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DQCIMEMT IS THE PROPERTY OP HIS BRITAMHIO MAJESTY'S QOVSRNMHHT^
9 A B I- M E T
83 J21)*
FIHAL COPY 110*
/
6
CONCLUSIONS of a\ Meeting of the Cabinet held
at 10^ Downing Street, SaW*, on Tuesday, let
November, 1921 , at 11 - 30 a,m
e
PRESENT;-.
THE ER-3&B MINISTER
(IN THE CHAIR)o
The Right Hon. A,;Chamberlain,
M.P., Lord Privy Seal,
The Right Hon A,J Balfour, C M . ,
M.P*^ Lord President of the Council.
The Right Horu Sir Robert Horne,
G.B.E., K , C , HUP,, Chancellor
of the Exchequer *
The Right Hoiio E, Shorttj K.C.* M P * ; Secretary of State for Home
Affairs *
The Most Hone The Marquess Curzon
of Kedleston, K.G** G.C.S.I..,
Q.C.I.E., Secretary of State for
Foreign Aff&irs
The Right Hon W S Churchill,
M , P j CJeoretary of State for the
Colonloss
The Right Hon. E.S. Montagu
Mo P., Secretary of State for
India
The Right Hon. Sir L. WorthlngtonEvans, Bart.,'M.P.; Secretary of
State for Weir.
The Right Hon.., Lord Lee of
Fareham, G-.B.E. K..C .B., First
Lord of the Admiralty.
The Ri ght Hon S. Baldwin, M.P.,
President of tho Board of Trade*
The Right Hon* Sir A, Mond,
Bart., M.P., Minister.of
Health.
The Right Hon* H.A.L. Fisher, M.F.,
President of the Board of Education^
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The Right Hon. Sir Hamar Greenwood,
Barti, K..C, M . P , Chief Secretary
for Ireland.
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THE FOLLOV/IHG WERE ALSO PRESENT;: *
Col. Leslie ftilson,
C.H.G., D.S.O.j M.P. Joint
Parliamentary Secretary, Treasury,
Sir Edward Grigg) K.C.V.O., C.M.G
Lt, Col. Sir M.P.-A, Hankey, G*C . 3 - 3 . , , * .
^Secretary,
^r, T* J o n e s , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Principal Assistant -Secretary.
Col SoH. Wilson. ,.C.B^,.C,iiUa. ........Principal Assistant Secretary,C..I.D
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MERIOAH
lORo
(1)
With reference to Conclusion 5 of a Conference of
Ministers held on October 26th, 1921, the Cabinet were
informed that the Admiralty and War Office were both
oontemplating laying wreaths on the tomb of the Anierioan
Unknown Warriorc
General Smuts W E B also understood
to have asked the British Ambassador to ley a wreath on
behalf of the Fominion of South Africa,
The question
thereof ore arose as to whether It was desirable for the
Head of the British Delegation also to lay a wreath
on behalf of the British Governmento
The Cabinet were of opinion that the wreath to be
laid by Lord Cavan on behalf of His Majesty The King
should suffice so far as the British Government and the
British Mission of the British Empire Delegation are
concerned, and that, with the addition of a short speseh
by the Head of the British Empire Delegation, the pro­
gramme as already recommended to His Majesty The King
should be adhered t o
0
They recommended to His Majesty
The King that the revised programme should be as follows
(2)
o.*Araerioan
arantee.
(a)
A short speech by the Head of the British
Empire Delegations
(b)
Admiral of the Fleet Earl Boatty to confer
the Victoria Cross;
(c)
General the Earl of Cavan to lay a wreath
on behalf of His Majesty The Kings
(d)
No other wreaths to be laid by the British
Mission.
With reference to Cabinet 67 (21), Conclusion 5 (b)j*
the Cabinet had bs fore them a Memorandum by the Standing
Sub-Committee of the Committee of Imperial Defence on the
subject of the forthcoming Washington Conference on the
Limitation of Armaments ( C o U , Paper 2S0-B)
b
After some discussion the Cabinet agreed
(a)
That in the event of the question of
a renewal of the Anglo-American Guarantee
to Prance being brought up at the Conference *
the British Empire Delegation should be
authorised; and was in honour bound , to
support and promote in every way the roti­
fioation by the United States of America
of the Paris Agreement of June 27th, 1919*
which has already been ratified by
Imperial Parliament and only awaits the
ratification of the Government of tho
United States of America to beoome
operative!
(o) That, in regard to para. 29 and Conclusion
(5) of the Committee of Imperial Defence
Report, while adhering to the one-Power
standard, full discretion should be given
to the principal British Delegate, according
to the circumstances of the Conference,
to adopt the suggestion of the Secretary of
State for the Colonies in regard to having
ready a paper programme of capital ship
construction, to be used for bargaining purposes
with a view to inducing the other Powers
to reduce their building programmes!
(c) That the question of limitation of aerial
armaments should be taken up, and that
advantage should be taken of the support
which the French would expect from us on
the subject of the guarantee, to try and
induce them to agree to a limitation of
aerial armaments;
(d) That, subject to the above and to full
discretion to the British Empire Delegation
(subject to reference to the Cabinet it
case of necessity)., the Report of the
Standing Defence Subcommittee should be
approved as a general guide
a
(S) With reference to Cabinet 51 (21), Appendix V ( 1 ) ,
tho attention of the Cabinet was oalled to a recommendation.
by the General Officer Commanding, Ireland, supported by
the Secretary of State for War? that it was desirable to
divert American ships calling at Moville, so that they
should arrive in this country first*
This would make it
more possible to check the importation of arms into Ireland,
The Cabinet agreed
That the Admiralty should be authorised
to issue an Order prohibiting eastward­
bound ships from entering Moville until
further notice^ the Admiralty to make
such communications to the Foreign Office
as may be necessary with a view to notify­
ing Washington and other Governments concerned
By instructions from Mr* Chamberlain- no
Action is being taken on this Stinute pending
further consideration by the Cabinet,
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(4)
aches of
Ik, Truce o
P
The attention of the Cabinet was oalled to certain
breaches of the truce by Sinn Peiners at Rafchkeale and
elsewhere^
The Cabinet agreed
That the matters complained of should be
referred to the Committee on the Observance
of the Truce.
(5)
foaat guard
Stations *
The Cabinet had before them a Memorandum by the
First Lord of the Admiralty dealing with the retention of
Coastguard Stations in the disaffected parts of Ireland,
and pointing out that if an Irish settlement is reached it
is proposed to close these stations.
On tho other hand,
If the truce is terminated, the stations would be a danger­
ous complication.
It was therefore preferable to evacuate
them (S.F. (B) I V ) .
The Cabinet agreed
-
To adopt the recommendation of the Admiralty
that the GcaE&guard Stations should be
evacuated as soon as possible*
pJHE KIHG S
5
lPEECH*
(6)
With reference to Cabinet TO (21)
f
Conclusion
2 (a) tho Cabinet briefly considered the position of
iR LIAMENTA RY. Parliamentary business in relation to arrangements for the
;USINESS.
Klng s Speech.
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Colonel Leslie Wilson indicated the stages
reached by the various Bills, and expressed the belief
that it would be possible for the House to rise on
November 10th or 11th.
Some discussion took place on the financial
requirements of the Treasury, and It w a 3 generally agreed
to be undesirable to have a Debate on any Irish Estimates,
In view of the Debate on the previous day and of the negot­
iations still proceeding.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer undertook
to oxemine other ways of meeting the
Immediate needs of the Treasury^
The consideration of the arrangements
for the King s Speech was adjourned.
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2j Whitehall Gardens, S.W,
1st November, 1921*