing S t r e e t , S.V/.1., on WEDNESDAY,
31st
JULY,
1935,
at
11.0
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 ) .
The R i g h t Hon.
J. Ramsay MacDonald, M . P . ,
Lord P r e s i d e n t of the Council.
The R i g h t Hon.
N e v i l l e Chamberlain, M . P . ,
C h a n c e l l o r of the Exchequer.
The 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 i i m o n , G. G. 8 . 1 . ,K. C V. 0
O.B.E., K.C., M.P., Secretary of
S t a t e f o r Home A f f a i r s .
The R i g h t Hon.
S i r Samuel H o a r e , 3 t .3 G . C . S . I . ,
G.3.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 o f L o n d o n d e r r y ,
K.G., M . V . O . , Lord P r i v y S e a l .
The R i g h t Hon.
The V i s c o u n t H a l i f a x , K . G . ,
C 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 R i g h t 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.,
C. M . P . , S e c r e t a r y
State f o r A i r .
11.
s
Dominion
The Most Hon.
The Marquess o f Z e t l a n d ,
o f G . C . S . I . , G.C. I . E . , S e c r e t a r y
State for India.
The R i g h t Hon.
Sir Godfrey C o l l i n s , K.B.E.,
C.M.G., M . P . , S e c r e t a r y o f
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.
The R i g h t Hon.
S a l t e r Run c iman, M. P. ,
P r e s i d e n t o f t h e Board o f
The R i g h t Hon.
S i r Bolton Eyres M o n s e l l ,
M . P . , F i r s t L o r d o f the
Admiralty.
The R i g h t Hon.
Walter E l l i o t , M . C . ,
Minister f o r A g r i c u l t u r e
Fisheries.
The R i g h t Hon.
S i r K i n g s l e y Wood, to. P . ,
Minister of Health.
Jhe R i
Hon.
p n e s t Brown, M.C. , M.P.
Minister of Laoour.
g h t
Trade.
ana
of
G.B.E.,
The R i g h t Hon.
L o r d Eustace P e r c y , M.P. ,
M i n i s t e r without P o r t f o l i o .
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 the Board o f
Education.
The R i g h t Hon.
W. Ormsoy-Gore, M . P . ,
F i r s t Commissioner o f "Works.
Colonel S i r M . P . A . Hankey, G.C.B. , G . C M . G . ,
G.C.V.O.,
Secretary
DISPUTE BETWEEN
I^ALY AND
ABYSSINIA.
fBTHIOPIA) .
H f p r e v i ous
F-" R e f e r e n c e :
Cabinet 40
II ( 3 5 ) ConH elusion 4 . )
ft ft. .
1 . The S e c r e t a r y
informed
the Cabinet
the situation
of State for
of the l a t e s t
Foreign
developments
in the Italo-Abyssinian
S i n c e the Meeting
o f t h e Cabinet
to
efforts
inducing France t o r e a l i s e the g r a v i t y
position.
of
the
Be had s e e n t h e French Ambassador a
a t t h e f o r t h c o m i n g Meeting, t h e C o u n c i l
League o f N a t i o n s
of
somewhat, n e g a t i v e a t t i t u d e
nothing
except
Conciliation
out t h a t
to start
adopted a
proposal
i t would b e u s e l e s s
further
t o do
d i s c u s s i o n s by
the
Committee o f Four, as t h a t would
disinteresting
of
the
The
towards t h i s
convey t h e i m p r e s s i o n t h a t
advantage
that
discussions
Committee.
S t a t e had d e l i b e r a t e l y
and. had p o i n t e d
of
should not extend i t s
of the C o n c i l i a t i o n
Secretary
in
on
few days a g o , when t h e l a t t e r had s u g g e s t e d
outside
in
dispute.
referred
t h e m a r g i n he had. concentrated, h i s
Affairs
itself
Italy.
t h e C o u n c i l was
in the question to
He b e l i e v e d , t h a t h i s
had b e e n passed, on t o P a r i s .
the
remarks
A few days l a t e r
he
had s e e n t h e French Ambassador a g a i n and. had.
suggested,
firstly,
that
if
a fifth
appointed,
t h a t would b e a new f a c t o r
s i t u a t i o n bu.t not a s u f f i c i e n t
that
it
m i g h t be w e l l
for
Arbitrator
one:
in
and.
a request to
were
the
secondly,
emerge
from
t h e Council
o f t h e L e a g u e t h a t t h e - t h r e e Powers
signatories
of the Treaty
with the question urgently
bases
t o be l a i d
o f 1906 should
and, i f
deal
possible,
on
down by t h e C o u n c i l i t s e l f .
The
C o u n c i l m i g h t then a r r a n g e t o keep i n touch, w i t h
the proceedings,
or even t o remain i n
T h i s would, g i v e a. d o u b l e p r o c e d u r e :
session.
first,
s t r e n g t h e n t h e C o n c i l i a t i o n C o m m i t t e e , and,
to
second,
t h e t h r e e - P o w e r t a l k s , watched by t h e C o u n c i l ,
That, p r o p o s a l had been passed on. t o P a r i s , and h e
l e a r n e d t h a t M. L a v a l l i k e d i t .
t h e r e were signs
of
French p r o p o s a l '
Affairs
its
in
coming back i n t h e form o f a
The M i n i s t e r
for
League o f
Nations
had s e e n M. L a v a l and had d i s c u s s e d w i t h him
t h e v e r y w e i g h t y D e s p a t c h which had been sent
Maiesty's
that
Ambassador i n P a r i s , and had
M. L a v a l l i k e d
our p r o p o s a l s ,
i t might b e d i f f i c u l t
accept
fact
them.
He f e l t
t o get
reported
though he thought
Signor Mussolini
therefore,
t o His
to
t h a t an advance
had b e e n made, i n so much as t h e French Government
was now f u l l y
drift,
alive
t o t h e dangers
a*nd he thought
put a l l
pressure
of l e t t i n g
they
could be r e l i e d upon t o
on I t a l y ,
In r e p l y t o a q u e s t i o n
as t o ho^ h e envisaged, t h e r e l a t i o n between
t h r e e - P o w e r M e e t i n g and t h e C o u n c i l , h e
that his
matters
the
explained
p r o p o s a l would b r i n g t h e C o u n c i l up a g a i n s t
realities.
He was most anxious t o s e c u r e
in the three-Power discussions.
Council should
precision
His i d e a was t h a t
e i t h e r adjourn f o r
a week or t w o ,
keep i n b e i n g t o watch t h e three-Power t a l k s .
the Council
d i d not
would n o t ,
for
that, r e a s o n ,
these discussions.
he thought
it
talks
In r e p l y
prospect
of
turn of recent
to another
question,
events, i f
should, p r e s s
view
for
for
delegate
notwithstanding
he saw a
lines
the Abyssinian
delegate
a d i s cuss i o n from, a w i d e r p o i n t
of
t h e C o u n c i l would h a v e t o c o n s i d e r t h e m a t t e r .
Much depended, on how f a r
bring
he
question,
p r o g r e s s b e i n g made a l o n g t h e
suggested, a b o v e . . I f , . h o w e v e r ,
on
from w o r k i n g
doubtful whether t h e Abyssinian
would wish, t o open t h e l a r g e
the s i n i s t e r
should t a k e p l a c e ,
desist
or
If
formulate the general l i n e s
which t h e t h r e e - P o w e r
precision
i t was found
i n t o the three-Power
the
possible
talks,
to
I n t h e d i s c u s s i o n t h e q u e s t i o n was r a i s e d
what a t t i t u d e would be taken i f
the B r i t i s h
a t i v e w e r e asked t o say whether t h e U n i t e d
was p r e p a r e d
Covenant,
to f u l f i l
its
obligations
I t was e x p l a i n e d
League o f N a t i o n s A f f a i r s
Despatch sent
to Paris,
as
represent­
Kingdom
under
the
that the Minister
would adopt
to
for
the l i n e
of
the
as s u g g e s t e d a t a M e e t i n g
of
crirtiQcdiOH^
the Cabinet,
namely,
cur
CLcW We S&otJd Caaxy
t h a t b o t h we a n
France
1
agmroitmerot8/ and t h e r e f o r e w e r e g r e a t l y
see that
THE SUPPLY OP
/EMS TO
lAPYSSBITA.
decision referred
I(Pr evi ous
vis.,
I
AH,
for
war t o e i t h e r
the
exportation
Ttalv
the
or
issue
o f arms or m u n i t i o n s
of
Abyssinia".
if
a new
of State
for
should r e o p e n t h e m a t t e r .
of s t a t e f o r Foreign A f f a i r s
r e q u e s t t o M i n i s t e r s who might
plate referring
pub1ic
arose.
the present
ari.se t h e S e c r e t a r y
The S e c r e t a r y
the f o l l o w i n g
point
as t o how l o n g
T h e r e was g e n e r a l agreement t h a t
Foreign Affairs
to
t o in t h e m a r g i n should, be maintained,
t h a t we " s h o u l d not f o r
s i t u a t i o n should
SPEECHES.
fulfilment
^he qi e s t i o n was a l s o r a i s e d
licences
concerned
t h e emergency d i d not d e v e l o p t o t h e
where t h e q u e s t i o n o f t h e i r
l T^gf er enc e t
I Cabinet f^9^
I ( 5 5 ) , ConI clus ion S . )
hadJour
made '
contem­
t o the I t a l o - A b y s s i n i a n dispute
in
speeches:­
(l)
That t h e y should be c a r e f u l not t o
convey any i d e a t h a t t h e s i t u a t i o n
was h o p e l e s s .
(s)
That, t h e y should be e x t r e m e l y c a u t i o u s
i n any r e f e r e n c e s as t o what t h i s country
would o r would not do i n t h e event o f an
outbreak o f h o s t i l i t i e s .
The S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e u n d e r t o o k t o communicate
w i t h t h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r or whoever was a c t i n g
f o r him i n t h e e v e n t o f any new s i t u a t i o n
developing.
( F o r C a b i n e t arrangements d u r i n g t h e Recess
in connection with the I t a l o - A b y s s i n i a n
d i s put e , s e e C one lus i o n 6 . )
ggTSS AIR
gSS!
(Previous
Reference:
Cabinet .56
( 7 5 ) . Con­
elusion 8.)
*'
T
h
secretary
e
*'
with the A i r Pact,
r
e
P
0
P
t
e
d
special
t
h
to
a
t
h
e
a s
reoort.
of State f o r Foreign
Affairs
i l l t r y i n g t o make p r o g r e s s
but at t h e moment had n o t h i n g
a
t
- 3 . T h e C a b i n e t had b e f o r e
MALTA.
Propos ed
Legislation.
the Secretary
( Previous
Reference:
Cabinet 5
( 5 5 ) , Con­
elusion 6.)
a Bill
(35))
of
State for
asking a u t h o r i t y
to repeal
them a Memorandum by
the Colonies
(0 . P . - 1 5 6
t o i n t r o d u c e next
t h e Malta C o n s t i t u t i o n
Session
Letters
Vcdida if
P a t e n t and t o
necessary)
invalidate
everything
'if
that proved t o be
done d u r i n g t h e
regime s i n c e the suspension of
Government
i n M a l t a i n 1933.
n o t r a i s e any i s s u e new t o h i s
invited
reference
predecessor
0 abinet
to
in o f f i c e
relating
State for
the various
Parliamentary
This proposal
did
c o l l e a g u e s , but he
c e r t a i n Memoranda by h i s
and t o t h e C o n c l u s i o n s
of
the
thereto.
After hearing a f u l l
of
provisional
the C o l o n i e s ,
points
s t a t e m e n t by the
Secretary
i n which he d e v e l o p e d
i n h i s Memorandum, t h e
Cabinet
That t h e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e f o r t h e
C o l o n i e s should be a u t h o r i s ed t o
p r e p a r e a B i l l t o r e p e a l the. Malta,
C o n s t i t u t i o n L e t t e r s P a t e n t , with a
v i e w t o t h e s e t t i n g up by Order i n
C o u n c i l o f a form o f Government i n
w h i c h t h e supreme l e g i s l a t i v e and
e x e c u t i v e power should remain w i t h
the Governor, with a Council t o a s s i s t
OYAL ORDINANCE
aCTCRIES —
T/OVAL OF.
4 . The C a b i n e t had b e f o r e them t h e
documents
on t h e s u b j e c t
Ordnance F a c t o r i e s
$$($M)^-
following
of the removal
(Woolwich,
of
Royal
F n f i e l d , Walt-ham
c i r c u l a t e d by d i r e c t i o n o f t h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r
145 ( 3 5 ) ) : -
etc.)
(C . P . ­
A Memorandum by t h e S e c r e t a r y o f
S t a t e f o r War," c o v e r i n g t h e R e p o r t
o f an I n t e r - S e r v i c e s Committee:
An E x t r a c t from t h e Minutes o f
269th M e e t i n g o f t h e Committee
Imperial Defence:
the
of
A J o i n t N o t e by t h e T r e a s u r y and
t h e War O f f i c e , c i r c u l a t e d w i t h t h e
approval of the Chancellor of the
Fxcheq\:er and t h e S e c r e t a r y o f
S t a t e f o r War.
The d i s c u s s i o n
contained
i n favour
Lancashire,
tfu
W h i l e C h o r l e y was g e n e r a l ! ; / a c c e p t e d
for
t h e main f a c t o r y ,
the
in
of view
of
ogioal
g i v i n g some h e l p t o
areas, the populations
t o move t o o t h e r
as a
unemploy­
on t h e
psychol­
isolated
o f w h i c h i t was
centres,
and which
were
l i a b l e t o become e m b i t t e r e d by t h e f a c t
that
felt
r e c o r d was
themselves b o y c o t t e d because t h e i r
a bad o n e .
industrial
The a d v a n t a g e s
they
from t h e p o i n t o f v i e w
e x p a n s i o n o f h a v i n g more than one
Incidentally
in
d i s c u s s i o n t h e q u e s t i o n was r a i s e d , o f
the
of dealing with the floods
in the
especially
increase
the
desirability
entrances
t o t h e v a l l e y s , w h i c h a r e a b a r t o development
South W a l e s .
of
estab­
l i s h m e n t w e r e a d m i t t e d , but t h i s was s a i d t o
the cost rather s e r i o u s l y .
T&CI'^^
advantages
Emphasis was l a i d
importance of
the
i?pyaJL little a
ment, were p r e s s e d .
difficult
and
f o r throov o f t h e Royal­
South W a l e s , from t h e p o i n t
special
proposal
of the adoption of Chorley,
as t h e s i t e
suitable site
of
on t h e
i n t h e J o i n t N o t e by t h e t r e a s u r y
War O f f i c e
4$&At**am-.
focussed. m a i n l y
in
The q u e s t i o n was a l s o r a i s e d
effect
great
of t h e removal
on W o o l w i c h ,
of the s o c i a l
the centre of a
c o - o p e r a t i v e movement and o f e x t e n s i v e
housing
schemes .
After
agreed
c o n s i d e r a b l e discuss ion the Cabinet
—
(a)
o a c c e p t t h e f o l l o w i n g recommendation
by t h e Committee o f I m p e r i a l D e f e n c e ,
viz . :­
m
"fa)
To a p p r o v e i n p r i n c i p l e t h e
recommendations o f t h e Report
o f t h e C omm i t t e e on th e r em ova 1
o f t h e R o y a l Ordnance F a c t o r i e s
f o r w a r d e d w i t h t h e Memorandum, by
t h e S e e r e t a r v o f S t a t e f o r War
( 6 . I . D . Paper N o . 208-A)
(b)
That t h e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e for War
s h o u l d h a v e a u t h o r i t y , a f t e r such
e x a m i n a t i o n o f t h e C h o r l e y s i t e as
h e might deem n e c e s s a r y h a v i n g r e g a r d
t o t h e r i s k o f leakage i f there were
too great delay, t o proceed, subject
t o Treasury consent, with
t h e purchase o f a s i t e a t C h o r l e y ,
in Lancashire:
fe)
That t h e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e f o r War,
in consultation with the Minister of
H e a l t h and o t h e r M i n i s t e r s as r e q u i r e d ,
should form an I n t e r - - D e p a r t m e n t a l
C o m m i t t e e , composed o f r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s
of The
The
The
"he
he
m
War O f f i c e ,
Treasury,
Ministry of Health,
M i n i s t r y o f Labour,
Scottish Office ­
w i t h i n s t r u c t i o n s t o c o n s i d e r fon t h e
assumption t h a t t h e p r i n c i p a l part o f
t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t s conoerned would be
removed t o C h o r l e y , in. L a n c a s h i r e )
t h e f o l l o w i n g qti.estions : ­
fl)
"$vuc& iiliuiq
v
v
The p o s s i b i l i t y and d e s i r a b i l i t y
o f e s t a b l i s h i n g some p a r t o f t h e
tCLdbUf /p^ep-es-ed
site
(2)
(3)
now fao-%-e^4es
i n South W a l e s :
at. some
h e best s i t e f o r the Cordite
F a c t o r y at Walt-ham whenever i t
should, be d e c i d e d t o move i t :
n
The b e s t means o f m i t i g a t i n g t h e
s o c i a l consequences o f t h e r e m o v a l
in t h e Woolwich a r e a , including
such m a t t e r s as t h e e f f e c t on h o u s i n g
and t h e Woolwich C o - o p e r a t i v e S o c i e t y .
( d ) That t h e utmost s e c r e c y should be
p r e s e r v e d , f o r t h e p r e s e n t as t o t h i s
decis i o n .
5.
ORT-ilR^
The C a b i n e t had b e f o r e
Chancellor
8'ob j e c t
pevious
ffeerenco:
f f i n e t 46
1),
Con­
lusion 7 ) .
or the Exchequer
them a Memorandum by
( C P . -158
(35))
o f a new A g r e e m e n t w i t h N o r t h e r n
i n ooth c o u n t r i e s .
astced a u t h o r i t y
of
%w
the
I r e l a n d on
confirmed
the Treasury
i n a F i n a n c i a l R e s o l u t i ,,n on the n i g h t
on the l i n e s
A
The C h a n c e l l o r
the C a b i n e t f o r
to introduce a B i l l
42
on the
Unemployment I n s u r a n c e , which r e q u i r e d t o be
by l e g i s l a t i o n
1
of
t o hand
o f J u l y 3 1 s t and
the p r e l i m i n a r y
a t t a c h e d t o h i s Memorandum as soon as o p p o r t u n i t y
draft
offered
i n t h e autumn.
The S e c r e t a r y
Cabinet
that
of
State
for
Scotland informed
the
on the p r e v i o u s e v e n i n g he had s e n t a
t o the C h a n c e l l o r o f
the Exchequer,
informing
letter
him o f
c e r t a i n r e a c t i o n s which the new a g r e e m e n t would produce
in bcotland,
be some d e l a y
and a s k i n g t h a t ,
if
possible,
there
should
i n handing i n the F i n a n c i a l R e s o l u t i o n ,
as t o g i v e him time t o t a k e t h e n e c e s s a r y s t e p s t o
the t h r e a t e n e d d i f f i c u l t i e s .
received CP.-158
able
to w r i t e
previous
(35)
Ho h i m s e l f
so
avoid
had only
on J u l y i39tn and had o n l y been
t o the C h a n c e l l o r o f
the Exchequer on t h e
evening.
After
some d i s c u s s i o n t h e C h a n c e l l o r
asiced t h a t he m i g h t be l e f t
the S e c r e t a r y
of State
for
of
t o discuss the matter
with
S c o t l a n d , whose v/ishes he
u n d e r t o o k t o meet so f a r as t h i s might p r o v e
The C a b i n e t
the Exchequer
possible.
agreed:­
t o a p p r o v e in p r i n c i p l e t h e Memorandum
by t h e C h a n c e l l o r o f t h e Exchequer
( C P . - 1 5 8 ( 5 5 ) ) l e a v i n g t o the C h a n c e l l o r
o f the e x c h e q u e r and the S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e
f o r S c o t l a n d t o s e t t l e the d a t e on -which
the F i n a n c i a l R e s o l u t i o n s h o u l d be handed
in.
m CABINET
6.
!R THE RECESS.
the C a b i n e t a g r e e d t o the f o l l o w i n g
gg^vious
Reference:
[Cabinet 31
p 4 ) Con­
liusion 9 ) .
for
iRRANGEM^RTS
On the s u g g e s t i o n
the
of
t h e Prime
Minister
arrangements
Recess:­
(a)
(b)
That d a r i n g t h e Prime M i n i s t e r ' s
ausence a b r o a d , the L o r d P r e s i d e n t
of the C o u n c i l should a c t f o r him,
and i f t h e L o r d P r e s i d e n t s h o u l d
h i m s e l f go a b r o a u , the C h a n c e l l o r
o f the Exchequer s h o u l d a c t f o r the
. Prime M i n i s t e r U n t i l h i s r e t u r n .
That i f t h e Mi n i s t e r a c t i n g f o r the
Prime M i n i s t e r should deem i t
necessary to hold a Meeting of
M i n i s t e r s he s h o u l d n o r m a l l y summon
o n l y t h o s e w i t h i n easy r e a c h o f
London.
In the e v e n t , however, of
a r e a l emerge ncy a r i s i n g ­ i n c o n ­
n e e t i o n , f o r examp1e, v i t h the
I t a l o - A b y s s i n i a n d i s p u t e , he s h o u l d
summon a f u l l M e e t i n g o f t h e C a b i n e t ,
i n which c a s e t h e Prime M i n i s t e r
h i m s e l f would r e t u r n .
That a M e e t i n g o f the C a b i n e t s h o u l d
be h e l d on Tuesday, September 2 4 t h ,
t o d e a l w i t h immediate b u s i n e s s , but
t h a t o n l y t h o s e Members s h o u l d be
summoned who w e r e w i t h i n c o n v e n i e n t
reach.
m
*
Whitehall Gardens,
31st J u l y ,
1935.
"it
a
(d)
That r e g u l a r M e e t i n g s o f the C a b i n e t
should b e g i n on Wednesday, O c t o b e r
2nd, when the Prime M i n i s t e r hoped
t h a t a l l o f h i s c o l l e a g u e s "would be .
present.
(e)
That as r e g a r d s t h e I t a l o - - A b y s s i n i a n
d i s p u t e , the Secretary of State f o r
F o r e i g n A f f a i r s , who would be w i t h i n
easy r e a c h o f London, s h o u l d iceep the
C a b i n e t M i n i s t e r a c t i n g f o r t h e time
b e i n g f o r the Prime M i n i s t e r i n
c l o s e touch v/ith a l l d e v e l o p m e n t s i n
the s i t u a t i o n , and s h o u l d inform him
i f he deemed any M e e t i n g o f M i n i s t e r s
t o be n e c e s s a r y .
(f)
That C a b i n e t M i n i s t e r s s h o u l d inform
t h e S e c r e t a r y t o the C a b i n e t as t o
t h e i r a d d r e s s e s and changes o f a d d r e s s ,
w h e t h e r t h e y were a t home or a b r o a d ,
i n o r d e r t h a t t h e S e c r e t a r y might b e
a o i e t o summon the M e e t i n g a t s h o r t
n o t i c e i r d e s i r e d by t h e M i n i s t e r
a c t i n g f o r t h e Prime M i n i s t e r .
1o 9
. pQGUMENT' j g
mtTy?
PROPERTY OF HIS BRI^A^NTO MAJESTY S GOVERNMENT.)
1
S E 0 R F ^ -
COPY Bo ,
CONCLUSIONS OF A CONVERSATION AT N o , 1 0 .
DOWNING- STREET
ON TUESDAY
AUGUST S
19 35, ' at 3 .30 p .m.
R E S F N T :The R i g h t T o n . S t a n l e y
Prin?e F i n i s t er .
r
r
Tjie R i g h t
rj
Q
Baldwin,
M.P.,
pon. Sir
Samuel P o a r e
Ft.
n w fi i f u
State f o r Foreign
f i T5 c
T
Secretary
A.f f a i r s
of
The R i g h t Fort. Anthony Eden, M , C . , M , P , ,
M i n i s t e r . f o r League o f N a t i o n s
Affairs.
Car R o b e r t Vans i t t a r t , G .C.M.G. , F .C .P . ,M ,v.o .
Permanent U n d e r - 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 o l o n e l S i r M . P . A . Fankey, G .C ,B . ,G .C .M.G . , 6 .0 . v .0
Secretary to the Cabinet.
This
Minister
M e e t i n g was h e l d
for
the results
of
in order
Lea'gue o f N a t i o n s
and t h e S e c r e t a r y
Affairs,
and. f o r
of
Affairs
the three Ministers
at
19 0 6 .
Foreign
to confer
for
League
the forthcoming Meetings
t h r e e Powers s i g n a t o r i e s
of
report
t h e Prime
State for
t h e l i n e t o be t a k e n by t h e M i n i s t e r
Nations
to
the
o f t h e Council,
a t Geneva t o
Minister
enable
Affairs
of the recent Meeting
t h e League o f N a t i o n s
to
to the Abyssinian
of
on
of
the
Treaty
The Minister for League of Nations Affairs
reported that at Geneva the French representatives
had acted markedly in line with.the British,
^his
applied especially to M. leger.
Tt was noted that this development was in
conformity with the wishes o""' the Cabinet (Cabinet 40
1
(55), Conclusion 1 ) .
Ministers were informed that the probable course
of events next week would be Anglo-French Conversations
for a day or two
after which the tripartite discus­
sions would, begin.
Tn the course of the discussion reference was made
to an interim Memorandum by the Chiefs of Staff SubCommittee on the military implications of the appli­
cation of Article XVI of the Covenant of the League
of Nat ions (C.0 .S -388) which had been sent to the
e
Ministers present pending the working out of details,
which was still in progress .
The attitude to be adopted, by the Minister for
League of Nations Affairs at the forthcoming Meetings.
and. certain other matters arising consecuentiallv,
v,
ere discussed
and Conclusions were reached which
may be summarised, as follows:­
(a.) That the Minister for League of Nations
Affairs should do his utmost to maintain
the close relations already established
with the French Government on the ItaloAbyssinian d1spute:
-
(b) That, in the preliminary conversations
with the French Government, his aim should
be to establish a programme for later
dis cuss ion w i t h th e Ital ian repres entat ive.
T b i s programme would, orobablv have to be
drawn in such manner as to bring, home to
the Italian representative that the
ultimate choice before Italy lay between
th e foilowing alt ernat ives:­
(i) Acceptance from Abyssinia of certain
concessions on points in the Italian
case which His Majesty's G-overnment
have already told the British
. Ambassador in Pome (who did not have
occasion to use them.) that they could
support, if the case was made out, viz.:­
;:
4 NN
146
"(l)
i n s o f a r as t h r e a t s t o , or v i o l a t i o n s
of, the I t a l i a n f r o n t i e r s are concerned:
(2)
i n r e s p e c t o f a g g r e s s i o n s s-nch as Walwal
a f f r a y i f proved against. A b y s s i n i a t o
bpr s a t i s f a c t i o n and t h a t o f t h e League
of N a t i o n s :
(?)
in r e s p e c t of breaches - i f proven - of
t r e a t i e s between I t a l v and A b y s s i n i a .
Further
1
(4)
i n a. g e n e r a l way His M a j e s t y ' s Government
would be w i l l i n g t o s u p p o r t " I t a l y in
p r e s s i n g Abyssinia t o permit to I t a l i a n s
and o t h e r f o r e i g n e r s t h e u s u a l and r e a s o n ­
able f a c i l i t i e s for trade, habitation e t c .
w i t h r e g a r d t o which she has been
obstructive in the past:
(5)
as r e g a r d s s l a v e r y His M a j e s t y ' ? G o v e r n ­
ment c o u l d support, i n s i s t e n c e on Abyss i n i a
p u t t i n g i n t o f o r c e such f u t u r e measures as
t h e l e a g u e may t h i n k n e c e s s a r y and. remedying
p a s t f a i l u r e s t o c a r r y out h e r o b l i g a t i o n s
in t h i s m a t t e r . "
(Telegram t o Rome H o . 5 5 5 .
o f July
Igjth.)
I t was f o r e s e e n , h o w e v e r , t h a t t h e r e was no
p r o s p e c t o f so l i m i t e d a programme s u f f i c i n g
t o b r i n g I t a l y t o an accommodation.
Tie
i n d i c a t i o n s w e r e t h a t t h e French Government
would p r o p o s e t o
a p p l y j o i n t s u a s i o n a t Addis
Ababa with, a v i e w t o e x t r a c t i n g a maximum o f f e r
from A b v s s i n i a .
I t was a l s o p o i n t e d out t h a t
t h e more a t t r a c t i v e t h e o f f e r t o be i n d u c e d
t h e b e t t e r would be t h e o r o s o e c t s o f t h e f i r s t
c o u r s e and t h e l e s s t h e p r o s p e c t o f h a v i n g t o
consider the a l t e r n a t i v e course below,
Possibly
t h e French Government might h a v e o t h e r a d d i t i o n s
t o s u g g e s t , and. t h e M i n i s t e r f o r League o f
N a t i o n s A f f a i r s m i g h t , at h i s d i s c r e t i o n , remind
them t h a t t h e y had n e v e r made any c o n c e s s i o n
t o I t a l y comparable w i t h t h e B r i t i s h c e s s i o n
of Jubaland.
OR
f n)
Vhe c a r r y i n g out by t h e League
t h e p r o c e d u r e l a i d down i n t h e
i n c l u d i n g , i n t h e last, r e s o r t ,
by t h e members o f t h e League o f
tions thereunder.
of Nations of
Covenant,
consideration
their obliga­
I n any r e f e r e n c e t o t h i s l a t t e r a s p e c t t h e M i n i s t e r
f o r League o f N a t i o n s A f f a i r s should be guided, by
t h e a p p r o v a l g i v e n by t h e C a b i n e t t o t h e l i n e s
suggested, by t h e 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 on Wednesday, - J u l y 2 4 t h , where he i n d i ­
cated t h a t i n d i s c u s s i o n s w i t h t h e French
"The u n d e r l y i n g assumption would b e
t h a t b o t h Powers r e a l i s e d , t h e i r
o b l i g a t i o n s and w e r e j o i n t l y
i n t e r e s t e d t o f i n d a way out o f
-the d i f f i c u l t y " .
Ann
14 (
The M i n i s t e r f o r League o f N a t i o n s A f f a i r s
w o u l d , of c o u r s e , "be on h i s guard a g a i n s t
g i v i n g t h e French Government any" o p p o r t u ­
n i t y t o s u g g e s t t o I t a l y t h a t we w e r e
p r e s s i n g them t o commit t h e m s e l v e s t o
sanctions.
Any d e t a i l e d ' d i s c u s s i o n o f
s a n c t i o n s should be a v o i d e d , as t h i s
does not a r i s e a t p r e s e n t and, i f i t
a r i s e s at a l l , belongs r a t h e r to d i s c u s ­
s ions a t a l a t e r ' s t a g e .
( c ) That t h e M i n i s t e r f o r League o f N a t i o n s A f f a i r s
who would b e accompanied by t h e Permanent Under
Secretary of State for Foreign A f f a i r s in
P a r i s , s h o u I d , as f a r as p o s s i b 1 e , keep i n
touch w i t h t h e Prime M i n i s t e r , who would, be
in France a t t h e t i m e o f t h e M e e t i n g s , and
i n p a r t i c u l a r should arrange t o r e p o r t the
p o s i t i o n v e r b a l l y t o him a f t e r t h e c o n c l u s i o n
o f t h e M e e t i n g s , i n o r d e r t h a t he might d e c i d e
w h e t h e r , and when, t o summon a M e e t i n g o f t h e
Cabinet.
I t appeared p r o b a b l e t o t h e M i n i s t e r s
p r e s e n t t h a t i f t h e P a r i s M e e t i n g s did. not
produce a s a t i s f a c t o r y r e s u l t , a M e e t i n g o f
t h e C a b i n e t would be r e q u i r e d b e f o r e t h e end
o f A u g u s t , when i m p o r t a n t d e c i s i o n s might be
necessary.
Lake Tsana .
(d)
That i f t h e t h r e e - P o w e r C o n f e r e n c e should
n o t a eh i ev e a s a *" i s fa c t o ry r e s u l t , t h e
q u e s t i o n o f Lake Tsana would become i m p o r t a n t ,
and. t h e M i n i s t e r f o r League o f N a t i o n s A f f a i r s
s h o u l d h a v e d i s c r e t i o n t o warn t h e I t a l i a n
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e t h a t t h i s was an important
British interest.
He might r e p e a t t h e
w a r n i n g g i v e n by S i r Edward Grey ( a f t e r w a r d s
E a r l Grey o f F a l l o d o n ) i n 1915:
(e)
That i n t h e meantime t h e F o r e i g n O f f i c e ­
s h o u l d examine t h e q u e s t i o n o f Lake Tsana
i n i t s p o l i t i c a l and. t e c h n i c a l a s p e c t s , and
c o n s u l t t h e D e f e n c e Departments on any a s p e c t s
o f t h e au es t i o n whi ch m i g h t cone er n them:
Defence A s p e c t s .
That t h e S e c r e t a r y t o t h e C-abinet and Committee
o f I m p e r i a l D e f e n c e should, i n f o r m t h e C h i e f s
o f S t a f f Sub-Committee t h a t t h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r
would, be g l a d i f t h e y would c o n s i d e r t h e
following questions:­
(f)
(1)
A t once t o examine t h e q u e s t i o n o f
what t h e p o s i t i o n would b e i f I t a l y
t o o k t h e b i t between h e r t e e t h :
(S)
On t h e assumption that- t h e c o n t i n g e n c y
r e f e r r e d t o i n ( l ) might take p l a c e ,
a r e t h e r e any s t e p s t h a t ought t o be
t a k e n a t once t o p r o v i d e a g a i n s t i t ?
In t h i s l a t t e r connection the Secretary
of s t a t e f o r Foreign A f f a i r s said that the
F o r e i g n O f f i c e would h a v e no o b j e c t i o n t o
any r e l a t i v e l y q u i e t s t e p s b e i n g ,
t a k e n , such a s , f o r example, t h e
r a i s i n g of the a n t i - a i r c r a f t ,
d e f e n c e s o f M a l t a t o t h e approved
scale.
They would n o t even o b j e c t
i f t h e movement o f a n t i - a i r c r a f t
guns became p u b l i c .
Whitehall
Gardens.
August 6,
1935.
S.W.1
THIS DOCUMENT IS T H E PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT
TO BE K E P T U N D E R L O C K A N D K E Y .
It is requested that special care may be taken to
ensure the secrecy of this document.
COPY N O .
?.A./H/7..
C A B I N E T ,
I T A L 0 -ABYS S I 111 AH D I S P U T E .
C o n f e r e n c e o f M i n i s t e r s h e l d a t N o . 10 Dovming S t r e e t
Wednesday5 ^ l s t A u g u s t
1935 at 5.0 p.m.
s
P
The
on
s
R E S E N T.
Sight Hon. Stanley
Prime M i n i s t e r .
Baldv/in
M.P.
( i n the Chair)
s
9
The R i g h t H o n . J . R a m s a y
MacDonaldj M.P.
L o r d President
I of t h e C o u n c i l .
Chamberlain
The R i g h t Hon. N e v i l l e
M.P. s C h a n c e l l o r o f t h e
Exchequer.
The R i g h t H o n . S i r J o h n S i m o n ,
; G.C.S.I. , K . C . V . 0 . , O.B.E. ,
K.C. j M . P . , S e c r e t a r y
of
: S t a t e f o r t h e Home D e p a r t m e n t .
The R i g h t Hon. S i r Samuel H o a r e
Bt. j G o C . S . 1 . j G.B.E. j C . M . C
M.P.
Secretary of otate f o r
Foreign
Affairs.
9
s
The R i g h t Hon. Anthony E d e n , M.C.
M.P. , M i n i s t e r f o r League o f
Nations
Affairs.
Th
"OLLOY/ING WERE A L S O
Sir f i l l i a m M a l k i n , K . C . M . G . ,
\ G.B. , K . C . 3 L e g a l
Adviser.,
I Foreign O f f i c e
(for part
of
3 time) .
jp'
Francis
Hemming
Ip-
W.D.Wilkinson
s
9
/ s
PRESENT:
M r . W. S t r a n g e C M . G .
Foreign
Counsellor
( f o r part of time) .
5
9
Office
J oint
C.B.E.....
D . S . O . , M.C.
s
9
)
Secretaries.
9
The M e e t i n g was h e l d f o r t h e purpose o f
d i s c u s s i o n of
dispute5
extent
of
the l a t e s t
phase o f
the i n t e n t i o n b e i n g t o
the
Italo-Ethiopian
c l e a r t h e ground t o
i n o r d e r t o e x p e d i t e the b u s i n e s s
the f o l l o w i n g
a preliminary
at the
Cabinet
day.
THE MINISTER FOR LEAGUE OF NATIONS AFFAIRS
c o l l e a g u . e s an account
Conversations
some
of the p r o c e e d i n g s
in P a r i s .
The o r d e r of
ti
at the
ave
his
Three-Power
e v e n t s had been as
follows .­
15th A u g u s t .
T n i s day had been d e v o t e d t o
conversationsi
preparatory
had seen S i g n o r A l o i s i
Aloisi
informal
M. L a v a l and Mr. Eden
separately.
Signor
had put f o r w a r d as a b a s i s f o r
discussion
t h e s u g g e s t i o n t h a t t h e U n i t e d Kingdom and
F r a n c e should g i v e
I t a l y ' s need f o r
some p u b l i c
expansion,
recognition
and should
of
recognise
a l s o t h a t I t a l y had a s p e c i a l p o s i t i o n ,
both
economic and p o l i t i c a l ,
Signor
Aloisi
had made i t
in Abyssinia.
c l e a r that
economic
concessions
i n A b y s s i n i a would be of no v a l u e
to I t a l y
t h o s e c o n c e s s i o n s had the b a c k i n g
of
military
had o f f e r e d
co-operation
at
an assurance o f
suggestions
of
Signor
Italian
Geneva.
Mr. Eden had made i t
giving
Italian
garrison.
In return for these declarations
Aloisi
an
unless
clear
that the
( w h i c h amounted p r a c t i c a l l y
Italy
a C l a s s C Mandate)
above
to
of:': e r e d no hope
a solution.
16th A u g u s t .
plrst
r e g u l a r s e s s i o n o f the
Mr. Eden had made i t
clear that
Conference,
this
country
would not
endorse an I t a l i a n m i l i t a r y
occupation of
and economic
Abyssinia.
M. L a v a l had p r o d u c e d c e r t a i n Quai
d'Orsay
d r a f t s , which S i g n o r A l o i s ! had. d e c l i n e d t o
accept.
The B r i t i s h arid F r e n c h e x p e r t s had then b e e n
i n v i t e d t o work out a new d r a f t .
Before
this"draft
h a d t a k e n shape M. L a v a l had sent a M e s s a g e t o
the
French Bmbassy i n Rome, i n s t r u c t i n g them t o warn
Signor Mussolini that
represent
the l i m i t
of
our f o r t h c o m i n g
v ould
offer
c o n c e s s i o n open t o
;
us.
The C o n f e r e n c e had resumed as soon as t h e
experts'
draft
had t a k e n c o n c r e t e formj
t h i s had been t h e
draft
o f which t h e s u b s t a n c e had a p p e a r e d i n t h e
newspapers..
After
Signor A l o i s i
had. been induced t o
H i s main o b j e c t i o n s
d i s p l a y i n g much u n w i l l i n g n e s s ,
to the d r a f t
send i t
had been t h a t
made no p r o v i s i o n f o r
any s p e c i a l
and m i l i t a r y
in Abyssinia^
it
position
Italian
that
on t h e
independence
in
it
economic
on t h e
r e s e r v e d B r i t i s h and F r e n c h r i g h t s
and l a i d s t r e s s
t o Rome.
contrary,
Abyssinia,
and i n t e g r i t y
of
country.
17th A u g u s t .
No
took
re-ply
was r e c e i v e d from I t a l y
and no m e e t i n g
place.
18th A u g u s t .
Signor A l o i s i
had s e p a r a t e
interviews
t h e U n i t e d Kin.gd.om and French D e l e g a t e s .
communicated the I t a l i a n
reply
was t h a t t h e A n g l o - F r e n c h
to both.
with
He had
Its
substance
p r o p o s a l was u n a c c e p t a b l e
of view.
to I t a l y ,
from e v e r y p o i n t
To
Italy,
Abyssinia
r e p r e s e n t e d a menace t o he d e s t r o y e d ,
whereas t h e A n g l o - F r e n c h v i e w was axjparently
Abyssinia
s h o u l d be g i v e n i n c r e a s e d a u t h o r i t y
that
and
p l a c e d on an e q u a l i t y w i t h t h e t h r e e P o v e r s now i n
Conference.
G-ignor M u s s o l i n i
make a statement
of h i s
c a s e at
reserved, his r i g h t
to
Geneva.
I n re-ply t o an e n q u i r y w h e t h e r he had any
alternative
s u g g e s t i o n s t o put f o r w a r d ,
had t o l d Mr. hden t h a t
exactly
as i t
the I t a l i a n view
Signor
Aloisi
remained
had been d e v e l o p e d t o him ( M r .
Eden)
+
earlier
i n the
year.
A hreak had now k e e n r e c o g n i s e d t o he
inevitable
and the Communique which had a p p e a r e d i n the
Press
had b e e n drawn u p .
19th A u g u s t .
The C o n f e r e n c e b e i n g o v e r , G i g n o r A l o i s i
Mr. Eden had t a k e n t h e i r f a r e w e l l s
had convened i t .
a further
o f M. L a v a l , who
No p a r t i c u l a r meaning need b e
attached t o the f a c t
for
and
that
Sirnor A l o i s i
t a l k w i t h Mr. Eden t h a t
p a r t e d on f r i e n d l y
terms t h e p r e v i o u s
had n o t
day - t h e y had
evening.
Mr. D d e n ' s t a l k w i t h M. L a v a l had made i t
that
the l a t t e r had n o t y e t
implications
of
fully
asked
thought out
t h e M e e t i n g on September 4 t h .
clear
the
He had .
s a i d , h o w e v e r , t h a t P r a n c e d i d not want t o turn her
b a c k on t h e U n i t e d Kingdom and what i t
begged, nevertheless,
realise prance's
that
stood f o r 5
t h e B r i t i s h Government
he
would
oVifficulties.
* The M i n i s t e r f o r League of N a t i o n s A f f a i r s reminded
h i s c o l l e a g u e s t h a t t h e I t a l i a n -proposal, as Gignor
M u s s o l i n i had d e v e l o p e d i t i n t h e S p r i n g o f the p r e s e n t
y e a r , had b e e n t h a t I t a l y should, a c q u i r e t h e s o v e r e i g n t y
o v e r a c i r c u l a r a r e a i n c l u d i n g about t w o - t h i r d s of t h e
p o p u l a t i o n of A b y s s i n i a - i n f a c t o v e r a l l A b y s s i n i a
except a c e n t r a l p l a t e a u .
Over t h i s p l a t e a u I t a l y w i s h e d
for a Protectorate.
These w e r e G i g n o r M u s s o l i n i ' s p r o p o s a l s f o r a
peacefully negotiated settlement.
On t h e o t h e r hand,
he had s a i d t h a t i f i t came t o a war he would w i p e
A b y s s i n i a o f f t h e map.
THE- SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
t h e harmonious A n g l o - F r e n c h f r o n t
which had been m a i n t a i n e d
up t o t h e p r e s e n t t i m e as an u n e x p e c t e d l y
It
regarded
good
factor.
had b e e n u n d e r s t o o d i n P a r i s t h a t t h e I t a l i a n s had put
every sort
side;
of pressure
on Mo L a v a l t o come down on t h e i r
t h e y had b e e n g i v i n g i t
out i n P a r i s
that
B r i t i s h Empire was i n a s t a t e
of
decline,
the m i l i t a r y p o i n t of v i e w .
It
was s i g n i f i c a n t
L a v a l had n o t l i s t e n e d t o them.
possible
to
the
especially
I t was n o t ,
from
t h a t M.
of
course,
judge how l o n g the p r e s e n t u n i t e d fx ont
would
j
hold.
THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL e n q u i r e d w h e t h e r
Mo
L a v a l had g i v e n
any i n d i c a t i o n o f h i s p r o b a b l e
a t Geneva on September
attitude
4th.
THE MINISTER FOR LEAGUE OF NATIONS AFFAIRS
t h a t he h i m s e l f had r e c e i v e d no i n d i c a t i o n .
Vansittart,
Sir
Robert
h o w e v e r , had o b t a i n e d t h e i m p r e s s i o n fro:m h i s
talks with M
e
Leger
p a r t i n economic
t h a t F r a n c e would be p r e p a r e d t o
Paris.
of t h e e x t e n t o f
The I t a l i a n s
A b y s s i n i a as t h e f i r s t
of
seizing
take
sanctions.
I n c i d e n t a l l y S i r R o b e r t had o b t a i n e d v e r y
impressions
said
the I t a l i a n propaganda
had b e e n g o i n g
in
about s p e a k i n g
stage in t h e i r African
of renewing the g l o r i e s
of
conquests;
d o m i n a t i o n i n t h e M e d i t e r r a n e a n from
hands, and i n g e n e r a l
definite
of
British
the Roman
Empire.
THE PRIME MINISTER e n q u i r e d w h e t h e r S i r
Hoare has any i n f o r m a t i o n r e g a r d i n g Germany's
Samuel
intentions.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
that the Prime M i n i s t e r ' s
o f how f a r
q u e s t i o n r a i s e d t h e whole
t h e non-Member S t a t e s would p a r t i c i p a t e
economic s a n c t i o n s .
problem
in
The non-Member S t a t e s which i t
n e c e s s a r y t o c o n s i d e r were t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s ,
Japan and B r a z i l .
said
was
Germany,
H i s v i e w v/as t h a t
be i n d u c e d t o t a k e p a r t
chances
of
their
the l a t e s t
these S t a t e s might
i n economic
conceivably
sanctions.
d o i n g so w e r e , he t h o u g h t ,
The
improved b y
investigations
of
the F o r e i g n O f f i c e , w h i c h
d i s c l o s e d the p o s s i b i l i t y
of
a p p l y i n g economic
i n two s e p a r a t e s t a g e s .
While
stage,
participate
simply r e f u s e
greater
effect
part
i n a second and mere
stage - i . e .
action. .
not p o s i t i v e .
i n sanctions
Such measures might be
t o a c c e p t i m p o r t s from I t a l y .
negative,
If
In particular,he
had b e e n i n touch w i t h
0
The l a t t e r ' s
were t a k i n g the A b y s s i n i a n q u e s t i o n v e r y
d i d not
in
the f i r s t
appear
the
considerable.
U n i t e d S t a t e s Charge" d ' A f f a i r e s
their participation
might
the
the w o r l d went even as f a r as t h a t
on I t a l y might b e
sanctions
involving
F o r e x a m p l e , the S t a t e s p a r t i c i p a t i n g
of
of
t h e r e v/as no r e a s o n why t h e y s h o u l d n o t
in a f i r s t
no b e l l i g e r e n t
sanctions
t h e r e c o u l d b e no hope
non-member S t a t e s p a r t i c i p a t i n g
stringent
had
the
Government
seriously,
stage of
and
economic
inconceivable.
THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL
enquired
w h e t h e r S i r Samuel Hoare had had i n mind t h a t t h e s t e p
refusing
second
t o e x p o r t t o I t a l y might b e r e s e r v e d f o r
of
the
stage.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS was
i n c l i n e d t o t h i n k t h a t t h i s might be w i s e .
Obviously
such a s a n c t i o n would be v a s t l y more e f f e c t i v e
refusal
t o admit
Minister
than a
imports.
The S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e went on t o say t h a t
the
f o r League
after
of Nations A f f a i r s
and h i m s e l f ,
c o n s i d e r i n g the p o s i t i o n a t home and a b r o a d , w e r e
in advising
their
colleagues
essential
to follow
procedure
in this c r i s i s .
clear
t h a t i t was n o t h i n g l e s s
t h e r e g u l a r League o f
than
Nations
The C o u n c i l M e e t i n g on
September 4 t h was t h e n e c e s s a r y f i r s t
t h i s M e e t i n g might t a k e s e v e r a l
turns;
step.
one
Events
at
possibility
was t h a t t h e y might d e v e l o p i n the f o l l o w i n g
First
Stage
stages.
R e p o r t on the T h r e e Power C o n v e r s a t i o n s
in P a r i s - i f possible a J o i n t Report
b y Mr. Eden and M. L a v a l .
Second S t a g e .
I t a l i a n Statement ( p r o b a b l y l e n g t h y )
t h e i r c a s e and A b y s s i n i a n answer.
Third Stage.
C o n s i d e r a t i o n o f t h e two c a s e s b y t h e
League o f N a t i o n s C o u n c i l ( p o s s i b l y
a s s i s t e d b y a Sub-Committee) and
pronouncemento
The f a c t
must b e f a c e d t h a t a t any t i m e
t h e s e p r o c e s s e s t h e news might a r r i v e
during
t h a t war had b e g u n .
The f o l l o w i n g
m a t t e r s would then a t once be added t o
a l r e a d y under
consideration:
( a ) Whether A r t i c l e 1 6 * of t h e C o v e n a n t
v i o l a t e d , and i f so b y whom.
or
(c)
I n the e v e n t o f economic s a n c t i o n s being­
found d e s i r a b l e , the q u e s t i o n w h e t h e r a l l
Member S t a t e s w e r e p r e p a r e d t o c o - o p e r a t e .
(d)
The f u r t h e r q u e s t i o n o f what non-Member
S t a t e s were prepared t o c o - o p e r a t e .
(e)
The q u e s t i o n w h e t h e r the non c o - o p e r a t i o n
o f c e r t a i n S t a t e s was l i k e l y t e make
economic s a n c t i o n s o f no a c c o u n t .
stage
i n t h e M e e t i n g t h e q u e s t i o n was
r a i s e d ( i n p a r t i c u l a r by the C h a n c e l l o r
t h e Home S e c r e t a r y )
o f t h e Exchequer and
w h e t h e r S i r Samuel H o a r e ' s
t h a t economic s a n c t i o n s might be d i v i s i b l e
stages,of
actual
increasing stringency,was
terms o f A r t i c l e
suggestion
i n t o two o r more
consonant w i t h
the
16 ( s e e A p p e n d i x ) .
I t was prima f a c i e
difficult
to agree
that
this
c o u l d be s o , h a v i n g r e g a r d t o such phrases as " s h a l l
f a c t o be deemed t o have committed an a c t
all
those
had b e e n
( b ) What economic and m i l i t a r y a c t i o n c o u l d
s h o u l d be t a k e n .
At this
o t h e r Members o f
o f war
t h e L e a g u e , whic^h h e r e b y
immediately to subject
financial
of
it
t o the severance
of
ipso
against
undertake
all
trade
relations".
+
F o r A r t i c l e 16 o f the Covenant s e e A p p e n d i x
to the present Minutes.
er
THE MIElSTEE FOR LEAGUE OE NATIONS AFFAIRS
that
said
the answer t o t h e s e doubts was t o be found i n the
Resolutions
regarding the i n t e r p r e t a t i o n
of A r t i c l e
16
which t h e League o f N a t i o n s Assembly a d o p t e d i n 1921.
C e r t a i n o f t h e s e R e s o l u t i o n s were i n t e n d e d t o
amendments t o A r t i c l e
into force
since
ratified..
16^
as such t h e y had n e v e r
the r e q u i s i t e
Others of
become
come
number o f S t a t e s had not
the 1921 R e s o l u t i o n s were
specifically
adopted by t h e Assembly as a i d s t o t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f
Article.
The p r e c i s e
Resolutions
l e g a l p o s i t i o n of t h e s e
rules f o r
the League.
It
was i n t h e l i g h t
R e s o l u t i o n s ; , among t h o s e j u s t
the F o r e i g n O f f i c e
of
t h e y could be t r e a t e d
e x p e r t s had a d v i s e d
economic s a n c t i o n s by s t a g e s was
A further
as
material
of
t h i s was f a r
were e n t i t l e d
certain
to
that
application
the
c o n s i d e r a t i o n was t h a t at the
the
time
expectation
universal.
from b e i n g t h e case and t h e y
to interpret A r t i c l e
16 i n t h e l i g h t
of
fact.
THE HOME SECRETARY was i n c l i n e d
extent.
were n o t
He was n o t y e t
satisfied;,
c e r t a i n s t e p s such as " t h e
or f i n a n c i a l
to a g r e e , t o a
however
9
that
certain
there
severance of a l l
r e l a t i o n s " which were o f
trade
automatic
a p p l i c a t i o n and i n no way dependent on t h e " s t a g e s "
economic s a n c t i o n s which the C o u n c i l might
s
that
9
legitimate.
had been t h a t membership o f t h e League would be
At present
the
referred
when t h e League Covenant had been framed
that
there
g u i d a n c e recommended t o t h e C o u n c i l and to
Members o f
specific
latter
was somewhat u n c e r t a i n but on the whole
was no r e a s o n to doubt t h a t
the
of
recommend.
The more i m p o r t a n t o f these R e s o l u t i o n s w i l l
reproduced i n Appendix V t o C P . 1 6 9 ( 3 5 ) .
be
found
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS , t u r n i n g
t o the c o n v e r s a t i o n s w i t h
the l e a d e r s o f non-Government
p a r t i e s which had taken p l a c e ,
left
w i t h the
impression that
public opinion against
repudiated
to s a y , i t s
its
s a i d t h a t he had been
t h e r e would be a v/ave o f
the Government i f
it
o b l i g a t i o n s under A r t i c l e
obligations
under t h e p r i n c i p l e
:
i
16 -
t h a t was
of
collective
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y , on the a s s u m p t i o n t h a t France would go
as f a r as we were p r e p a r e d t o d o .
It
was
abundantly c l e a r t h a t the o n l y s a f e
line
for His
Government was t o t r y out t h e r e g u l a r League o f
Majesty'
Nations
procedure.
Of c o u r s e , i f
France found i t
to extreme measures., t h e r e
" p u t t i n g her i n the dock".
f o r us
be d e s i r a b l e / t o
to
Member S t a t e s were r e a d y t o
of
On the o t h e r h a n d , i t
to t h e e f f e c t
s
proceed
c o u l d be no q u e s t i o n
make a s t a t e m e n t a t some s t a g e
September p r o c e e c ! i n g s
we a l s o were
impossible
that i f
c a r r y out t h e i r
in
all
to
obligations,
ready.
the f u l l
be admitted;, h o w e v e r ,
be c o r r e s p o n d i n g l y
not be s u r p r i s e d i f ,
managed t o p u l l
public
off
economic s a n c t i o n s .
that
slow in producing e f f e c t s
i n t h e meantime,
a great
It
must
a piece-meal procedure
initial
the
would
and he would
Italians
success.
It
t o commend t h e p i e c e - m e a l p r o c e d u r e
opinion i n the c o u n t r i e s
sanctions.
he
the a d v a n t a g e s o f p r o c e e d i n g by
stages i n the matter of
be d i f f i c u l t
the
other
THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL s a i d t h a t
recognised
would
co-operating
in
might
to
the
­
THE HOME SECRETARY r a i s e d t h e
q u e s t i o n whether i t
d e s i r a b l e t o make any pronounoement
Majesty's
on b e h a l f
of
Government d u r i n g the i n t e r v a l b e f o r e
was
His
4th September.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS thought
better to refrain
from any p u b l i c
it
statement.
A t t h i s s t a g e S i r W i l l i a m M a l k i n and
Mr. S t r a n g e n t e r e d t h e M e e t i n g 7
-
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
S i r W i l l i a m M a l k i n and Mr. S t r a n g o f t h e
informed
difficulty
which M i n i s t e r s p r e s e n t had found i n r e c o n c i l i n g A r t i c l e
with the piece-meal
method o f a p p l y i n g
economic
16
sanctions
which appeared t o be c o n t e m p l a t e d by t h e 19S1 R e s o l u t i o n s
SIR WILLIAM MALKIN thought t h a t t h e a c t u a l
certain of
helpful
terms
of
the i n t e r p r e t a t i v e R e s o l u t i o n s were v e r y
in this
connection.
Resolution No.l.
read
as
follows:­
" T h e r e s o l u t i o n s and the p r o p o s a l s f o r
amendments t o A r t i c l e 16 which have been
adopted by t h e Assembly s h a l l , s o l o n g as
the amendments have not been put i n f o r c e
i n the form r e q u i r e d by t h e Covenants
c o n s t i t u t e r u l e s f o r g u i d a n c e which the
Assembly recommends as a p r o v i s i o n a l measure
t o the C o u n c i l and t o the Members o f the
League i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h the a p p l i c a t i o n
of A r t i c l e 16.
i f
R e s o l u t i o n No.4.
contained the
wordss­
" I t i s t h e d u t y o f each Member o f the
League t o d e c i d e f o r i t s e l f whether a
b r e a c h o f the Covenant has been
committed . . . . .
11
9
R e s o l u t i o n Nov..6. read as
follows:­
" I f the Council i s of o p i n i o n that a
S t a t e has "been g u i l t y o f a b r e a c h
o f t h e Covenant the Minutes o f
the m e e t i n g a t which t h a t o p i n i o n
i s a r r i v e d a t s h a l l be i m m e d i a t e l y
s e n t t o a l l Members o f the League,
accompanied by a s t a t e m e n t o f
r e a s o n s and by an i n v i t a t i o n t o
take a c t i o n a c c o r d i n g l y .
The
f u l l e s t p u b l i c i t y s h a l l be g i v e n
to this decision."
s
Article
sufficient
to
9 provided for
reasons,of
the p r i n c i p l e
co-operating
of
in i t s
Article
the p o s s i b i l i t y , f o r
c e r t a i n S t a t e s remaining
economic p r e s s u r e but not
various
loyal
themselves
exercise.
14 was v e r y r e l e v a n t .
It
r e a d as
followss­
" I n cases o f p r o l o n g e d a p p l i c a t i o n o f
economic p r e s s u r e , measures o f i n c r e a s i n g
s t r i n g e n c y may be t a k e n .
The c u t t i n g ­
o f f of t h e food supplies o f t h e c i v i l
p o p u l a t i o n of the d e f a u l t i n g S t a t e
s h a l l be r e g a r d e d as an e x t r e m e l y d r a s t i c
measure, which s h a l l o n l y be a p p l i e d i f
t h e o t h e r measures a v a i l a b l e a r e c l e a r l y
inadequate."
THE SECRETARY OP STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
thought
i t niight now be a c c e p t e d
t h a t t h e sweeping p h r a s e s
Article
severance of
16
financial
light
of
such as " t h e
9
trade
r e l a t i o n s " were t o be i n t e r p r e t a t e d
the " g l o s s e s " o f
i t would be l e g i t i m a t e
imports while
1921.
to refuse
continuing
the C o u n c i l
particular
sanction.
who f o l l o w e d
of
in
F o r example, he
to r e c e i v e
to export
SIR WILLIAM MALKIN a g r e e d t h a t
case,if
all
to
of
or
the
thought
Italian
Italy.
t h i s would be t h e
the League had recommended t h a t
I n such an e v e n t
the C o u n c i l ' s
advice
t h e Membe r
would have
States
sat i s f i e d
their
obligations
under A r t i c l e
16.
THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL r e c a l l e d
fact
that
t h e s i t u a t i o n o f 1924
been made t o
the r e s u l t
close
of
a
9
i n which an a t t e m p t had
gap i n the C o v e n a n t
the d e l i b e r a t i o n s
3
had been
o f 1921.
THE HOME SECRETARY wondered whether i t
to g e t
the
round t h e f o l l o w i n g words i n A r t i c l e
was
possible
16s­
" i t s h a l l i p s o f a c t o be deemed t o
have committed an a c t o f war a g a i n s t
a l l o t h e r Members o f the L e a g u e " .
WILLI.AM MALEIN s a i d t h a t t h i s p o i n t was met by
SIR
the t h i r d o f
guidance.
the R e s o l u t i o n s adopted as r u l e s
It
read as
for
followss­
"The u n i l a t e r a l a c t i o n o f t h e d e f a u l t i n g
S t a t e cannot c r e a t e a s t a t e o f war;
i t m e r e l y e n t i t l e s the o t h e r Members
o f the League t o r e s o r t t o a c t s o f war
or to declare themselves i n a s t a t e o f
War w i t h the c o v e n a n t - b r e a k i n g S t a t e ?
but i t i s i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e
s p i r i t o f the Covenant t h a t t h e League
o f N a t i o n s should, a t t e m p t a t l e a s t
a t the o u t s e t
t o a v o i d w a r , and
t o r e s t o r e p e a c e by economic p r e s s u r e . "
9
3
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER wondered
any o t h e r
ourselves
c o u n t r y was i n t h e p o s i t i o n
9
whether
i n which we found
t h a t we had s u p p l i e d I t a l y w i t h c o a l t o
v a l u e o f £ 5 0 0 0 0 0 and not y e t o b t a i n e d payment and
9
a break o c c u r r e d ,
It
possibly
the
9
if
would presumably n e v e r do s o .
was s u g g e s t e d t h a t a s i m i l a r p o s i t i o n might
o b t a i n with regard
to o i l
imports i n t o
Italy
from Rumania.
THE HOME SECRETARY e n q u i r e d whether t h e F o r e i g n
had c o n s i d e r e d
might d e c i d e
a
situation
i n which S i g n o r
t h a t a w a i t i n g game s u i t e d h i s
Mussolini
interests?and
i n which he would a c c o r d i n g l y not s t r i k e u n t i l
c l o s e o f t h e September d e l i b e r a t i o n s
-11­
at
Office
Geneva.
after
the
THE SECRETARY OF' STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS s a i d
as he r e a d t h e s i t u a t i o n , I t a l y
w i t h i n two o r t h r e e weeks o f
of
go t o war
September 4 t h .
In r e p l y to a q u e s t i o n ,
the function
would p r o b a b l y
that
SIR WILLIAM MALKIN s a i d
the League C o u n c i l
that
in the matter of a
breach of
t h e Covenant was o n l y t o g i v e
Member of
t h e League had then t o d e c i d e t h e q u e s t i o n
an Opinionf
each
for
itself.
THE HOME SECRETARY p o i n t e d out t h a t
States
in practice
the
r e p r e s e n t e d on t h e C o u n c i l would a l r e a d y b e
p u b l i c l y committed b y t h e i r v o t e s on t h e o p i n i o n
referred
to *
The Committee were i n f o r m e d t h a t t h e Members of
Council
Chile,
at t h e p r e s e n t
Czecho-Slovakia
time w e r e A r g e n t i n a ,
Australia,
, Denmark, F r a n c e , Great
Mexico, Portugal, Poland, Russia,
Britain,
Spain and T u r k e y .
SIR WILLIAM MALKIN c a l l e d a t t e n t i o n t o one of
proposed
amendments t o A r t i c l e
i n c l u d e d the f o l l o w i n g
the
the
16 a d o p t e d i n 1921, which
words.­
" I n d e l i b e r a t i o n s on t h i s q u e s t i o n i n t h e
C o u n c i l , t h e v o t e s o f Members o f t h e League
a l l e g e d t o have r e s o r t e d t o war and. o f
Members a g a i n s t whom such a c t i o n was
d i r e c t e d s h a l l not be c o u n t e d " .
The f a c t
t h a t t h i s amendment remained
might b e taken as meaning t h a t
offending
S t a t e would p r e v e n t
an o p i n i o n .
The c o n t r a r y ,
unratified
the adverse vote of
the C o u n c i l from
the
recording
h o w e v e r , was a r g u a b l e .
THE SECRETARY OP STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS s a i d
it
its
was now c l e a r t h a t each Member S t a t e must
own d e c i s i o n .
which t h e y must a l l
relations
take
S t a t e s w e r e n o t i n the p o s i t i o n
simultaneously
sever
that
in
trading­
etc.
SIR WILLIAM MAI-KIN p o i n t e d out t h a t
s a n c t i o n s would be i n e f f e c t i v e
in
practice
u n l e s s t h e y were
concerted
and. t h a t t h e b e s t p l a c e f o r
to be at
a meeting of
concerting
t h e League
them would appear
Council.
THE LORD PRESIDENT OP THE COUNCIL was s t i l l
clear that
not
t h e o p i n i o n of t h e League C o u n c i l was n o t t o a
certain extent
be d i f f i c u l t
an o p e r a t i v e
to get
opinion.
He thought i t
o v e r t h e words - h e r e b y
immediately to subject'"
in A r t i c l e
of
the
cleared
guidance.
recommend t h e d a t e on which
economic p r e s s u r e , under A r t i c l e
i s t o b e begun, and s h a l l g i v e n o t i c e
t h e Members of
t h i s was
the R e s o l u t i o n s adopted f o r
T h i s r e a d "The C o u n c i l s h a l l
t h e enforcement
undertake
16.
THE HOME SECRETARY p o i n t e d out t h a t
up by t h e E i g h t h of
would
of
16,
that date t o
all
League".
I n r e p l y t o a q u e s t i o n , TEE SECRETARY OP STATE FOR
FOREIGN AFFAIRS a g r e e d t h a t
a p p l i c a t i o n of
economic
our a t t i t u d e
on the
sanctionsmust be
piecemeal
fundamentally
a f f e c t e d by the v i e w t a k e n by t h e non-Member
States.
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER thought
find ourselves in considerable d i f f i c u l t i e s
t h a t we might
even i f
the
U n i t e d S t a t e s and Japan, f o r
e x a m p l e , were induced
to
prohibit
The p o s s i b i l i t y
still
trade with I t a l y .
remain t h a t
render the
the a c t i v i t i e s
of
German s h i p p i n g might
sanction meaninglessj
s h o u l d have t o b e v e r y
careful
would
if
i n such a s i t u a t i o n we
we w e r e not t o
o u r s e l v e s i n war w i t h b o t h Germany and
land
Italy.
THE MINISTER FOR LEAGUE OF NATIONS AFFAIRS hoped t h a t
in p r a c t i c e
economic s a n c t i o n s would not be begun u n t i l
a Committee o f
t h e League C o u n c i l had c a r e f u l l y
out t h e methods o f
their application -
had a s c e r t a i n e d d e f i n i t e l y
S t a t e s were g o i n g to
THE SECRETARY 0
that
what a t t i t u d e
worked
i s , until
it
t h e non-Member
adopt.
rn
STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS s a i d t h a t
such an i n v e s t i g a t i o n by e x p e r t s might v e r y p r o b a b l y
lead
t o a d e c i s i o n not t o
impose economic
sanctions.
THE PRIME MINISTER e n q u i r e d w h e t h e r t h e
could hind the United S t a t e s
President
i n the m a t t e r o f
economic
sanctions.
THE CHAHCE1-L0E OP THE EXCHEQUER was u n c e r t a i n o f
answer.
If
it
were f o u n d ,
however,
that
the
c o u l d n o t do so t h e s i t u a t i o n would he much
As he ( t h e C h a n c e l l o r
situation it
(1)
of
President
simplified.
the Exchequer)
saw t h e
c o u l d he summed up i n t h e f o l l o w i n g
Even the m i l d e s t
the
statement*­
economic s a n c t i o n might i n
the
end l e a d t o w a r .
(2)
If
t h i s were t r u e , s t e p s ought t o he t a k e n t o
put our armed f o r c e s
into a state
of
THE SECRETARY OP STATE POR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Signor Mussolini
in h i s present
normal man, and i t
frame
was c o n c e i v a b l e
innocuous a c t i o n on our p a r t ,
eg.
agreed.
of mind, was not
that
some
a
apparently­
in connection with
M e d i t e r r a n e a n o r w i t h Lake Tsana, might be
casus
readiness.
t a k e n
the
as a
belli.
THE MINISTER FOR LEAGUE OF NATIONS AFFAIRS thought
even p o s s i b l e t h a t
S i g n o r M u s s o l i n i might
B r i t i s h d e c i s i o n to r a i s e
to
it
­
so r e g a r d a
t h e embargo on t h e e x p o r t
of
arms
Abyssinia.
THE HOME SECRETARY c a l l e d a t t e n t i o n t o t h e f a c t
A u s t r a l i a was a Member of t h e League C o u n c i l a t t h e
that
present
time.
THE SECRETARY 0
r;i
STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS s a i d
a t h i s m e e t i n g w i t h t h e Dominion High Commissioners
day Mr. Bruce had s a i d t h a t
must make a bona f i d e
economic s a n c t i o n s j
would b e t h a t
the p r e s e n t
purpose.
investigation
but t h a t
economic
in his
the
that
that
o p i n i o n t h e League
i n t o the q u e s t i o n
result
of t h e
Council
of
investigation
s a n c t i o n s w o u l d be found u s e l e s s
for
S I R WILLIAM MALKIN s a i d t h a t what had been
contemplated
i n 1921 was t h a t t h e League C o u n c i l would have t h e
of
a T e c h n i c a l Committee i n i t s
assistance
investigation.
T i l l LORD PRESIDENT 0"' THE COUNCIL was c l e a r t h a t
out of
the question f o r
statement
t h e B r i t i s h Government
to the e f f e c t
i n the p r e s e n t
September
that A r t i c l e
c r i s i s , before
it
t o make any
16 c o u l d n o t
operate
t h e C o u n c i l M e e t i n g on
4th.
TEE SECRETARY OP STATE EON FOREIGN AEEAIRS thought
we should have t o a r r e e a form o f words v e r y c a r e f u l l y
F r a n c e b e f o r e we s a i d t h a t t h e machinery o f
s a n c t i o n s would n o t work;
n e v e r t h e l e s s want t o keep i t
was i m p e r a t i v e
that
with
economic
The T r e n c h might a g r e e t h a t
would not work i n t h e p r e s e n t
It
was
it
c r i s i s , but the;/ would
intact
f o r use a g a i n s t
t o d i s c o v e r M. L a v a l ' s
Germany.
intentions
w i t h i n t h e n e x t 14 d a y s .
THE PRIME MINISTER c a l l e d a t t e n t i o n t o M.
genuine
Laval s
J
difficulties.
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER s a i d t h a t
d e c i s i o n was a g a i n s t
if
the
final
economic s a n c t i o n s we should have
to
b e most c a r e f u l n o t t o say "we were p r e p a r e d t o use them
b u t F r a n c e was n o t " .
The f o r m u l a
something t o t h e e f f e c t
would have t o be
t h a t we and F r a n c e had come
t o t h e c o n c l u s i o n t h a t t h e y would not
work.
THE HOME SECRETARY c a l l e d a t t e n t i o n t o
provisions
of
the K e l l o g g P a c t ,
under t h a t P a c t , i f
from t h e f i r s t
certain
The s t e p s t o be
one s i g n a t o r y were t o b r e a k i t
u s i n g war as a i n s t r u m e n t
stage
of
jointly
of p o l i c y , were not
taken
by
dissimilar
economic s a n c t i o n s as p r o p o s e d by
S i r Samuel H o a r e ,
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
agreed.
THE LORD ri^LLpENT OF THE COUNCIL
that,if
Italy
he a g r e a t
proceeded to extremes,it
shock t o B r i t i s h p u b l i c
would
opinion
no outward a c t i o n w e r e taken by H.F.
it
would be p o s s i b l e
a c o m p l e t e l y - p a c i f i c method of
sanctions against
Italian
He r e a l i s e d t h a t
it
to
if
Government.
He had b e e n e n c o u r a g e d by t h e p r e s e n t
t o hope t h a t
said
discussion
discover
applying
economic
trade.
remained t o b e
c o n s i d e r e d whether l e g i s l a t i o n
(and thus t h e
early
would he
summoning o f p a r l i a m e n t )
necessary
in that
case.
THE CHANCELLOR OP THE EXCHEQUER e n q u i r e d
what v i e w the F o r e i g n S e c r e t a r y
Austen C h a m b e r l a i n ' s
be a meeting of
t o o k of
Sir
suggestion that there
the s i g n a t o r i e s
of
the
should
Kellogg
Pact.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOB FOREIGN AFFAIRS
thought
t h a t t h i s might be a v e r y u s e f u l
play at
a later date.
play i t
at present
League o f
Nations.
F r a n c e and o f f e n d
It
would be a m i s t a k e
and thus t o s i d e t r a c k
To do so now might
Italy
card to
unnecessarily.
to
the
disturb
mhargo
ixport
jIP "
firms,
C
THE SECRETARY OE STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
t h a t the B r i t i s h embargo would be d e f i n i t e l y
Abyssinia i f
necessary,
Italy
i t were c o n t i n u e d l o n g e r .
of course,
also.
shared t h i s
to l i f t
thought
unfair
to
I t would b e
t h e embargo as
regards
He had b e e n g l a d t o f i n d t h a t Mr.
Lansbury
view.
THE HOME SECRETARY a g r e e d .
ifpieet.
THE HOME SECRETARY c a l l e d a t t e n t i o n t o the
fact
t h a t , o n c e I t a l y had s t a r t e d war a g a i n s t A b y s s i n i a , she
would b e e n t i t l e d under i n t e r n a t i o n a l
search" B r i t i s h ships f o r
situation.
of
law t o
"visit
and
contraband ­ a d e p l o r a b l e
T h i s would b e q u i t e a p a r t from any
question
blockade.
SIR WILLIAM MALKIN a g r e e d .
No q u e s t i o n
of
b l o c k a d e c o u l d a r i s e as r e g a r d s A b y s s i n i a , w h i c h was a
land-locked
State.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
t h a t t h e p r e s e n t p o s i t i o n as r e g a r d s
the
British
M e d i t e r r a n e a n F l e e t was t h a t the A d m i r a l t y
very undesirable
move i t
that i t
considered
should remain a t M a l t a .
and t h e p r e s e n t p l a n was a c c o r d i n g l y t h a t i t
b a s e d on A l e x a n d r i a
It
retreat,
s h o u l d move
might then be
and H a i f a .
The A d m i r a l t y w e r e c o n s i d e r i n g t h e
o f making t h i s move e a r l i e r
than August
desirability
29th,
T h e r e remained a l s o f o r d e c i s i o n the
question
o f t h e Home F l e e t .
These were n a t u r a l l y m a t t e r s f o r
the C a b i n e t .
d e c i s i o n by
H i s c o l l e a g u e s might be i n t e r e s t e d
know t h a t S i r H e r b e r t Samuel had s u g g e s t e d t h a t
Mediterranean F l e e t
s h o u l d be
strengthened.
it
To
t o G i b r a l t a r would b e i n t h e n a t u r e o f a
t o E g y p t i a n w a t e r s on August 2 9 t h .
said
to
the
THE LORD PRESIDENT OP THE COUNCIL thought
important
that I t a l y
s h o u l d he g i v e n no excuse f o r
it
saying
t h a t t h e B r i t i s h F l e e t had gone to the Suez C a n a l .
talti(Aircraft
iGuns f o r
IMalta,
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS s a i d
and s e a r c h l i g h t s
t h a t ahout 8 a n t i - a i r c r a f t g u n s / s t i l l remained t o he s e n t
Malta,
of
despatch.
t h o s e which i t
had t e e n a l r e a d y d e c i d e d
The r e a s o n was t h a t
to
to
t h e 900 men r e q u i r e d t o work
t h e guns w e r e R e s e r v i s t s
and t h a t t h e i r
occasion alarm.
T h i s was a m a t t e r w h i c h would have
t o he d e c i d e d hy t h e
2, W h i t e h a l l G a r d e n s , S . W . 1 .
22nd A u g u s t ,
1935.
Cabinet.
calling
up might
APPENDIX.
ARTICLE 16 OF THE COVENANT OE
THE LEAGUE.
HE terms o f
Article
16 a r e as
follows;­
"1.
Should any Member o f t h e League r e s o r t t o war i n
d i s r e g a r d o f i t s c o v e n a n t s under A r t i c l e s 12,13 or 15, i t
s h a l l i p s o f a c t o h e deemed t o h a v e committed an act o f
war a g a i n s t a l l o t h e r Members o f t h e L e a g u e , which
h e r e b y u n d e r t a k e i m m e d i a t e l y t o s u b j e c t i t to t h e s e v e r a n c e
of a l l t r a d e o r f i n a n c i a l r e l a t i ' . h s , the p r o h i b i t i o n of
a l l i n t e r c o u r s e b e t w e e n t h e i r n a t i o n a l s and the n a t i o n a l s
o f the covenants-breaking S t a t e , and t h e p r e v e n t i o n o f a l l
f i n a n c i a l , commercial or p e r s o n a l i n t e r c o u r s e b e t w e e n t h e
n a t i o n a l s of t h e c o v e n a n t - b r e a k i n g S t a t e and t h e n a t i o n a l s
o f any o t h e r S t a t e , whether a Member o f the League o r n o t .
o
2.
I t s h a l l be t h e duty o f the C o u n c i l i n suchcs.se
t o recommend t o the s e v e r a l Governments c o n c e r n e d what
e f f e c t i v e m i l i t a r y , n a v a l or a i r f o r c e the Members o f t h e
League s h a l l s e v e r a l l y c o n t r i b u t e t o the armed f o r c e s t o
be used t o p r o t e c t the covenants o f t h e League.
3.
The Members o f the League a g r e e , f u r t h e r , t h a t t h e y
w i l l m u t u a l l y s u p p o r t one another i n the f i n a n c i a l and
economic measures which are taken under t h i s A r t i c l e , i n
o r d e r t o m i n i m i s e t h e l o s s and i n c o n v e n i e n c e r e s u l t i n g
from the above measures, and t h a t they w i l l m u t u a l l y
s u p p o r t one another i n r e s i s t i n g any s p e c i a l measures
aimed at one o f t h e i r number by the c o v e n a n t - b r e a k i n g
S t a t e , and t h a t they w i l l take the n e c e s s a r y s t e p s t o
a f f o r d p a s s age through t h e i r t e r r i t o r y t o the f o r c e s o f
any of t h e Members o f the League which are c o - o p e r a t i n g
t o p r o t e c t the c o v e n a n t s of t h e L e a g u e .
4.
Any Member o f t h e League which has v i o l a t e d any
covenant o f the League may be d e c l a r e d t o be no l o n g e r a
Member of the League by a v o t e o f the C o u n c i l c o n c u r r e d i n
by the R e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f a l l the o t h e r Members o f the
League r e p r e s e n t e d t h e r e o n . "