(c) crown copyright
Catalogue Reference:CAB/23/4
Image Reference:0060
Printed -for the War
Cabinet.
December
1917.
S KG R E T .
WAR CABINET,
Minutes
286.
of a Meeting of the War Cabinet held at 10, Downing Street,
Thursday,
November 29, 1917, at 1 T 3 0 A . M .
S.W.,
on
Present:
T h e R i g h t H o n . A.
The
Right
BONAR LAW,
Hon. the E A R L CTJRZON
K . G . , G.C.S.I., G-.C.I.E
OF
KEDLESTON,
T h e Right Hon. G
.N. BARNES,
M.P.
M . P . (in the
Chair).
j Lieutenant-General
J.
C.
SMUTS,
The Right
M.P.
the
Right
Hon.
CARSON,
K.C.,
KG.
Hon.
SIR
E.
T h e following Avere also p r e s e n t
T h e R i g h t Hon. L O R D R. C E C I L , K . C . ,
M.P., A c t i n g S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for
F o r e i g n Affairs.
T h e R i g h t Hon. t h e E A R L O F D E R B Y , KG-.,
G . C . V . O . , C . B . , S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for
War.
Major - G e n e r a l F. B. M A U R I C E ,
D i r e c t o r of Military O p e r a t i o n s .
C.B.,
A. C. G E D D E S , K . C . B . , M i n i s t e r of
- N a t i o n a l Service (for M i n u t e 10).
SIR
T h e R i g h t H o n . G . H. R O B E R T S , M.P.,
Minister of L a b o u r (for M i n u t e 10).
SIR
DAVID
K.C.B.,
M i n i s t r y of
PermaLabour
SHACELETON,
nent Secretary,
(for M i n u t e 10).
V i c e - A d m i r a l S I R R. E . W E M Y S S , K . C . B . ,
C . M . G . , M.V.O., D e p u t y F i r s t Sea L o r d .
Lieutenant-Colonel W.
Captain the Hon. W.
D A L L Y J O N E S , C.M.G.,
ORMSBY-GORE,
M.P., Assistant
F l e e t P a y m a s t e r P . H . R o w , R . N . , Assistant
Mr.
THOMAS JONES,
Assistant
Acting
Secretary.
Secretary.
Secretary.
Secretary.
The Western Front.
i . T H E D i r e c t o r of M i l i t a r y O p e r a t i o n s r e p o r t e d t h a t in t h e
C a m b r a i t h e a t r e t h e G e r m a n s h a d , a t t h e c o m m e n c e m e n t of o u r
offensive, 3 divisions. S i n c e t h e c o m m e n c e m e n t of t h e offensive
t h e y h a d b r o u g h t u p 10 f u r t h e r divisions. Of t h e s e 1 3 d i v i s i o n s 6
h a d been withdrawn, leaving 7 in the line. Sir Douglas H a i g h a d
e n g a g e d 10 of h i s divisions, a n d h a d w i t h d r a w n 2, l e a v i n g 8 in t h e
line. O u r divisions w e r e s t r o n g e r t h a n t h e G e r m a n divisions.
The Invasion of
y-
2. T h e D i r e c t o r of Military O p e r a t i o n s i n t i m a t e d t h a t t h e r e w e r e
i n d i c a t i o n s of a n e n e m y a t t a c k on t h e R i v e r P i a v e a t t h e p o i n t
i m m e d i a t e l y s o u t h of t h e sector o c c u p i e d b y o u r t r o o p s . T h e e n e m y
h a d t h r o w n eleven b r i d g e s across different a r m s of t h e r i v e r , which
in t h a t n e i g h b o u r h o o d form a n u m b e r of i s l a n d s . A l l e n e m y t r o o p s
in t h e t h r e a t e n e d a r e a - w e r e A u s t r i a n s .
I t a l
[1365-286]
B
Palestine.
East Africa.
Shipping Losses.
3. T h e D i r e c t o r of Military O p e r a t i o n s r e p o r t e d t h e r e c e i p t of a
full s u m m a r y of t h e s i t u a t i o n to d a t e from G e n e r a l A l l e n b y .
The
l a t t e r e s t i m a t e d t h e T u r k i s h forces opposed to h i m on t h e 31st
O c t o b e r at 4 1 , 0 0 0 rifles a n d 300 g u n s . He e s t i m a t e d h i s s u b s e q u e n t
c a p t u r e s at 10,000 p r i s o n e r s a n d SO g u n s , t h e n u m b e r of e n e m y
k i l l e d a n d w o u n d e d b e i n g p r o b a b l y a b o u t 15,000. I n a d d i t i o n to
t h e s e h e h a d c a p t u r e d 20 a e r o p l a n e s a n d a g r e a t q u a n t i t y of a m m u ­
n i t i o n a n d stores. N o e n e m y aircraft h a d been seen i n t h e air for
m a n y d a y s . H i s own position h e e s t i m a t e d as follows : O n 31st
O c t o b e r h e h a d 9 6 , 0 0 0 effectives, a n d h e still h a d 7S,000. T h e
b r u n t of the w o r k h a d fallen u p o n t w o m o u n t e d divisions a n d u p o n
t w o i n f a n t r y d i v i s i o n s , viz., t h e 5 2 n d a n d t h e 75th. T h e l a t t e r t w o
r e q u i r e d a rest, a n d w e r e now b e i n g relieved b y o t h e r divisions.
T h e s e w e r e i n excelleut order, w i t h t h e exception of a division
w h i c h h a d r e c e n t l y a r r i v e d from Salonica, i n w h i c h m a l a r i a w a s
s o m e w h a t p r e v a l e n t . T h e railway c o m m u n i c a t i o n w i t h E g y p t now
e x t e n d e d to a p o i n t 10 m i l e s n o r t h of Gaza, a n d w a s b e i n g p u s h e d
on. S u p p l i e s w e r e b e i n g l a n d e d at t h e m o u t h of t h e W a d i S u k e i r .
A m o n g t h e c a p t u r e s from t h e e n e m y w e r e six locomotives a n d
a n u m b e r of w a g g o n s . T h e m a i n r e m a i n i n g e n e m y force w a s
c o n c e n t r a t e d i n t h e n e i g h b o u r h o o d of J e r u s a l e m , and, o w i n g to h i s
g r e a t superiority in n u m b e r s , material, and aeroplanes, General
A l l e n b y w o u l d s h o r t l y b e i n a p o s i t i o n to deal w i t h t h e m .
Should
h e p r o v e successful i n c a p t u r i n g J e r u s a l e m h e would b e a b l e to t a k e
u p a s t r o n g l i n e s o m e w h a t to t h e n o r t h of it, b e t w e e n t h e J o r d a n a n d
t h e sea, w h i c h w o u l d h a v e t h e a d v a n t a g e of h a v i n g a l a t e r a l r a i l w a y
i n i t s r e a r , viz., t h e J a f f a - J e r u s a l e m R a i l w a y , w h i c h c o u l d b e easily
and quickly repaired.
Questioned regarding enemy reinforcements, General Maurice
s t a t e d t h a t it w a s e s t i m a t e d t h a t t h e r e w e r e in t h e v i c i n i t y of A l e p p o
one w e a k G e r m a n division a n d t w o w e a k T u r k i s h divisions.
One
o t h e r w e a k G e r m a n d i v i s i o n w a s b e l i e v e d to b e n o w m o v i n g to
N a b b u s . T h e G e n e r a l Staff c a l c u l a t e d t h a t i t w o u l d t a k e from
f o u r t e e n to s i x t e e n d a y s to move a T u r k i s h division from A l e p p o to
N a b l u s , from w h i c h p o i n t t h e y w o u l d h a v e to m a r c h s o u t h . I t w a s
s t a t e d t h a t t h e T u r k i s h forces l a t e l y at H e b r o n h a d r e t i r e d on
J e r u s a l e m . A r r a n g e m e n t s h a d b e e n m a d e for A r a b co-operation i n
b l o w i n g u p p o r t i o n s of t h e H e d j a z R a i l w a y east of t h e J o r d a n , a n d
also b e t w e e n A l e p p o a n d D a m a s c u s . N e a r l y ,all t h e t r i b e s w e r e
c o - o p e r a t i n g , b u t t h e r e a p p e a r e d l i t t l e p r o s p e c t of t h e D r u s e s
c o m i n g t o our a s s i s t a n c e u n t i l t h e B r i t i s h a d v a n c e h a d r e a c h e d
a more northerly point.
I t w a s p o i n t e d out t h a t , j u d g i n g b y e x p e r i e n c e i n o t h e r t h e a t r e s
of t h e w a r , G e n e r a l A l l e n b y ' s s u p e r i o r i t y in t h e a i r s h o u l d p r o v e
a valuable adjunct in embarrassing a retiring T u r k i s h a r m y by
e n g a g i n g t h e m from a low elevation w h i l s t t h e y w e r e on t h e m o v e
o n t h e i r coastal line.
General Maurice stated that he gathered that General Allenby
h a d b e e n m a k i n g full u s e of t h i s a r m , b u t t h a t t h e h i g h l a n d s of
J u d e a a n d S a m a r i a w e r e of s u c h a n a t u r e t h a t it w a s e x t r e m e l y
difficult to find l a n d i n g g r o u n d s . G e n e r a l A l l e n b y h a d all t h e
a e r o p l a n e s h e h a d a s k e d for, a n d no f u r t h e r d e m a n d s h a d b e e n m a d e .
.
4 . T h e D i r e c t o r of Military O p e r a t i o n s d r e w t h e a t t e n t i o n of
t h e W a r C a b i n e t t o t h e p u b l i s h e d c o m m u n i q u e in t h a t m o r n i n g ' s
p r e s s ; s i n c e t h e n a f u r t h e r success h a d b e e n r e p o r t e d , a n d t h e only
e n e m y forces n o w i n t h e field in t h i s t h e a t r e w e r e 2,000 m e n u n d e r
v o n L e t t o w , n o w on t h e P o r t u g u e s e frontier.
5. T h e D e p u t y F i r s t Sea Lord r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e r e h a d b e e n
h e a v y losses at sea b y t h e action of e n e m y s u b m a r i n e s b e t w e e n
n o o n 2 7 t h a n d n o o n 2 8 t h i n s t a n t . 20,932 B r i t i s h a n d 12,055 Allied
t o n s of s h i p p i n g h a d b e e n s u n k ; a n d 10,S8o tons of B r i t i s h s h i p p i n g
d a m a g e d by torpedo, b u t it w a s hoped the latter could be repaired.
Naval Co-operation
in Palestine.
Russia.
n a c
[
6. T h e D e p u t y F i r s t Sea L o r d r e p o r t e d t h a t H.M.S. " L i z a r d "
fi [
p a r t y of T u r k s from t h e shore to t h e n o r t h of Jaffa.
rex
a t
a
7. T h e W a r C a b i n e t h a d before t h e m a n u m b e r of t e l e g r a m s
from P e t r o g r a d a n d J a s s y , i n c l u d i n g t h e following —
No. 1874 from Sir G . B u c h a n a n , d a t e d 2 6 t h N o v e m b e r .
I Q
7o
J O I O
, ,
,,
,,
,j
,,
,,
"SSI ,,
,,
,,
27th
706
,, Sir G. B a r c l a y ,
., 2 6 t h
,,
710
-*7th
711.
,,
t h e m i l i t a r y attache a t J a s s y , d a t e d
November.
c
,,
27th
L o r d R o b e r t Cecil s t a t e d t h a t , a p a r t from t h e l a r g e i s s u e s of
policy r a i s e d in these t e l e g r a m s , t h e r e w e r e t w o m i n o r q u e s t i o n s
w h i c h could be s e p a r a t e l y dealt with. T h e first w a s t h e d e m a n d
p u t forward b y IVI. T r o t s k i for t h e release of C h i c h i r i n a n d Petroff,
w h o are interned in t h i s c o u n t r y , a n d t h e v i r t u a l t h r e a t of r e p r i s a l s
against B r i t i s h subjects i n R u s s i a should t h e t w o a g i t a t o r s n o t be
released. T o release t h e m a t T r o t s k i ' s b i d d i n g "would g r e a t l y a d d
to h i s p r e s t i g e , a n d would b e t a n t a m o u n t t o a r e c o g n i t i o n of his
G o v e r n m e n t . T h e second q u e s t i o n was t h e c o m p l a i n t m a d e b y
Sir G. B u c h a n a n t h a t G e n e r a l B a r t e r h a d p u t t h e A m b a s s a d o r i n a
v e r y e m b a r r a s s i n g position by t h e t h r e a t of " serious c o n s e q u e n c e s , "
w h i c h a c c o m p a n i e d t h e n o t e to t h e C o m m a n d e r - i n - C h i e f p r o t e s t i n g
a g a i n s t Russia's infraction of t h e 1914 A g r e e m e n t .
T h e Director of Military O p e r a t i o n s said t h a t p r o b a b l y G e n e r a l
B a r t e r w a s influenced b y t h e fact t h a t M. C l e m e n c e a u h a d w i r e d to
t h e H e a d of t h e F r e n c h Mission t e l l i n g him to t a k e e n e r g e t i c action,
and adding that the Commander-in-Chief would be supported in any
action h e took a g a i n s t P e t r o g r a d .
The W a r Cabinet decided that—
(a.) No notice s h o u l d b e t a k e n of M. T r o t s k i ' s r e q u e s t to
r e l e a s e C h i c h i r i n a n d Petroff.
(b.) T h e Secretary of S t a t e for W a r s h o u l d e n q u i r e into the
complaint against General Barter, and that a suitable
t e l e g r a m s h o u l d b e s e n t to Sir G. B u c h a n a n .
The W a r Cabinet next considered the general Russian situation,
especially as set forth i n t e l e g r a m s Nos. 1878 a n d 1881 from
P e t r o g r a d a n d No. 711 from J a s s y . M. T r o t s k i h a d i s s u e d to t h e
Military A t t a c h e s of Allied P o w e r s , on 2 7 t h N o v e m b e r , a n o t e s t a t i n g
t h a t h e a n d his s u p p o r t e r s w e r e e n d e a v o u r i n g to b r i n g a b o u t a
general and not a separate armistice, but that they m i g h t be driven
to a s e p a r a t e a r m i s t i c e b y t h e Allies if t h e y r e f u s e d to n e g o t i a t e . If
t h e Allied G o v e r n m e n t s w o u l d n o t r e c o g n i s e t h e B o l s h e v i k s t h e
l a t t e r w o u l d a p p e a l t o t h e p e o p l e s as a g a i n s t t h e i r G o v e r n m e n t s .
Sir G. B u c h a n a n u r g e d t h a t a r e p l y s h o u l d b e i s s u e d i m m e d i a t e l y
to t h i s " insolent c o m m u n i c a t i o n , " p o i n t i n g o u t t h a t T r o t s k i ' s
proposal for a g e n e r a l a r m i s t i c e r e a c h e d t h e B r i t i s h E m b a s s y
n i n e t e e n h o u r s after t h e C o m m a n d e r - i n - C h i e f h a d o p e n e d p o u r p a r l e r s
w i t h the e n e m y , a n d t h a t t h e Allies w e r e d e t e r m i n e d to c o n t i n u e t h e
w a r u n t i l a p e r m a n e n t p e a c e h a d b e e n obtained. Sir G. B u c h a n a n
f u r t h e r u r g e d t h e G o v e r n m e n t t h a t , as t h e s i t u a t i o n w a s n o w
d e s p e r a t e , it w a s a d v i s a b l e to set R u s s i a free from h e r a g r e e m e n t
w i t h t h e Allies, so t h a t s h e could act a s s h e chose, a n d d e c i d e to
p u r c h a s e peace o n G e r m a n y ' s t e r m s or fight o n w i t h t h e Allies.
T h e policy of t h e B o l s h e v i k s w a s to divide R u s s i a a n d B r i t a i n , a n d
so p a v e t h e w a y for w h a t w o u l d v i r t u a l l y b e a G e r m a n p r o t e c t o r a t e
over t h e former. T h e c o u r s e h e r e c o m m e n d e d , if a d o p t e d , would
m a k e it i m p o s s i b l e for t h e B o l s h e v i k s t o r e p r o a c h t h e Allies w i t h
d r i v i n g R u s s i a n s o l d i e r s to s l a u g h t e r for t h e i r I m p e r i a l i s t a i m s .
In
t h e t e l e g r a m sent to t h e Chief of t h e I m p e r i a l G e n e r a l Staff, t h e
m i l i t a r y a t t a c h e a t J a s s y p r o p o s e d t h a t , if it w e r e f o u n d t h a t K a l e d i n
w a s well-disposed to t h e Allies, a F r e n c h a n d B r i t i s h Mission, fully
a c c r e d i t e d , s h o u l d be s e n t to h i s h e a d q u a r t e r s ; t h a t
financial
s u p p o r t u p to IO,000,OOOZ. should h e g u a r a n t e e d to Kaleclin ; a n d ,
g e n e r a l l y , t h a t t h e B r i t i s h Mission s h o u l d h a v e full p o w e r to act
w i t h o u t w a i t i n g i n s t r u c t i o n s from E n g l a n d .
T h e W a r Cabinet were informed that a message h a d been
s t o p p e d b y t h e P r e s s B u r e a u from T r o t s k i , a d d r e s s e d to t h e
A m b a s s a d o r s of N o r w a y , H o l l a n d , S p a i n , S w e d e n , S w i t z e r l a n d , a n d
Denmark, asking that pressure should be b r o u g h t to bear by the
Socialist a n d w o r k i n g - c l a s s o r g a n i s a t i o n s in t h e s e c o u n t r i e s i n favour
of p e a c e .
L o r d R o b e r t Cecil said it w a s i m p o r t a n t t h a t t h e C a b i n e t s h o u l d
a r r i v e a t a decision at t h e earliest p o s s i b l e m o m e n t on t h e q u e s t i o n s
r a i s e d i n t h e a b o v e t e l e g r a m s . Kaleclin was i n c o m m a n d of t h e
r e s o u r c e s of Russia, a n d if h e a n d h i s C o s s a c k s could b e u n i t e d
a g a i n s t t h e G e r m a n s , s u p p l i e s w o u l d t h e r e b y be p r e v e n t e d from
r e a c h i n g t h e e n e m y . T h e r e w a s no e v i d e n c e to s h o w t h a t t h e
Bolsheviks had anything like general support throughout Russia.
T h e r e w a s r e a s o n for t h i n k i n g t h a t t h e p e a s a n t s w e r e a g a i n s t t h e
B o l s h e v i k s . K a l e d i n h a d wdth h i m Alexieff, a n d p o s s i b l y Savinkoff
a n d R o d z i a n k o . T h e one m a n w i t h a n o r g a n i s e d force w a s K a l e d i n ,
a n d , as Chief of t h e C o s s a c k s , h e h a d g r e a t p r e s t i g e . H e ( L o r d
R o b e r t Cecil) w o u l d s e n d G e n e r a l B a l l a r d to K a l e d i n , a n d , if h e
found Kaleclin g e n u i n e l y in favour of t h e Allies, G e n e r a l B a l l a r d
s h o u l d b e a u t h o r i s e d to t a k e w h a t s t e p s h e d e e m e d wise, a n d to
i n c u r e x p e n d i t u r e u p t o 10,000,000Z.
S o m e m e m b e r s of t h e W a r C a b i n e t w e r e i m p r e s s e d w i t h t h e
o b j e c t i o n s to t h e policy of e n t e r i n g i n t o active co-operation
with Kaledin without further
information.
Steps h a d
been
t a k e n t o o b t a i n s u c h i n f o r m a t i o n , b u t it h a d n o t y e t b e e n
r e c e i v e d . L i t t l e w a s definitely k n o w n of K a l e d i n ' s p e r s o n a l i t y , a n d
t h e r e w e r e s i g n s t h a t t h e Cossacks w e r e n o t p r e p a r e d t o fight. T h e
s c h e m e , on G e n e r a l BallarcTs a d m i s s i o n , w a s n o t o n e w h i c h c o u l d
b e r e g a r d e d as hopeful, a n d i t s o n l y r e s u l t m i g h t b e to d r i v e t h e
R u s s i a n G o v e r n m e n t definitely i n t o t h e a r m s of G/ermany. If w e
w a i t e d for a s h o r t t i m e w e s h o u l d l e a r n t h e t e r m s offered b y
G e r m a n y , a n d t h e s e m i g h t open t h e eyes of t h e R u s s i a n p e o p l e
to w h a t a G e r m a n p e a c e r e a l l y m e a n t .
A l t e r n a t i v e c o u r s e s o p e n w e r e t o follow Sir G. B u c h a n a n ' s
a d v i c e or to w a i t a little l o n g e r in t h e h o p e t h a t the s i t u a t i o n w o u l d
s u b s e q u e n t l y b e c o m e clearer. I n a n y case, t h e s u b j e c t w a s o n e
w h i c h s h o u l d b e r e f e r r e d t o t h e conference n o w m e e t i n g i n P a r i s .
A t t e n t i o n w a s called to t h e p o s i t i o n of t h e R o u m a n i a n a r m y ,
a n d s o m e m e m b e r s t h o u g h t t h e r e w a s l e s s objection t o s e c u r i n g t h e
s u p p o r t of Kaleclin for t h e R o u m a n i a n A r m y t h a n for a n o p e n
e x p e d i t i o n a g a i n s t t h e Bolsheviks. A g a i n s t t h e policy of drift, i t
w a s u r g e d t h a t for t h e p a s t e i g h t m o n t h s w e h a d s e d u l o u s l y
r e f r a i n e d from i n t e r v e n i n g in t h e policy of t h e R u s s i a n G o v e r n ­
m e n t , a n d w e w e r e now c o n f r o n t e d w i t h t h e fact t h a t t h e R u s s i a n s
w e r e n e g o t i a t i n g w i t h t h e G e r m a n G o v e r n m e n t . I t h a d also to b e
r e m e m b e r e d t h a t Kaleclin h a d no i n f o r m a t i o n as to w h a t w e r e o u r
views o n t h e R u s s i a n s i t u a t i o n .
I t w a s g e n e r a l l y a g r e e d t h a t , if K a l e d i n w e r e a p p r o a c h e d , t w o
Missions w o u l d n o t b e r e q u i r e d .
General Ballard and a F r e n c h
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s h o u l d suffice.
T h e W a r C a b i n e t decided t h a t —
r
T h e A c t i n g S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for F o r e i g n Affairs s h o u l d s e n d
a m e s s a g e to P a r i s c a l l i n g t h e a t t e n t i o n of t h e P r i m e
Minister, Mr. Balfour,. a n d L o r d M i l n e r to t h e t e l e g r a m s
r e f e r r e d to above, a n d s h o u l d a d d t h a t t h e m e m b e r s of
t h e W a r C a b i n e t in L o n d o n w e r e d i v i d e d in o p i n i o n a s
to t h e i m m e d i a t e s t e p s to b e t a k e n , some b e i n g in favour
of a u t h o r i s i n g G e n e r a l B a l l a r d to p r o c e e d on t h e lines
i n d i c a t e d "by h i m , o t h e r s b e i n g in favour of w a i t i n g u n t i l
f u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n w a s received.
8. Sir E d w a r d Carson called a t t e n t i o n to a n u m b e r of wireless
m e s s a g e s from R u s s i a - c h i e f l y Bolshevik p r o p a g a n d a — w h i c h b a d
b e e n received by t h e P r e s s B u r e a u , t h e p u b l i c a t i o n of w h i c h h e h a d
t e m p o r a r i l y stopped. H e r e a d e x a m p l e s of t h e m e s s a g e s , a n d also
t h e following e x t r a c t from a letter w h i c h h a d b e e n received from
S i r F r a n k S w e t t e n h a m :—
-
" T h e whole q u e s t i o n of c e n s o r i n g or s t o p p i n g s u c h p r e s s
m e s s a g e s as a r e now c o m i n g to t h i s office in r e g a r d to R u s s i a n
affairs is so full of difficulty t h a t t h e r e a p p e a r s to b e only o n e
way to deal w i t h it, a n d t h a t is to a u t h o r i s e u s to p a s s , stop,
o r censor all such m e s s a g e s at o u r discretion, w i t h o u t r e g a r d
to e x i s t i n g i n s t r u c t i o n s t h a t c a b l e g r a m s d e a l i n g w i t h foreign
affairs are to b e p a s s e d to the a d d r e s s e e s u n c e n s o r e d .
If
t h i s is done, we t h i n k it would b e n e c e s s a r y to m a k e s o m e
p u b l i c a n n o u n c e m e n t on t h e subject, t h o u g h w h a t c o n s t i t u t e s
' foreign affairs' in t h i s connection is almost i m p o s s i b l e t o
d e t e r m i n e . T h e a l t e r n a t i v e to this course is to p a s s e v e r y t h i n g
of t h e kind w h i c h c o m e s from a p r e s s c o r r e s p o n d e n t a n d
c a n n o t b e dealt w i t h o n g r o u n d s o t h e r t h a n those of foreign
affairs."
S i r E d w a r d Carson explained t h a t some of t h e m e s s a g e s w e r e
a p p e a l s to the p e o p l e as a g a i n s t t h e i r G o v e r n m e n t s , a n d w e r e i n
m a n y r e s p e c t s of a violent c h a r a c t e r .
H e had discussed the
q u e s t i o n w i t h Mr. Balfour a n d L o r d M i l n e r before t h e i r d e p a r t u r e
for P a r i s , a n d they w e r e a g a i n s t p u b l i c a t i o n .
L o r d R o b e r t Cecil said t h a t in t h e a u t u m n of 1915 he h a d
o b t a i n e d a u t h o r i t y to r e m o v e t h e c e n s o r s h i p on F o r e i g n Office
m a t t e r s , w i t h certain e x c e p t i o n s , s u c h as, e.g., a t e l e g r a m g o i n g
t h r o u g h t h i s c o u n t r y for a f o r e i g n c o u n t r y . I n h i s view t h e policy
h a d justified itself, a n d it w a s b e t t e r to t h r o w t h e onus on to t h e
p r e s s a n d let t h e m r i s k p r o s e c u t i o n u n d e r t h e Defence of t h e R e a l m
Act.
H e w o u l d allow t h e p u b l i c a t i o n of t h e s e p r o p a g a n d i s t
m e s s a g e s , for, if w i t h h e l d now, they w o u l d l e a k o u t l a t e r a n d t h e
G o v e r n m e n t would be blamed for s u p p r e s s i n g t h e m .
A g a i n s t this view it w a s u r g e d t h a t t h e m e s s a g e s w e r e p r o p a ­
g a n d a from a G o v e r n m e n t w h i c h was n o t r e c o g n i s e d b y us or t h e
Allies. A f u r t h e r r e a s o n for s t o p p i n g p u b l i c a t i o n w a s t h e Con­
ference now meeting at Paris.
It w a s r e p o r t e d t h a t c o m p l a i n t s h a d b e e n r e c e i v e d from s o m e
of t h e n e w s p a p e r s t h a t t h e y w e r e only allowed to see m u t i l a t e d copies
of s o m e of t h e i r t e l e g r a m s .
T h e W a r Cabinet decided t h a t —
F o r t h e p r e s e n t t h e m e s s a g e s above r e f e r r e d to should n o t b e
p u b l i s h e d , a n d t h a t t h e P r e s s B u r e a u s h o u l d b e allowed to
show t h e m e s s a g e s to t h e n e w s p a p e r s to w h i c h t h e y w e r e
a d d r e s s e d , at t h e i r discretion.
86]
C
Supreme W a r
Council:
Relations between
A r m y Council and
British P e r m a n e n t
Military
Representative.
Co-ordination
C o m m i t t e e for
Labour Disputes.
9. W i t h reference to W a r C a b i n e t 276, M i n u t e 3, a n d P a p e r
W . P . 67, t h e l a t t e r b e i n g a r e c o r d of t h e p r o c e e d i n g s of a M e e t i n g
of t h e A r m y Council h e l d on t h e 19th N o v e m b e r , 1917, r e l a t i v e t o
t h e r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n t h e A r m y Council a n d t h e B r i t i s h P e r m a n e n t
Military R e p r e s e n t a t i v e , t h e W a r C a b i n e t d i r e c t e d —
T h e S e c r e t a r y to i n f o r m t h e A r m y C o u n c i l t h a t t h e W a r C a b i n e t
h a d t a k e n note of t h e M i n u t e i n q u e s t i o n of t h e A r m y
C o u n c i l a n d of t h e i r d e s i r e to co-operate cordially i n t h e
d e v e l o p m e n t of t h e work of t h e S u p r e m e W a r C o u n c i l w i t h
a view to better c o - o r d i n a t i o n of effort i n t h e c o n d u c t of t h e
war, a n d t h a t t h e W a r C a b i n e t feels a s s u r e d t h a t , w i t h t h i s
co-operation, t h e n e w m a c h i n e r y c a n b e m a d e t o w o r k
successfully i n s p i t e of t h e difficulties r e f e r r e d to b y t h e
A r m y Council.
10. W i t h reference to W a r C a b i n e t 2 8 5 , M i n u t e 1 3 , Mr. B a r n e s
informed the W a r Cabinet that a meeting h a d been held o n t h e
p r e v i o u s e v e n i n g in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e W a r C a b i n e t decision, a t
w h i c h Sir A u c k l a n d G e d d e s p r o p o s a l h a d b e e n t h o r o u g h l y d i s c u s s e d ,
a n d t h a t , a l t h o u g h it w a s a d m i t t e d t h a t t h e o r e t i c a l l y it m i g h t b e a
b e t t e r s c h e m e , t h e C o m m i t t e e did not c o n s i d e r t h a t it would b e
p r a c t i c a l in its w o r k i n g . H e a d d e d t h a t m a n y of t h e t r a d e s w e r e
n o t organised sufficiently to c a r r y out t h e s c h e m e on t h e l i n e s
p r o p o s e d by t h e Minister of N a t i o n a l Service, a n d t h a t t h e C o m m i t t e e
felt t h a t for all p r a c t i c a l p u r p o s e s t h e s c h e m e as set out i n P a p e r
G . T . - 2 7 7 2 w a s t h e only one t h a t t h e y could r e c o m m e n d for a d o p t i o n .
Certain m i n o r a m e n d m e n t s h a d b e e n m a d e i n t h e s c h e m e as con­
si d e r e d b y t h e W a r C a b i n e t o n t h e 2 8 t h N o v e m b e r , a n d t h e C o m m i t t e e
w i s h e d Sir A u c k l a n d G e d d e s to be a d d e d to t h e C o - o r d i n a t i n g C o m ­
m i t t e e , a n d t h a t Mr. G u y C a l t h r o p s h o u l d t a k e t h e p l a c e of S i r
R i c h a r d R e d m a y n e . T h e C o m m i t t e e f u r t h e r p r o p o s e d to a r m t h e m ­
s e l v e s w i t h p o w e r to a p p o i n t a n a d v i s e r from e a c h t r a d e to a d v i s e t h e C o ­
o r d i n a t i n g C o m m i t t e e as m i g h t be-requisite d u r i n g t h e p r e l i m i n a r i e s
of a n y d i s p u t e . Mr. B a r n e s p o i n t e d o u t t h a t c e r t a i n D e p a r t m e n t s
h a d b e e n a d d e d , w i t h a v i e w to r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s b e i n g a p p o i n t e d
from t h e m to sit on t h e C o n s u l t a t i v e C o m m i t t e e , a n d t h a t t h e p o i n t
for t h e C o - o r d i n a t i n g C o m m i t t e e to a i m at w a s to o b t a i n r e p r e ­
s e n t a t i v e s w h o should n o t act strictly as r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of t h e
D e p a r t m e n t s to w h i c h t h e y b e l o u g e d , b u t t h a t t h e y s h o u l d g i v e t h e
C o m m i t t e e t h e benefit of t h e i r knowdedge of t h e c o n d i t i o n s u n d e r
discussion, a c t i n g in a j u d i c i a l c a p a c i t y r a t h e r t h a n as m e m b e r s
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of D e p a r t m e n t s a d v o c a t i n g t h e i r own case.
Sir A u c k l a n d G e d d e s e x p r e s s e d t h e v i e w t h a t t o h a v e a n
official so a c t i n g w o u l d p u t t h e l a t t e r i n a n i m p o s s i b l e position, a s
he w o u l d be s i t t i n g i n j u d g m e n t on t h e H e a d of h i s own D e p a r t ­
m e n t , from w h o m h e m u s t n a t u r a l l y receive h i s i n s t r u c t i o n s .
As a g a i n s t t h i s , Mr. B a r n e s s t r o n g l y p o i n t e d o u t t h a t it w a s
h i g h l y d e s i r a b l e for t h e efficient . w o r k i n g of t h e C o - o r d i n a t i n g
C o m m i t t e e t h a t t h e a c t u a l v i e w s of t h e e x p e r t s s h o u l d b e o b t a i n e d ,
a n d n o t t h e views of t h e D e p a r t m e n t s a s i n d i c a t i n g d e p a r t m e n t a l
policy.
Sir D a v i d S h a c k l e t o n p o i n t e d out t h a t t h e p r o p o s a l s set out i n
P a p e r G . T . - 2 7 7 2 w e r e a g r e e d t o b y t h e whole of t h e D e p a r t m e n t s
concerned.
Sir A u c k l a n d G e d d e s s t a t e d t h a t , a s it w a s n o w t h e d u t y of t h e
M i n i s t r y of N a t i o n a l Service t o a d j u d i c a t e i n all cases of l a b o u r
s u p p l y , h e t h o u g h t it d e s i r a b l e , in o r d e r t h a t h e m i g h t also b e in a n
i n d e p e n d e n t position, t h a t h e s h o u l d n o t sit as a m e m b e r o f t h e
C o - o r d i n a t i n g C o m m i t t e e , a n d s u g g e s t e d t h a t someone else m i g h t
b e a p p o i n t e d instead. H e f u r t h e r s u g g e s t e d t h a t t h e r e p r e s e n t a ­
5
7
WO 288
t i v e s of t h e b i g s p e n d i n g D e p a r t m e n t s m i g h t b e a p p o i n t e d n o t a s
m e m b e r s of t h e C o m m i t t e e p r o p e r , b u t as assessors.
T h e W a r Cabinet decided t h a t —
T h e s c h e m e for co-ordination, a s set o u t i n P a p e r G . T . - 2 7 7 2 ,
s h o u l d be a d o p t e d as a m e n d e d , a n d e x p r e s s e d t h e h o p e
t h a t S i r A u c k l a n d G e d d e s w o u l d find t i m e to sit as
"vice-Chairman of t h e C o - o r d i n a t i n g C o m m i t t e e .
F u r t h e r , t h a t t h e W a r C a b i n e t w i s h e d it to b e u n d e r s t o o d
t h a t r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of D e p a r t m e n t s on t h e C o - o r d i n a t i n g
C o m m i t t e e w o u l d act i n a j u d i c i a l c a p a c i t y a n d n o t m e r e l y
as r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of t h e i r a d m i n i s t r a t i v e D e p a r t m e n t s .
2, Whitehall
Gardens,
S.W.,
November 29, 1 9 1 7 .