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THIS
DOCUMENT
IS
T H E PROPERTY
Printed
OF
H I S
for the Cabinet.
BRITANNIC
MAJESTY'S
July 1 9 4 7
Gopy Mo.
SECRET
CM.
GOVERNMENT
(47)
58th Conclusions
CABINET
CONCLUSIONS
58 ( 4 7 )
of a Meeting of the Cabinet held at 1 0 Downing
on Tuesday,
1st July, 1 9 4 7 , at 11 a.m.
Street,
S.W. 1,
Present:
T h e R i g h t H o n . C. R . A T T L E E , M . P . , P r i m e M i n i s t e r (in the Chair).
The R i g h t H o n . H E R B E R T M O R R I S O N , T h e R i g h t H o n . A R T H U R G R E E N W O O D ,
M.P., Minister without Portfolio.
M . P . , L o r d P r e s i d e n t of t h e Council.
The R i g h t H o n . H U G H D A L T O N , M . P . , T h e R i g h t H o n . S i r S T A F F O R D C R I P P S ,
K . C . , M . P . , P r e s i d e n t of t h e B o a r d
Chancellor of t h e E x c h e q u e r .
of T r a d e .
The R i g h t H o n . VISCOUNT J O W I T T , The R i g h t Hon. J . CHUTER E D E , M.P.,
L o r d Chancellor.
Secretary of S t a t e f o r t h e H o m e
Department.
The R i g h t H o n . V I S C O U N T A D D I S O N , T h e R i g h t H o n . J . W E S T W O O D , M . P . ,
Secretary of S t a t e f o r S c o t l a n d .
S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for D o m i n i o n
Affairs.
The R i g h t H o n . A . C R E E C H J O N E S , The JKignt
OF
n o n . I H E EARL
M . P . , S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e f o r t h e
S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for
LISTOWEL
Colonies.
I n d i a a n d S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for
Burma.
The R i g h t H o n . G . A . I S A A C S , M . P . , T h e R i g h t H o n . E . S H I N W E L L M . P . ,
M i n i s t e r of L a b o u r a n d N a t i o n a l
Minister of Fuel a n d Power.
Service.
The R i g h t H o n . T . W I L L I A M S , M . P . , T h e R i g h t H o n . G E O R G E T O M L I N S O N , Minister
. M . P . , M i n i s t e r of E d u c a t i o n . and
of
Agriculture
Fisheries. T h e following w e r e also p r e s e n t :
The R i g h t H o n . V I S C O U N T H A L L , F i r s t T h e R i g h t H o n . F . J . B E L L E N G E R , M . P . ,
L o r d of t h e A d m i r a l t y (Items 4 - 5 ) .
S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e f o r W a r (Item 4 ) .
The R i g h t H o n . P . J . N O E L - B A K E R , T h e R i g h t H o n . J O H N W I L M O T , M . P . ,
M . P . , S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e f o r A i r
M i n i s t e r o f S u p p l y (Item 4 ) .
(Items 4 - 5 ) .
The R i g h t H o n . A L F R E D B A R N E S , M . P . , T h e R i g h t H o n . J O H N S T R A C H E Y , M . P . ,
M i n i s t e r of T r a n s p o r t (Items 4 - 5 ) .
M i n i s t e r of Food.
The R i g h t Hon. L E W I S SILKIN,
M.P.,
T h e R i g h t H o n . LORD NATHAN, M i n i s t e r
M i n i s t e r of T o w n a n d C o u n t r y
of Civil A v i a t i o n (Item 5 ) .
P l a n n i n g (Item 4 ) .
The R i g h t H o n . C. W . K E Y , M . P . , T h e R i g h t H o n . H E C T O R M C N E I L , M . P . ,
M i n i s t e r of W o r k s (Item 5).
M i n i s t e r of S t a t e (Items 1 - 2 ) .
Secretariat.
M r . W . S. M U R R I E .
M r . S. E . V . L U K E .
[34109-HI]
B
46
C A B I N E T 58 ( 4 7 )
CONTENTS
Minute
No.
1
2
Subject
E g y p t i a n S t e r l i n g B a l a n c e s ....
D o m i n i o n s Office
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
Page
119
119
C h a n g e of T i t l e .
3
I r o n and Steel I n d u s t r y Bill
119
4
L a n d R e q u i r e m e n t s of t h e Service D e p a r t m e n t s a n d t h e M i n i s t r y of S u p p l y
119
5
Aerodromes in the U n i t e d Kingdom
6
India
Burma
....
....
121
123
Constitutional
7
....
....
Changes.
....
....
....
123
119
C M . 58 (47) -
1. The Chancellor of the Exchequer
said that, after prolonged
a n d difficult n e g o t i a t i o n s , a t e m p o r a r y a g r e e m e n t h a d been r e a c h e d
o n the E g y p t i a n s t e r l i n g balances, w h i c h would Cover t h e p o s i t i o n
u n t i l 31st December, 1947. T h e E g y p t i a n D e l e g a t i o n h a d claimed
t h a t t h e total of t h e E g y p t i a n s t e r l i n g balances a m o u n t i n g t o
£ 4 0 0 million should be recognised, b u t he h a d m a d e i t clear t h a t
t h i s figure w a s n o t a c c e p t e d by t h e B r i t i s h G o v e r n m e n t a n d h a d
suggested t h a t , in view of t h e p r o t e c t i o n afforded by B r i t i s h a r m s
to E g y p t d u r i n g the w a r , i t w a s for the E g y p t i a n G o v e r n m e n t
t o p u t f o i w a r d p r o p o s a l s for a n e q u i t a b l e settlement.
It had
eventually been a g r e e d t h a t for t h e p r e s e n t £ 3 6 0 m i l l i o n of these
book debts would be blocked. I t h a d also been a g r e e d t h a t w e
should release £ 8 million a t once for E g y p t ' s c u r r e n t n e e d s ; while,
o n the other h a n d , t h e E g y p t i a n G o v e r n m e n t w o u l d meet c e r t a i n
o u t s t a n d i n g s t e r l i n g o b l i g a t i o n s . I t w a s g r e a t l y to o u r a d v a n t a g e
t h a t E g y p t would n o w leave the s t e r l i n g a r e a , w i t h t h e r e s u l t t h a t
h e r currency w o u l d become subject t o o u r e x c h a n g e control r e g u l a ­
l a t i o n s ; a n d t i m e h a d been g a i n e d for t h e t w o G o v e r n m e n t s t o
explore f u r t h e r t h e p r o s p e c t s of r e a c h i n g a g r e e m e n t on a l o n g - t e r m
settlement of t h e q u e s t i o n of s t e r l i n g balances.
Egyptian
Sterling
Balanoes.
The C a b i n e t Took note, w i t h a p p r o v a l , of the s t a t e m e n t m a d e by t h e
Chancellor of t h e E x c h e q u e r .
2. The Prime Minister
said t h a t it was proposed t h a t the
titles of t h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for D o m i n i o n Affairs a n d t h e
D o m i n i o n s Office should be c h a n g e d t o " t h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for
Commonwealth Relations '' and '' the Commonwealth Relations
Office " respectively. T h i s p r o p o s a l h a d been w a r m l y welcomed b y
t h e D o m i n i o n G o v e r n m e n t s , a n d t h e n e w t i t l e s w o u l d also be m o r e
acceptable to t h e I n d i a n G o v e r n m e n t s a f t e r the t r a n s f e r of power.
T h e changes would be a n n o u n c e d i n P a r l i a m e n t i m m e d i a t e l y .
Dominions
Office.
Change
of
Title.
The C a b i n e t Took note, w i t h a p p r o v a l , of t h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r s s t a t e ­
ment.
Iron a n d S t e e l
Industry Bill,
(Previous
Reference:
3. The Prime
Minister
informed the Cabinet that, in
accordance w i t h t h e i r decision of 2 6 t h J u n e , he h a d a s k e d t h e L o r d
P r e s i d e n t a n d t h e M i n i s t e r of S u p p l y to u n d e r t a k e f u r t h e r discussions w i t h r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of t h e I r o n a n d Steel F e d e r a t i o n .
C M . (47) 57th
Conclusions,
Minute
5.)
Land Require
m e n t s of
the
Service
Departments
and t h e
Ministry
Supply.
of
4. T h e C a b i n e t h a d before t h e m a m e m o r a n d u m by t h e P r i m e
M i n i s t e r ( C P . (47) 184) r e p o r t i n g t h e conclusions r e a c h e d by t h e
Defence C o m m i t t e e on t h e p r o p o s a l s of t h e Service D e p a r t m e n t s
a n d t h e M i n i s t r y of S u p p l y w i t h r e g a r d to t h e use of l a n d for
t r a i n i n g a n d other p u r p o s e s , a n d covering a d r a f t W h i t e P a p e r
d e a l i n g w i t h these p r o p o s a l s .
The Minister
without
Portfolio,
said t h a t t h e needs of t h e
A r m e d Forces a n d t h e M i n i s t r y of S u p p l y h a d been e x a m i n e d i n
t h e first i n s t a n c e by t h e C o m m i t t e e on Services L a n d U s a g e , whose
conclusions h a d been b r o a d l y accepted by t h e Defence C o m m i t t e e .
T h e possibility of r e d u c i n g t h e a m o u n t of l a n d r e q u i r e d in t h e
U n i t e d K i n g d o m by t r a i n i n g t h e A r m e d F o r c e s overseas h a d been
e x a m i n e d , a n d t h e r e h a d been a special e n q u i r y i n t o t h e extent to
w h i c h t r a i n i n g m i g h t be c a r r i e d o u t in t h e more r e m o t e a r e a s of
[34109-4]
B 2 Scotland a n d N o r t h e r n I r e l a n d . I t h a d not been possible by these
e x p e d i e n t s to reduce the d e m a n d s of the Service D e p a r t m e n t s for
l a n d in E n g l a n d a n d "Wales, b u t a r r a n g e m e n t s for t h e intensive
a n d continuous use of p a r t i c u l a r a r e a s a n d for j o i n t user by two
or more Services h a d enabled t h e o r i g i n a l r e q u i r e m e n t s of t h e Service
D e p a r t m e n t s t o be scaled down from a b o u t 1,100,000 to about
800,000 acres. T h e d r a f t W h i t e P a p e r h a d been revised on the
lines suggested by the Defence C o m m i t t e e a n d , a s a r e s u l t of a
visit w h i c h h e a n d other M i n i s t e r s concerned h a d p a i d to t h e Thet­
f o r d a n d S t a n f o r d t r a i n i n g a r e a s , w h e r e t h e F o r e s t r y Commission
h a d i m p o r t a n t interests, s a t i s f a c t o r y a r r a n g e m e n t s h a d been made
t o meet t h e essential needs of forestry. T h i s v i s i t h a d convinced
h i m t h a t t h r o u g h o u t t h e c o u n t r y t h e r e should be closer contact
between t h e m i l i t a r y a u t h o r i t i e s a n d local officials of the Depart­
m e n t s concerned, a n d a r r a n g e m e n t s w e r e being m a d e for t h i s .
The Lord President
said t h a t t h e a r e a of 800,000 acres to be
used for t r a i n i n g purposes r e p r e s e n t e d a very heavy call on the
available l a n d in t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m . H e realised t h a t , so far
as possible, the Services would avoid i n t e r f e r e n c e w i t h agricul­
t u r e , b u t the effect of t h e i r d e m a n d s on the l a n d available to the
pubic for r e c r e a t i o n w o u l d be considerable, a n d h e f e a r e d t h a t when
the W h i t e P a p e r w a s p u b l i s h e d t h e r e w o u l d be a s t o r m of prqtes,';
which w o u l d force the G o v e r n m e n t to m o d i f ) the proposals. Would
i t not be possible to postpone t a k i n g some of t h e l a n d a t least so
long as A r m y t r a i n i n g could be c a r r i e d o u t in G e r m a n y ?
r
The Secretary of State for War s a i d t h a t h e w a s satisfied that
the a m o u n t of l a n d r e q u i r e d by t h e A r m y could not be reduced to
a n y a p p r e c i a b l e extent. T h e A r m y schools of i n s t r u c t i o n m u s t be
located i n t h i s country a n d t h o u g h t r a i n i n g w i t h u n i t s could
be c a r r i e d out in G e r m a n y for t h e n e x t few years, we should
eventually have to rely o n t r a i n i n g a r e a s in the U n i t e d Kingdom.
T h e process of a c q u i s i t i o n w a s a slow one a n d i t w a s vital that
t h e W a r Office should a t a n early d a t e be given sanction to pro­
ceed w i t h t h e i r proposals. A b o u t 270,000 acres of the l a n d required
by the W a r Office w e r e in e x i s t i n g W a r Office estates, and the
use for t r a i n i n g of m u c h of the l a n d p r o p o s e d to be t a k e n would
not be incompatible w i t h g i v i n g t h e public access to t h i s l a n d or
even w i t h its use for a g r i c u l t u r e o r forestry. T h e a d d i t i o n a l land
w h i c h t h e Services r e q u i r e d w o u l d be t a k e n over a p e r i o d of years
a n d each p r o p o s a l w o u l d be subject t o a public local e n q u i r y if
objections were r a i s e d on g r o u n d s of public i n t e r e s t .
I n f u r t h e r discussion a n u m b e r of M i n i s t e r s s u p p o r t e d the
views expressed by the L o r d P r e s i d e n t a n d t h e r e w a s g e n e r a l agree­
ment t h a t the form in w h i c h t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s of the Services were
p r e s e n t e d in P a r t V I I I of the d r a f t W h i t e P a p e r w a s unsatis­
factory. T h u s , the r e a d e r w a s given a n i n i t i a l i m p r e s s i o n that
800,000 acres of l a n d w o u l d be completely w i t h d r a w n from other
uses for t r a i n i n g purposes, a n d would be a p t to overlook the
fact t h a t over m u c h of t h e a r e a t h e use of l a n d for t r a i n i n g would
n o t be incompatible w i t h its use for a g r i c u l t u r e or f o r e s t r y or with
t h e r e t e n t i o n of the r i g h t of p u b l i c access to i t . A g a i n t h e draft
d i d not sufficiently b r i n g o u t t h e fact t h a t l i t t l e d i s t u r b a n c e and
d e p r i v a t i o n w o u l d be caused by t h e u s e of m a n y of t h e individual
sites included i n the a r e a of 314,700 acres r e q u i r e d for purposes
other t h a n t r a i n i n g . A t r u e r p i c t u r e would be given by dealing
w i t h t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s of e a c h of t h e Services s e p a r a t e l y and by
p u t t i n g i n t h e forefront a n e x p l a n a t i o n of t h e l i m i t e d extent to
which t h e use of m u c h of t h e l a n d r e q u i r e d for t r a i n i n g would
affect its use. for other p u r p o s e s . F o r e x a m p l e , the W h i t e P a p e r
should e m p h a s i s e t h a t t h e needs of t h e Services would affect only
106,000 acres of arable l a n d , of w h i c h no m o r e t h a n 60,000 acres
would be lost to c u l t i v a t i o n ; t h a t all b u t 75,000 of t h e 505,000 acres
of land classified as fit for g r a z i n g w o u l d r e m a i n available for J
t h a t p u r p o s e ; a n d t h a t t h e p u b l i c would r e t a i n the r i g h t of access
to much of the l a n d used for t r a i n i n g . T h e W h i t e P a p e r might
also e x p l a i n how f a r t h e Services h a d been able to avoid taking
common l a n d s i t u a t e d i n t h e i m m e d i a t e neighbourhood of thickly
121
C M . 5 8 (*k7J
p o p u l a t e d a r e a s , a n d i t w o u l d be useful t o b r i n g o u t t h e fact t h a t
a good deal of the l a n d r e q u i r e d by t h e Services w a s in a r e a s s u c h
as S a l i s b u r y P l a i n a n d Shoeburyness, t h e use of w h i c h for m i l i t a r y
p u r p o s e s h a d long since been accepted.
O t h e r p o i n t s in discussion w e r e : —
(a) The Chancellor
of the Exchequer
suggested t h a t p a r a ­
g r a p h 46 of t h e d r a f t W h i t e P a p e r , w h i c h d e a l t w i t h cases i n
w h i c h it w a s impossible t o i m p l e m e n t pledges of r e i n s t a t e m e n t ,
should be r e d r a f t e d in c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h t h e T r e a s u r y . I t w a s
i m p o r t a n t t o avoid t h e i m p l i c a t i o n , t h a t p e r s o n s who could n o t
be r e i n s t a t e d would n o t receive c o m p e n s a t i o n a p a r t from a n y
special a r r a n g e m e n t s m a d e u n d e r t h i s p a r a g r a p h . I n fact m a n y
such persons would be e n t i t l e d to c o m p e n s a t i o n u n d e r t h e Com­
p e n s a t i o n (Defence) A c t or t h e A c q u i s i t i o n of L a n d A c t a s a m e n d e d
by t h e T o w n a n d C o u n t r y P l a n n i n g Bill.
(b) The Minister of Agriculture
and Fisheries suggested t h a t it
would be desirable to p o i n t o u t i n p a r a g r a p h 46 t h a t , if t h e Govern­
m e n t were t o r e f r a i n f r o m t h e use of a p a r t i c u l a r t r a i n i n g a r e a
because a p l e d g e of r e i n s t a t e m e n t h a d been given, t h e y w o u l d be
compelled to displace p e r s o n s from some o t h e r a r e a , w h i c h m i g h t
well involve g r e a t e r h a r d s h i p .
(c) I t w a s suggested t h a t D e p a r t m e n t s w e r e n o t a l w a y s given
a d e q u a t e notice of p r o p o s a l s for t h e a c q u i s i t i o n of l a n d by Service
D e p a r t m e n t s . F o r e x a m p l e , t h e B o a r d of T r a d e h a d l e a r n t only
a t a very l a t e stage of a p r o p o s a l to a c q u i r e l a n d c o n t a i n i n g valuable
clay deposits.
The Minister of Town and Country Planning
said t h a t all p r o ­
posals were considered by a n official committee c o n t a i n i n g r e p r e ­
sentatives of the D e p a r t m e n t s m a i n l y concerned.
H e would,
however, t a k e steps to e n s u r e t h a t in f u t u r e a d v a n c e notice of all
proposals w a s sent to a l l D e p a r t m e n t s w h i c h m i g h t have a n y i n t e r e s t
in l a n d w h i c h it w a s p r o p o s e d to a c q u i r e .
(d) I t w a s i m p o r t a n t t h a t t h e Services should avoid, so f a r
as possible, r e t a i n i n g possession of l a n d a n d b u i l d i n g s w i t h o u t
m a k i n g use of them.
The C a b i n e t ­
(1) A p p r o v e d in p r i n c i p l e the p r o p o s a l s in C P . (47) 184 for
t h e use by t h e Service D e p a r t m e n t s a n d t h e M i n i s t r y of
S u p p l y of l a n d for t r a i n i n g a n d o t h e r p u r p o s e s ;
(2) I n v i t e d the L o r d P r e s i d e n t , in c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h the
M i n i s t e r w i t h o u t P o r t f o l i o a n d the Chancellor of the
E x c h e q u e r , to a r r a n g e for t h e d r a f t W h i t e P a p e r
a n n e x e d t o C P . (47) 184 to be revised on the lines
suggested i n discussion, a n d a g r e e d t h a t the revised d r a f t
should be c i r c u l a t e d to t h e C a b i n e t .
(3) I n v i t e d the M i n i s t e r of T o w n a n d C o u n t r y P l a n n i n g to
e n s u r e t h a t all i n t e r e s t e d D e p a r t m e n t s were notified in
good t i m e of a n y p r o p o s a l s m a d e by t h e Service D e p a r t ­
m e n t s for t h e a c q u i s i t i o n of l a n d for t r a i n i n g purposes.
Aerodromes
in the U n i t e d
Kingdom.
5. T h e C a b i n e t h a d before t h e m a m e m o r a n d u m by the
S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for D o m i n i o n Affairs ( C P . (47) 168) r e p o r t i n g
the conclusions reached by t h e Civil A v i a t i o n C o m m i t t e e on a pro­
g r a m m e d r a w n u p b y t h e M i n i s t e r of Civil A v i a t i o n for the
establishment of aerodromes in t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m o u t s i d e the
London area.
The Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs said t h a t t h e Civil
A v i a t i o n Committee w e r e satisfied t h a t t h e proposals of the M i n i s t e r
of Civil A v i a t i o n , w h i c h were set o u t i n d e t a i l in t h e A n n e x to
C P . (47) 168, could be accepted as a w o r k i n g p r o g r a m m e .
The
a i m h a d been to select p r e - w a r or w a r - t i m e aerodromes a n d to secure
j o i n t user w i t h t h e Service a n d S u p p l y D e p a r t m e n t s , a n d only six
e n t i r e l y n e w sites w e r e r e q u i r e d . A p a r t from these n e w sites, it
w a s proposed to a c q u i r e a n d convert for civil use some 59 existing
aerodromes, 17 of w h i c h w e r e a l r e a d y owned i n whole or in p a r t
by the S t a t e , while 3 1 w e r e on r e q u i s i t i o n e d l a n d a n d 11 under
p r i v a t e or m u n i c i p a l control. T h e Committee a g r e e d t h a t p r i o r i t y
should be given to t h e development of seven aerodromes required
for d i r e c t services to t h e C o n t i n e n t a n d t h a t , i n the development of
o t h e r aerodromes, p r i o r i t y should be given to those r e q u i r e d for
i n t e r n a l a i r services w h i c h w e r e necessary because of the lack of
o t h e r m e a n s of communication or commercially justified by existing
or prospective d e m a n d . T h e e s t i m a t e d total cost of t h e p r o g r a m m e
w a s £ 3 7 million a n d the r a t e a t w h i c h i t could be c a r r i e d out
would d e p e n d on t h e extent to w h i c h a t a n y given t i m e resources
could be devoted t o t h i s p u r p o s e . T h e Committee h a d specially
considered t h e q u e s t i o n of the choice of a site for t h e B r i s t o l civil
a i r p o r t . T h e o r i g i n a l i n t e n t i o n h a d been t h a t this a i r p o r t should
be s i t u a t e d a t F i l t o n , w h e r e considerable e x p e n d i t u r e h a d been
i n c u r r e d on t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n of a r u n w a y for t h e B r a b a z o n I air­
craft, b u t t h e Committee w e r e satisfied t h a t , for the reasons given
in A p p e n d i x V to t h e m e m o r a n d u m a n n e x e d to C P . (47) 168, an
a l t e r n a t i v e site a t L u l s g a t e B o t t o m w o u l d be p r e f e r a b l e .
The Chancellor of the Exchequer
said t h a t t h e p r o p o s a l s of the
M i n i s t e r of Civil A v i a t i o n m u s t be r e g a r d e d a s a l o n g - t e r m plan,
t h e execution of w h i c h would d e p e n d u p o n t h e available resources
of money a n d of m e n a n d m a t e r i a l s . A f t e r discussion w i t h the
M i n i s t e r of Civil A v i a t i o n , h e h a d a g r e e d to h i s p r o p o s a l t o make
a n a n n o u n c e m e n t on t h e lines of^the s t a t e m e n t in A p p e n d i x I V to
t h e m e m o r a n d u m a n n e x e d to C P . (47) 168, subject to t h e omission
of the references t o E x e t e r , G r i m s b y , Lossiemouth a n d Norwich,
a n d on t h e u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h a t t h e M i n i s t e r w o u l d consult h i m about
a n y proposed public references to places a n d a e r o d r o m e s contained
in A p p e n d i x I b u t n o t r e f e r r e d t o in t h e proposed announcement.
I n f u r t h e r discussion t h e following p o i n t s w e r e m a d e :—
(a) I t should be clearly recognised t h a t t h e c a r r y i n g o u t of the
proposed p r o g r a m m e would be a g r a d u a l process. T h u s , it was
e s t i m a t e d t h a t the c o n s t r u c t i o n a l w o r k involved w o u l d require
60,000-man years, w h e r e a s for t h e p e r i o d u p to M a r c h 1948 the
b u i l d i n g labour allocated to t h e M i n i s t r y of Civil A v i a t i o n for all
p u r p o s e s d i d not exceed 8,000 m e n .
(b) The Minister
of Civil Aviation
u n d e r t o o k to consider the
possibility of developing a n a i r service from t h e W e s t of E n g l a n d
t o I r e l a n d w i t h a s t o p a t Anglesey.
(c) I t w a s i m p o r t a n t t h a t e v e r y t h i n g possible should be done
t o i m p r e s s on those responsible for t h e m a n a g e m e n t of t h e aero­
dromes a n d for the r u n n i n g of a i r services t h e need for securing
economies i n o p e r a t i o n a n d for m a k i n g a i r t r a v e l m o r e a t t r a c t i v e
by e l i m i n a t i n g delays a n d inconveniences.
(d) The Secretary
of State far Scotland d r e w a t t e n t i o n to the
i m p o r t a n c e of r e a c h i n g a n e a r l y decision on t h e p r o p o s a l s for the
development of the a e r o d r o m e a t P r e s t w i c k . T h e d e l a y in settling
t h e p l a n of t h e a e r o d r o m e w a s h o l d i n g u p the p l a n n i n g of the area
a n d t h e w o r k of p r o v i d i n g n e w houses.
(e) The Minister of A griculture p o i n t e d o u t t h a t t h e r e
n o p r i o r consultation w i t h the M i n i s t r y of A g r i c u l t u r e o n a
r o a d diversion w h i c h would be consequential o n the use of
B o t t o m as t h e B r i s t o l a i r p o r t a n d w o u l d e n t a i l t h e loss
agricultural land.
h a d been
proposed
Lulsgate
of good
The C a b i n e t ­
(1) A u t h o r i s e d t h e M i n i s t r y of Civil A v i a t i o n t o t r e a t the
a e r o d r o m e s a n d sites listed in A p p e n d i x I to the
m e m o r a n d u m a n n e x e d to C P . (47) 168 a s a working
programme;
(2) A g r e e d t h a t p r i o r i t y should be given to the development of
seven. aerodromes r e q u i r e d for direct services to the
123 C M . 58 (47) ^
Continent and t h a t the rate at which the programme
should be c a r r i e d o u t should be d e t e r m i n e d i n consul ta­
t i o n w i t h the T r e a s u r y a n d t h e I n v e s t m e n t "Working
Party;
(3) A p p r o v e d t h e p r o p o s a l to develop L u l s g a t e B o t t o m as t h e
m a i n civil a i r p o r t for B r i s t o l ;
(4) Subject t o t h e modifications a g r e e d on w i t h t h e Chancellor
of t h e E x c h e q u e r , a u t h o r i s e d t h e M i n i s t e r of Civil
A v i a t i o n to m a k e a p u b l i c a n n o u n c e m e n t of h i s p l a n s
i n t h e t e r m s of A p p e n d i x I V t o t h e m e m o r a n d u m
a n n e x e d to C P . (47) 168.
India.
Constitutional
Changes.
(Previous
Bef e r e n c e : C M . (47) 57th Conclusions, Minute
4.)
6. The Prime Minister i n f o r m e d t h e C a b i n e t t h a t he h a d now
discussed t h e t e r m s of t h e d r a f t I n d i a n I n d e p e n d e n c e Bill w i t h
the O p p o s i t i o n l e a d e r s . T h e only c r i t i c i s m of s u b s t a n c e w h i c h they
h a d m a d e r e l a t e d t o t h e t i t l e of t h e Bill, w h i c h , i n t h e i r view,
suggested t h a t t h e I n d i a n successor S t a t e s w e r e b e i n g g r a n t e d
independence outside the B r i t i s h Commonwealth.
I n discussion t h e r e w a s g e n e r a l a g r e e m e n t t h a t t h e r e w e r e no
g r o u n d s for m o d i f y i n g t h e p r o p o s e d title of t h e Bill, w h i c h w o u l d
be acceptable b o t h t o the e x i s t i n g D o m i n i o n s a n d t o I n d i a n opinion,
as i n d i c a t i n g a n d confirming t h e r e a l n a t u r e of D o m i n i o n s t a t u s .
I t w a s felt, however, t h a t special p a i n s o u g h t to be t a k e n to e x p l a i n
the i m p l i c a t i o n s of t h e t i t l e a n d , as n o t less t h a n a week would
have to elapse between t h e p u b l i c a t i o n of the B i l l a n d its Second
R e a d i n g in t h e H o u s e of Commons, it w a s suggested t h a t i t w o u l d
be advisable for t h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r to hold a P r e s s Conference
i m m e d i a t e l y before the p u b l i c a t i o n of t h e Bill, a t w h i c h he could
e x p l a i n fully i t s p u r p o s e a n d m e a n i n g .
The Secretary
of State for Dominion
Affairs
said that it was
desirable t h a t t h e Bill should r e a c h the H o u s e of L o r d s as soon
as possible and, i n a n y event, n o t l a t e r t h a n the l a s t week in J u l y .
The C a b i n e t ­
(1) Took n o t e t h a t t h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r w o u l d hold a P r e s s
Conference on t h e I n d i a n I n d e p e n d e n c e B i l l on t h e d a y
of i t s p u b l i c a t i o n ;
(2) I n v i t e d t h e L o r d P r e s i d e n t a n d t h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for
D o m i n i o n Affairs to consider w h a t a r r a n g e m e n t s m i g h t
be m a d e to enable t h e Bill to reach t h e H o u s e of L o r d s
as soon as possible.
Burma.
(Previous
Eef erence: C M . (47) 53rd Conclusions, Minute
4.) 7 . The Prime Minister
i n f o r m e d t h e C a b i n e t t h a t it h a d not
proved possible, i n t h e discussions w i t h t h e B u r m a Goodwill Mission,
to secure t h e i r a g r e e m e n t to t h e p r o p o s a l t h a t p o w e r should be t r a n s ­
f e r r e d in B u r m a on t h e basis of t h e g r a n t of D o m i n i o n s t a t u s .
T h e m e m b e r s of t h e M i s s i o n w o u l d themselves h a v e been in favour
of B u r m a ' s r e m a i n i n g w i t h i n t h e B r i t i s h C o m m o n w e a l t h , b u t they
h a d m a d e i t clear t h a t they s a w n o p r o s p e c t t h a t e i t h e r t h e i r own
s u p p o r t e r s or B u r m e s e o p i n i o n generally could be b r o u g h t t o accept
a n y t h i n g less t h a n i n d e p e n d e n c e o u t s i d e the C o m m o n w e a l t h . T h e
M i s s i o n h a d been i n f o r m e d t h a t H i s M a j e s t y ' s G o v e r n m e n t could
n o t a g r e e to t h e g r a n t of D o m i n i o n s t a t u s to B u r m a merely as a
device for e x p e d i t i n g the t r a n s f e r of power, a n d t h e y h a d not
pressed t h i s s u g g e s t i o n .
The Cabinet—
Took n o t e of t h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r s s t a t e m e n t .
Cabinet Office, S.W. 1,
1st July, 1947. ,