J S
DOCUMENT IS
THE PROPERTY OP HIS BRITANNIC MAJEGTY' S GOVERlttSENT) .
COPY NO.
i ci.
C A B I N
(6
E
75
(36)
Meeting of t h e C a b i n e t t o "be h e l d at No. 10, Downing
S t r e e t , S.W.I., on WEDNESDAY, 9 t h DECEIvIBER, 193o,
at 11.0 a.a.
AGENDA.
1. FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
(a) The F i v e Power C o n f e r e n c e :
(Reference
Cabinet
Belgium.
69 (36) C o n c l u s i o n
l) .
s
Memorandum by t h e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e f o r F o r e i g n
Affairs.
C.P. 332 (36) ­ c i r c u l a t e d h e r e w i t h .
(b) The S i t u a t i o n i n S p a i n
(Reference
­
( i f required).
c a b i n e t 69 (36) C o n c l u s i o n S ) .
2. ROLE OF THE BRITISH ARMY.
(Reference
Cabinet
10 ( 3 6 ) C o n c l u s i o n ( f ) ) .
Memorandum b y the S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e f o r War.
C P . 326 (36) ­ a l r e a d y c i r c u l a t e d .
See a l s o 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
on t h e o r g a n i s a t i o n , armament and equipment o f t h e Army.
C P . 326 (36) ­ a l r e a d y c i r c u l a t e d .
3. EXPANSION OF SECTION A. OF THE ARMY RESERVE.
(Reference
Cabinet
58 (36) C o n c l u s i o n 9 and A p p e n d i x ) .
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 P . 319 (36) ­ a l r e a d y c i r c u l a t e d .
4. LOCATION OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.
(Reference
Cabinet
69 (36) C o n c l u s i o n 8 ) .
Note by t h e M i n i s t e r f o r C o - o r d i n a t i o n o f D e f e n c e ,
c o v e r i n g Report o f a Sub-Committee of t h e Committee
of I m p e r i a l D e f e n c e .
C P . 320 (36) ­ a l r e a d y c i r c u l a t e d .
73
"
(38)
5. WAGES OF FARM SERVANTS I IT SCOTLAND.
(Reference
Cabinet
5o ( 3 6 ) C o n c l u s i o n 1 6 ) .
Memorandum by t h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e f o r S c o t l a n d .
C P . 333 (36) - a l r e a d y c i r c u l a t e d .
6. PUBLIC RECORDS (SCOTLAND),
(Reference
Cabinet
b8 (36) C o n c l u s i o n 9 and A p p e n d i x )
t
Memorandum by t h e 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 .
C P . 324 (36) - a l r e a d y c i r c u l a t e d .
8. PRIVATE MEMBERS' B I L L S .
(b) F o r F r i d a y , December 1 1 t h , 1936.
(i)
Road T r a f f i c B i l l .
Second R e a d i n g .
(Sir Assheton Pownall ( U ) ) .
(ii)
Inheritance (Family p r o v i s i o n ) B i l l .
Reading.
( M r . Windsor ( L a . ) ) .
(iii)
Home and Empire S e t t l e m e n t B i l l .
Reading.
( M r . L. Smith ( U ) ) .
Second
Second
TO TAKE I TOTE OF:­
9. SITUATION IN NORTH WA^IRISTAN ON THE NORTH WEST FRONTIER
OF INDIA.
(Reference
Cabinet
43 (35) C o n c l u s i o n 4 ) .
Memorandum by t h e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e f o r I n d i a .
C P . 330 (36) - a l r e a d y c i r c u l a t e d .
( S i g n e d ) M.P.A. HANKLY,
Secretary to the Cabinet.
? W h i t e h a l l Gardens, S.1/.1.
December 7 t h , 1936.
ITS ro l^SI!^--.
nTT
IST
K
E
PRQ^SRTy OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT ).
COPY NO.
C A B I N E T
75 ( 5 6 ) .
CONCLUSIONS o f a M e e t i n g o f 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.W.1, on WEDNESDAY,
the 9 t h DECEMBER, 19 36, a t 11.0 a.m.
PRESENT:
a
The R i g h t lion. S t a n l e y Baldwin! M.P. ,
Prime M i n i s t e r . ' ( i n t h e C h a i r ) .
5
The Right Hon.
.
J. Ramsay MacDonaldf M.P. ,
Lord P r e s i d e n t o f t h e C o u n c i l .
[he Right Hon.
The R i g h t Hon.
N e v i l l e C h a m b e r l a i n , M.P. ,
C h a n c e l l o r o f t h e Exchequer.
The
S i r John Simon, C C S . I . , K.CV.0. ,
O.B.E. , K.C. , M.P. , S e c r e t a r y o f
State f o r Home A f f a i r s .
I The Right Hon.
The V i s c o u n t H a l i f a x , K.G.,
C C S . I . , C C I . E . , Lord P r i v y
Seal.
R i g h t Hon.
Anthony Eden, M.C. ,M.P. ,
Secretary of State f o r Foreign
Affairs.
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 Dominion
Affairs.
The Right Hon.
The R i g h t Hon.
A. D u f f Cooper, D.S.O., M.P*,
S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e f o r War.
The Most Eon.
The R i g h t Hon.
The V i s c o u n t S w i n t o n , G.B.E.,
M.G., S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e f o r
Air.
The Right Hon.
The R i g h t Hon.
W a l t e r Runciman, M.P.,
P r e s i d e n t o f t h e B o a r d o f Trade.
The Right Hon.
The R i g h t Hon.
S i r Thomas I n s k i p , C . B . E . , K.C.,
M.P., M i n i s t e r f o r t h e CoO r d i n a t i o n o f Defence.
The Right Hon.
W.S.Morrison, M.C., K.C., M.P.,
M i n i s t e r o f A g r i c u l t u r e and
Fisheries.
The Right. Hon.
O l i v e r S t a n l e y , M.C., M.P./
P r e s i d e n t o f t h e Board o r
Education.
The Right Hon.
S i r K i n g s l e y Wood, M.P.,
Minister of Health.
The R i g h t Hon.
E r n e s t Brown, M.C., M.P.,
M i n i s t e r o f Labour.
The Right Hon.
The E a r l Stanhope, K.G., D.S.O.,
M.C., F i r s t Commissioner o f
Works.
The R i g h t Hon.
L. H o r e - B e l i s h a , M.P., M i n i s t e r
of Transoort.
W. Ormsby-Gore, M.P., S e c r e t a r y
of State f o r t h e C o l o n i e s .
The Marquess o f Z e t l a n d , C C S . I . ,
G.C.I.E. , S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e f o r
India.
Walter E l l i o t , M.C., M.P. ,
Secretary o f S t a t e f o r Scotland.
S i r Samuel Hoare, B t . , G.C.S.I.,
G.B.E. , C.M.C, TCP. , F i r s t
Lord o f t h e A d m i r a l t y .
C o l o n e l S i r M.P.A.Hankey, G.C.B. , G.CM.G. , G.C.V.O.
3e P r e s e n t f o r Conclusions^! and.19.
/ I n t h e C h a i r f o r C o n c l u s i o n s 2 and 18.
Secretaryi
2. The Cabinet had before them a Memorandum by
TPS FIVE-POWER
CONFERENCE.
Belgium'
(Previous
. Reference:.
Cabinet 69
(36), Con­
clusion 1.)
(l
the Secretary of State f o r Foreign A f f a i r s (CP.-332
(36)) i n v/hich he recorded h i s recent
with
conversations
Van Zeeland, the Belgian Prime Minister, on
the present attitude of the Belgian Government as a
r e s u l t of the s i t u a t i o n created by the withdrawal by
Belgium of the guarantee she had h i t h e r t o given to
I?rance, and
gave the text of the relevant portions of
M, Van Zeeland's statement i n the B e l g i a n Parliament
on December 2nd respecting Belgium's p o s i t i o n i n
r e l a t i o n to the negotiations f o r the proposed F i v e Power Treaty.
The Secretary of State also outlined
i n his Memorandum the problem of future p o l i c y and
the line he proposed to take i n d i s c u s s i n g with the
French and Belgian Governments points raised by the
French i n connection with the question of a Belgian
guarantee.
The Cabinet examined the proposals
which a d e c i s i o n was
on
asked i n paragraphs 2, 7 and
17 of the above raenorandura.
In the discussion on paragraph 7,
the
Cabinet were reminded that the opinion of the
Chiefs of S t a f f Sub-Committee had somewhat hardened
i n favour of a n e u t r a l i s e d Belgium.
expressed
The view
was
that the contrary argument that the
i n t e r n a t i o n a l guarantee had broken down i n 1914
was
not very impressive since the guarantee had proved
e f f e c t i v e from 1839
to 1914.
I t was
urged that
though admittedly i t might be very d i f f i c u l t to
obtain the German guarantee to Belgium, i t would be
worth something i f i t could be
secured.
The Secretary of State f o r Foreign A f f a i r s
said he was prepared
to keep i n mind that i f i t was
found possible to negotiate a new
he would not exclude
"Locarno" Treaty,
the p o s s i b l i t y of a neutralicg&
Belgium^
In considering paragraph 17, the Secretary
of State f o r Foreign A f f a i r s said he proposed to
discuss i t from the point of view of the Belgian
p o s i t i o n and not from that of the French p o s i t i o n .
He thought that t h i s would be s a t i s f a c t o r y from the
point of view of the Chiefs of S t a f f Sub-Committee f o r
the reason that i f Belgium wished to give f a c i l i t i e s
f o r m i l i t a r y a c t i o n to e i t h e r party, they would be
given under A r t i c l e 16 of the Covenant*
He d i d not
propose to press the Belgians beyond t h i s view.
In discussing paragraph 17 (3) a desire was
expressed
that the Secretary of State f o r Foreign
A f f a i r s should do h i s utmost to avoid any p r o v i s i o n
being made i n any arrangements to replace the Locarno
Treaty f o r S t a f f Talks or interchange o f information
between the Belgian and Germ an
S t a f f s on the one hand
and the Belgian and French S t a f f s on the
other. Though M. van Zeeland was understood to hold
the view that he might be i n a p o s i t i o n to t e l l
a
the
French h i s d i s p o s i t i o n s a g a i n s t / h o s t i l e Germany and to
t e l l the Germans h i s d i s p o s i t i o n s against a h o s t i l e
France (since they d e a l t with two quite d i s t i n c t
cases)9
i t was pointed out that the French or German
S t a f f s would be bound to ask f o r information about the
strength of the forces involved^
I t was
that any arrangement of that kind was
suggested
l i k e l y to
involve the l o s s of a m u l t i - l a t e r a l pact.
Eventually,
i t was decided to omit sub-paragraph (3) of paragraph 17*
Let agreed:
(a)
That with regard to M. van Zeeland s
desire to conclude the p r o v i s i o n a l
period, i . e . the continuance o f the
obligations of the e x i s t i n g Treaty o f
Locarno, as speedily as p o s s i b l e , the
Secretary o f State f o r Foreign A f f a i r s
should be authorised to ask the Belgian
Prime M i n i s t e r to await the conclusion
of the exchanges o f views at present
proceeding between the Five Locarno
Powers before c a l l i n g i n question the
duration of the p r o v i s i o n a l period, and
even then to make no d e f i n i t e move v/ithout
reference to the Secretary o f State.
(CP.332 (36) paragraph 2.)
1
That with regard to M. van Zeeland*s
suggestion that i n the event o f a
breakdown o f the Locarno negotiations,
an attempt might be made to negotiate
a Treaty under which Germany, Great
B r i t a i n , France and p o s s i b l y also I t a l y
would guarantee the independence and
i n t e g r i t y o f Belgium and p o s s i b l y of
Holland, as well as a possible second
Treaty between B r i t a i n and Prance o,r
between B r i t a i n , France and Germany,
guaranteeing the German-French f r o n t i e r
(Belgium not being a party to the
second Treaty) - the Secretary o f State
f o r Foreign A f f a i r s should be authorised
to warn M. van Zeeland that he sees
serious d i f f i c u l t i e s i n the way o f
h i s new plan and would be g r a t e f u l i f he
would abstain from putting i t forward,
even u n o f f i c i a l l y , u n t i l the s i t u a t i o n
has further developed.
He should also
be authorised to add to M. van Zeeland
that he saw considerable advantage i n
h i s carrying out a suggestion he made
of f i n d i n g some e a r l y excuse f o r an
u n o f f i c i a l v i s i t to P a r i s f o r
conversations with the French Government.
(CP.332 (36) paragraph?.)'
h.
This conclusion was accepted on the
understanding that i f i t was found
impossible to negotiate a new "Locarno"
Treaty, the Secretary of State f o r
Foreign A f f a i r s would not exclude the
p o s s i b i l i t y of/ar^e^^a^^rS^dr^Besbgi^SiT
That i n discussing with the French and
Belgium Governments the points which
the French Government have-raised i n
connection with the. Belgian d e c i s i o n to
give no guarantee under the propos ed
new "Locarno" Treaty, the Secretary
of State f o r Foreign A f f a i r s should take
the l i n e proposed by him i n C P . 332 (36),
paragraph 17, with the emission o f
sub-paragraph (3) ( i n which he proposed
to urge the Belgian Government to do
t h e i r best to remove the present
2.Q
uncertainty on t h e i r a t t i t u d e towards
co-operation with the French, e t c . ) .
The action he was authorised to take
i s therefore contained i n the following sub­
paragraphs from C P . 332 (36), paragraph
17:­
" ( l ) The French Government having
r a i s e d the question o f Belgium's
r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s under
paragraph 3 of A r t i c l e 16 of
the Covenant i n the matter of
the passage of troops across
Belgian t e r r i t o r y , I would
propose to advise them to agree
with M. van Zeeland to accept as
the best s o l u t i o n that can be
obtained i n the circumstances
the assurance which he i s
apparently ready to give, to the
e f f e c t that he recognises
Belgium's o b l i g a t i o n s under
paragraph 3 of A r t i c l e 16,
provided that Belgium i s alone
judge o f the circumstances when,
and extent to which, she s h a l l
carry out these o b l i g a t i o n s .
(2) I should ask the Belgian
Government (again e i t h e r alone
or j o i n t l y with the French) to
define t h e i r undertaking to
f o r b i d access to t h e i r
t e r r i t o r y , so as to mean that
they w i l l r e s i s t not only a
v i o l a t i o n by the German army
o f Belgian t e r r i t o r y , but also
of Belgian a i r by Serman
aircraft.
This seems p a r t i c u l a r l y
important f o r us.
X
X
X
X
(4) In discussing with the French
the question o f urging the
Belgians to define the extent
to which they are prepared to
co-operate with France, I should
make i t c l e a r that, although I
sympathise with the desire of
the French to remove the present
uncertainty, I am not prepared to
take part i n any d e t a i l e d
discussions with regard to the
actual French proposals
( i . e , communication of defence
plans, and the preparation o f
positions i n Belgian t e r r i t o r y f o r
French troops), since His
Majesty s Government themselves
do not wish to p a r t i c i p a t e i n
such measures o f co-operation.
The l a t t e r desideratum I am
s a t i s f i e d that the Belgian
Government would not i n any
circumstances grant.
1
TEE SITUATION
IN SPAIN.
(Previous
reference
I Cabinet 69 (36)
Conclusion 2).
Proposed
Intervention.
3. The Secretary of State f o r Foreign A f f a i r s
reported that the proposal f o r mediation
i n Spain
had been transmitted to the Governments of^&aaa&e,
Germany, I t a l y and Portugal, and aooropriate a c t i o n
had been taken to t r y and secure the co-operation of
the United States of America.
On the previous
day
he had seen the I t a l i a n and German ambassadors.
The
I t a l i a n ambassador had been the more receptive of the
two.
At any rate he had not adopted a negative
a t t i t u d e and i t was possible that I t a l y might be glad
to support t h i s oroposal i n order to get out of her
embarrassments.
Nothing could be done u n t i l the
r e p l i e s were received.
It would probably be
necessary
to make an announcement of t h i s a c t i o n the same
afternoon.
He had hopes also that the President of
the.United States would make some announcement i n the
near future and that Mr. H u l l , the United States
Secretary of State, might induce the South American
Conference, now meeting i n Buenos Ayres, to give some
support
to the proposal.
IKE SITUATION
IN SPAIN.
The Exchange
of p r i s o n e r s .
4.
The S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e f o r F o r e i g n A f f a i r s was
g l a d t o announce t h a t an arrangement h a d been
concluded
f o r an exchange o f o r i s o n e r s between t h e p a r t i e s i n
: c o n f l i c t i n Spain.
He gave some
particulars.
t o t a l numbers a f f e c t e d were about 4,000.
The
As t h e
number o f B r i t i s h w a r s h i p s a v a i l a b l e t o a s s i s t i n t h e
exchange was i n s u f f i c i e n t , he made t h e s u g g e s t i o n
that
one o r two merchant s h i p s s h o u l d be c h a r t e r e d f o r t h e
purpose.
The s u g g e s t i o n was made t h a t some o f t h e s h i p s
t h a t had been u s e d t o b r i n g t r o o p s home f r o m t h e
Mediterranean
might be d i v e r t e d f o r t h e ourpose.
The C a b i n e t
agreed -
To accept i n p r i n c i p l e t h e p r o p o s a l t h a t
s h i p s s h o u l d be c h a r t e r e d t o a s s i s t i n
t h e exchange o f o r i s o n e r s , s u b j e c t t o
agreement between t h e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e
f o r F o r e i g n A f f a i r s and t h e C h a n c e l l o r
o f t h e Exchequer.
5.
The 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
p;E SITUATION
0 SPAIN.
s a i d t h a t an a p p l i c a t i o n had been r e c e i v e d from t h e
APPli
* r G-as Masks.
S p a n i s h Government f o r the p r o v i s i o n o f gas masks.
c a t i o n
m
0
He
r e a l i s e d t h a t the number of gas masks a v a i l a b l e
was v e r y s m a l l , but n e v e r t h e l e s s he would l i k e t o be
a b l e t o send even a s m a l l consignment.
The Cabinet were reminded t h a t d u r i n g the
A b y s s i n i a n c r i s i s a c e r t a i n number of gas masks had
been sent t o M a l t a .
suggested,
P o s s i b l y some o f t h e s e , i t was
might be made a v a i l a b l e .
The Cabinet were a l s o reminded t h a t at an
e a r l i e r stage the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Committee on
N o n - i n t e r v e n t i o n had agreed i n p r i n c i p l e t h a t t h e r e
was
no o b j e c t i o n t o the
despatch o f gas masks.
The Cab net approved i n u r i n e i p l e t h e
p r o p o s a l f o r t h e despatch of a
consignment of gas masks t o S p a i n ,
p r o v i d e d i t was not on too l a r g e a
s c a l e , and i n v i t e d the S e c r e t a r y o f
S t a t e f o r F o r e i g n A f f a i r s t o arrange
d e t a i l s w i t h the Home S e c r e t a r y .
THE SITUATION
IN SPAIN.
THE BALEARIC
ISLANDS.
(Previous
Reference
Cabinet 57(56)
Conclusion 9).
FT R
6.
The Secretary of State f o r Foreign A f f a i r s
reported concern at the information he was receiving
as to I t a l i a n a c t i v i t i e s i n the Balearic Islands.
He
had suggested to the Admiralty that they should station
a second ship i n these Islands as he had received
information that the B r i t i s h man-of-war which had been
stationed there f o r some time had had a very good effect
In reply to a question, he said that the
population of Majorca v/as probably t i r e d of the war and
there was a danger that i t might opt f o r I t a l i a n
nationality.
The F i r s t Lord of the Admiralty v/as i n favour
of the scheme i n p r i n c i p l e , i f i t was found practicable.
The Cabinet aP"oroved i n p r i n c i p l e the proposal
that a second B r i t i s h ship should be
stationed i n the Balearic Islands subject to
i t s proving practicable.
x
PROPOSED
' FRENCH
TATIONS.
7,
ANGLO­
CONSUL-
(Previous
reference
Cabinet 62 ( 3 6 )
S Conclusion 4 ) .
The S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e f o r F o r e i g n A f f a i r s
s a i d that i f the proposals f o r mediation
i n Spain
were t o b r e a k down, t h e c o n t i n u e d a r r i v a l o f f o r e i g n
v o l u n t e e r s i n S p a i n was l i k e l y
t o prove v e r y awkward.
There might be a case f o r i n v i t i n g t h e F r e n c h Prime
M i n i s t e r and F o r e i g n M i n i s t e r t o v i s i t London t o
discuss the question.
The o p p o r t u n i t y o f such a
v i s i t might a l s o be convenient
f o r discussing the
q u e s t i o n o f B e l g i u m and t h e F r e n c h import
quotas.
He r e c a l l e d t h a t n o t l o n g s i n c e M. Blum
had expressed
a v/ish t o take a h o l i d a y i n England.
He h i m s e l f had d i s c o u r a g e d
i t at the time, but t h i s
had not been w e l l r e c e i v e d by M. Blum.
He d i d not ask f o r a d e c i s i o n t h a t day b u t
warned t h e Cabinet
t h a t he might have t o r a i s e t h e
matter l a t e r .
I n t h e course
of a s h o r t disc\. s s i o n , t h e
s u g g e s t i o n was made t h a t any v i s i t f r o m t h e F r e n c h
Government had b e t t e r be postponed u n t i l f u r t h e r
p r o g r e s s had been made w i t h t h e n e g o t i a t i o n s f o r
improving
r e l a t i o n s w i t h I t a l y s i n c e , as shown by
recent telegrams,
t h e I t a l i a n s were not w e l l d i s p o s e d
towards any a s s o c i a t i o n o f t h e F r e n c h Government i n
any D e c l a r a t i o n t h a t might be reached and they might
view with s u s p i c i o n the French v i s i t .
The
did
Secretary of State f o r Foreign A f f a i r s
not a n t i c i p a t e t h a t t h e I t a l i a n ' n e g o t i a t i o n s would
come t o f r u i t i o n f o r another f o r t n i g h t and r a t h e r
demurred t o t h e postponement.
The C a b i n e t took note t h a t t h e S e c r e t a r y
o f S t a t e f o r F o r e i g n A f f a i r s might r a i s e
t h i s question l a t e r .
THE R O L E O P T H E
BRITTSTTARMY.
THE O R G A N I S A TION, ARMAMENTAND E Q U I P M E N T
OF THE ARMY.
8*
The Cabinet had b e f o r e them the f o l l o w i n g
Memoranda by the S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e f o r War:­
CP.-326 ( 3 6 ) , i n w h i c h he s e t f o r t h
h i s reasons f o r a s k i n g h i s c o l l e a g u e s
to r e a f f i r m t h e i r d e c i s i o n w i t h regard
t o t h e r o l e o f t h e Army as i t appeared
i n the S t a t e m e n t r e l a t i n g t o Defence"
(Cmd. 5107), v i z . : ­
T
(Previous
References:
Cabinet 10
(36), Con­
clusion ( f )
and Cabinet
13 (36), Con­
o l u s i o n 1.)
"The Army has t h r e e main f u n c t i o n s
to perforim
I t has t o m a i n t a i n
g a r r i s o n s overseas i n v a r i o u s
p a r t s o f the Empire, t o p r o v i d e
the m i l i t a r y share i n Home Defence,
i n c l u d i n g A n t i - A i r c r a f t Defence,
Coast Defence and I n t e r n a l S e c u r i t y ,
and l a s t l y , i n time o f emergency o r
war, t o p r o v i d e a p r o p e r l y equipped
f o r c e ready t o proceed overseas
wherever i t may be wanted",
and, i n accordance w i t h t h a t d e c i s i o n ,
t o a u t h o r i s e t h e re-equipment o f t h e
T e r r i t o r i a l Army as and when o p p o r t u n i t y
o c c u r r e d , p r i o r i t y being- g i v e n , o f
^course, t o t h e needs o f the R e g u l a r
Army:
C P . - 3 2 5 ( 3 6 ) , c o n t a i n i n g a summary o f
the p r e s e n t p o s i t i o n as regards the
o r g a n i s a t i o n , armament and equipment
of the Army i n r e l a t i o n t o i t s r e a d i n e s s
f o r war, and a f o r e c a s t o f t h e stages
by w h i c h i t was hoped t o r e - o r g a n i s e
and r e - e q u i p i t on modern l i n e s .
The C h a n c e l l o r o f t h e Exchequer s a i d t h a t
he had i n p r e p a r a t i o n a Memorandum on t h i s s u b j e c t .
Owing t o h i s p r e o c c u p a t i o n
w i t h the q u e s t i o n d e a l t
w i t h i n C o n c l u s i o n 1* he had not yet been a b l e
to f i n i s h i t .
He would be g l a d i f the m a t t e r
c o u l d be Postponed.
The Cabinet
agreed -
To poctpone c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f t h i s
q u e s t i o n f o r a week.
THE ARMY
RESERVE. ;
Expansion o f
Section A.
9.
The C a b i n e t had b e f o r e them a Memorandum b y t h e
S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e f o r War ( C P . - 3 1 9 (36))
a t t e n t i o n t o the v i t a l
calling
n e c e s s i t y of i n c r e a s i n g the
s t r e n g t h o f S e c t i o n A o f t h e Army R e s e r v e , and p r o ­
(Previous
Reference:
Cabinet 58
(36), Con­
clusion 9 &
Appendix.)
p o s i n g t h a t the Reserve F o r c e s and M i l i t i a
A c t , 1898,
as amended b y t h e T e r r i t o r i a l and Reserve F o r c e s A c t ,
1907,
s h o u l d a g a i n be amended t o p r o v i d e t h a t t h e
l i a b i l i t y of a man e n r o l l i n g i n S e c t i o n A t o be c a l l e d
out might extend n o t t o t h e f i r s t two y e a r s o f h i s
Reserve s e r v i c e , as a t p r e s e n t , b u t t o t h e f i r s t
y e a r s , w i t h the p r o v i s o t h a t such l i a b i l i t y
five
should
not extend beyond t h e t e r m of t h e man's normal engage­
ment o f t w e l v e y e a r s
( C o l o u r and Reserve s e r v i c e t a k e n
together).
A f t e r h e a r i n g a statement by t h e S e c r e t a r y
of S t a t e f o r War, who a l s o answered some
on p o i n t s o f d e t a i l , t h e Cabinet
questions
agreed -
To approve t h e p r o p o s a l s o f t h e S e c r e t a r y
of S t a t e f o r War s e t f o r t h i n C P . 319 (36)
summarised above.
LOCATION OF
GOVERNMENT
DEPARTMENTS.
10.
The C a b i n e t resumed t h e i r d i s c u s s i o n , begun a t
the M e e t i n g r e f e r r e d t o i n the m a r g i n , of a Most' S e c r e t
Note b y the M i n i s t e r f o r C o - o r d i n a t i o n of Defence
(Previous
Reference:
Cabinet 69
(36), Con­
olusion 8.)
fr
(CP--320
(36)) c i r c u l a t i n g a Report b y t h e Sub-
Committee
of the Committee
of I m p e r i a l Defence on the
L o c a t i o n of Government Departments i n Time of War.
The R e p o r t had been brought d i r e c t t o t h e C a b i n e t as a
m a t t e r of urgency f o r the r e a s o n t h a t i t i n c l u d e d a
recommendation f o r abandoning t h e new Government
Building i n Whitehall.
A f t e r a s h o r t d i s c u s s i o n t h e C a b i n e t agreed ­
(a) That t h e Report c i r c u l a t e d by t h e M i n i s t e r
f o r C o - O r d i n a t i o n o f Defence i n
C P . 320 (36) s h o u l d be r e f e r r e d t o a
C a b i n e t Committee composed as f o l l o w s : The M i n i s t e r f o r C o - O r d i n a t i o n o f
Defence.
( i n the C h a i r ) .
The C h a n c e l l o r of the Exchequer.
The S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e f o r A i r .
The M i n i s t e r of H e a l t h .
The M i n i s t e r of Labour.
The F i r s t Commissioner o f Works.
Note. I f any of t h e above M i n i s t e r s
f i n d i t i m p o s s i b l e t o a t t e n d any
p a r t i c u l a r meeting, h i s n l a c e c o u l d
be t a k e n by an U n d e r - S e c r e t a r y .
(b) That b e f o r e any recommendation was made
t h e M i n i s t e r at t h e head of any
Department concerned i n t h e d e c i s i o n
s h o u l d be heard.
AGRICULTURE.
Wages of Farm
Servants i n
Scotland.
(Previous
Reference:
Cabinet 55
(36),
Con­
e l u s i o n 16, )
11.
I n accordance w i t h the C o n c l u s i o n mentioned i n
the m a r g i n , the Cabinet had b e f o r e them a Memorandum
by the S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e f o r S c o t l a n d ( C P . - 3 3 3
a s k i n g the a p p r o v a l of h i s c o l l e a g u e s t o the
t i o n and s u b m i s s i o n
of a B i l l
(36))
prepara­
t o the Committee of Hone A f f a i r s
r e l a t i n g t o the c o n d i t i o n s o f employment
and remuneration of f a r m w o r k e r s i n S c o t l a n d , on
l i n e s of the e x i s t i n g E n g l i s h A c t .
Memorandum was
the
A t t a c h e d t o the
a summary o f the main p r o v i s i o n s of
the proposed B i l l .
The S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e a l s o
sought a u t h o r i t y t o make an announcement, at such
time as seemed a p p r o p r i a t e , t h a t l e g i s l a t i o n was
t o be
proceeded w i t h .
The
C h a n c e l l o r o f the Exchequer s a i d t h a t
he d i d not o b j e c t t o the p r o p o s a l i n the B i l l ,
but
w i s h e d t o p l a c e on r e c o r d t h a t he must not be
taken
as a g r e e i n g t o the i m p l i c a t i o n i n paragraph 2
of C P . . 333
(36) t h a t the d e c i s i o n t o proceed w i t h
l e g i s l a t i o n dealing with Scottish agricultural
wages s h o u l d be l i n k e d up w i t h the p o l i c y on the
whole c e r e a l s p o s i t i o n .
Subject t o t h i s the Cabinet
agreed -
To approve the p r o p o s a l of t h e
S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e f o r S c o t l a n d s e t
f o r t h i n C P . 333 (36) and summarised
above.
PUBLIC R E C O R D S
(SCOTLAND)­
12. The Cabinet had b e f o r e thern a Memorandum b y
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 (-CP.-324 ( 3 6 ) )
s e e k i n g t h e a p p r o v a l o f h i s c o l l e a g u e s t o an announce­
ment o f t h e i n t e n t i o n o f t h e Government t o introduce;,
l e g i s l a t i o n , on t h e l i n e s i n d i c a t e d i n h i s Memorandum.,
to make b e t t e r p r o v i s i o n f o r t h e p r e s e r v a t i o n , care
and custody
o f t h e P u b l i c Records o f S c o t l a n d , and t o
the p r e p a r a t i o n and s u b m i s s i o n
i n due course t o t h e
Committee o f Home A f f a i r s o f t h e n e c e s s a r y
The
Bill.
Secretary of State f o r Scotland s a i d that
i n r e g a r d t o paragraph ( 2 ) o f h i s Memorandum, i t
s h o u l d be n o t e d t h a t any t r a n s f e r o f r e c o r d s t o t h e
Keeper c o u l d o n l y t a k e p l a c e b y agreement (e.g. on
t h e p a r t o f t h e Department -oossessing t h e r e c o r d s ) .
I n a d d i t i o n i t was i n t e n d e d t o o r o v i d e t h a t no
t r a n s f e r o f documents i n t h e charge and super­
intendance
o f t h e Master o f t h e R o l l s s h o u l d
p l a c e without h i s p r e v i o u s consent.
take
As regards
Edward I r e c o r d s (some n i n e documents) t h e Master
o f t h e R o l l s agreed i n p r i n c i p l e t h a t t h e s e might
be r e t u r n e d t o S c o t l a n d , as b e i n g p r o p e r l y S c o t t i s h
records;
but he p r e f e r r e d t h a t i n t h i s case t h e r e
s h o u l d be a d e f i n i t e amendment i n t h e B i l l and i t
was i n t e n d e d t o p r o v i d e f o r t h i s .
The B i l l when
d r a f t e d would be submitted t o t h e Master o f t h e
R o l l s , and would be a d j u s t e d by agreement w i t h him.
The Cabinet agreed t h e o r o p o s a l o f t h e
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 as s e t
f o r t h i n C P . 324 (36) and summarised
above, s u b j e c t t o t h e amendment mentioned.
9£ The a c t u a l d e t a i l s o f t h i s passage were
communicated, t o t h e S e c r e t a r y by t h e 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 a f t e r t h e Meeting.
IMMUNITY OF
STATS-OWmD
13.
The C a b i n e t had b e f o r e them a Note b y t h e
SHIPS.
P r e s i d e n t o f t h e Board of Trade ( C P . - 3 3 1 ( 3 6 ) )
Brussels Con­
vent Ion on.
asking h i s colleagues t o authorise the formal
(Previous
Reference:
Cabinet 15
(27), Con­
e l u s i o n 1* )
ratifica­
t i o n o f t h e B r u s s e l s C o n v e n t i o n on Immunity o f S t a t e ­
owned S h i p s , and t h e p r e p a r a t i o n and submission t o
Parliament
of the l e g i s l a t i o n i n d i c a t e d i n paragraph 5
of an a t t a c h e d Memorandum agreed b y t h e L o r d
C h a n c e l l o r ' s Department, t h e F o r e i g n O f f i c e , t h e
S c o t t i s h O f f i c e , the Treasury
Board o f Trade.
S o l i c i t o r s and the
He a l s o suggested t h a t t h e C a b i n e t
should agree, h a v i n g r e g a r d t o t h e Law O f f i c e r s '
Opinions
s e t out i n p a r a g r a p h 14 o f t h e Memorandum,
t h a t l e g i s l a t i o n t o d e a l w i t h c l a i m s made i n t h i s
c o u n t r y a g a i n s t v e s s e l s owned b y H i s Majesty' s
Government might be d i s p e n s e d
with.
The P r e s i d e n t o f t h e Board of Trade asked
f o r postponement o f t h i s q u e s t i o n .
The L o r d
C h a n c e l l o r was known t o take a g r e a t i n t e r e s t i n
i t and t h e r e was a p o s s i b i l i t y t h a t he might be
p r e s e n t t o d i s c u s s i t w i t h i n t h e not d i s t a n t
future.
The
Cabinet
agreed -
To postpone c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f t h i s
question f o r the present.
THE ANNUAL
HOLIDAY BILL.­
/previous
reference
Cabinet 67 (36)
C o n c l u s i o n 9).
14.
A l t h o u g h t h i s B i l l had been s t r u c k o f f t h e
Agenda Paper, t h e M i n i s t e r o f Labour asked t h e
C a b i n e t t o t a k e note t h a t t h e B i l l would n o t come
b e f o r e P a r l i a m e n t t h i s week and t h a t he was p r e p a r i n g
a Memorandum c n t h e s u b j e c t .
ROAD TRAFFIC
BILL­
15. The Cabinet had under consideration the Road
T r a f f i c B i l l , introduced by a Private Member and
(previous
Reference:
Cabinet 11
( 3 4 ) , Con­
elusion 12. ;
(v)7
down f o r Second Reading i n the House of Commons on
Friday, December 11th.
The Minister of Transport
reported that t h i s
was a B i l l to which i t was desirable to give
support.
He was asked to arrange that the Debate
should occupy as much time as possible but he said
the B i l l was nearly sure to receive general
assent
and there was l i t t l e room f o r discussion.
The Cabinet agreed That the Minister of Transport should
be authorised to suoport the Road
Traffic B i l l .
3y
THE INHERITANCE
(FAMILY PROVISION) BILL.
(Previous
Reference:
Cabinet 16
(34) Con­
olusioh 5.)
?
16. The Cabinet had under consideration the
Inheritance (Family Provision) B i l l , introduced by
a Private Member and down f o r Second Reading i n the
House of Commons on Friday, December 11th.
The Cabinet agreed That t h i s B i l l should be l e f t f o r
discussion by "back benchers" and that
the Government should exnress no view.
THE HOME AND
BMPIRE SETTLEMBNT BILL.
(Previous
Reference:
Cabinet 7
(35), Con­
elusion 11.)
17. The Cabinet bad under consideration, the Home
and Empire Settlement B i l l , introduced by a Private
Member and down f o r Second Reading i n the House of
Commons on Friday, December 11th.
As i t was anticipated that t h i s B i l l would
not be reached no discussion by the Cabinet took
place.
1
INDIA.
Situation i n
North W a z i r i ­
stan.
(Previous
Eeferenoe:
Cabinet 43
(35), Con­
olusion 4.)
18. The Cabinet took note of a. Memorandum by the
Secretary of State for India (C.P.-330 (36)) contain­
i n g a b r i e f account of the events connected, with the
attacks made by l o c a l tribesmen on B r i t i s h forces i n
North Waziristan, and the measures which the Government
of India, with the approval of the Foreign Office and
himself, were taking to deal with the r e s u l t i n g
situation.
23 9
jOQD SUPPLY
0 l'IME OP
19.
Just "before the Cabinet adjourned and a f t e r
the completion of the second discussion on the subject
of the King 's intention to marry, the Minister'for
1
(previous
Reference:
Cabinet 58 (36)
Conclusion 9.)
Co-Ordination of Defence raised, as a matter of
urgency, an important question relating to food,
supply i n time of war on which he desired a --$ery
early decision.
After a short discussion, the Cabinet
agreed:
That the Minister f o r Co-Ordination of
Defence should, i n the f i r s t instance,
discuss h i s proposal with the following
Ministers:The
The
The
The
t Whitehall Gardens, S.W.1.
9th December, 1936.
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Secretary of State f o r Scotland
President o f the Board e f Trade
Minister of Agriculture & Fisheries.