(c) crown copyright Catalogue Reference:CAB/23/30 Image Reference:0005 h t m i l six&smws i s t h b m*oPBRfY OF a s ^ m - M t i i o M&O$&SY*8 OOTSBJQSSBS) . R COIsiOLUJlOBS o f a M e e t i i i % o f t h e C a b i n e t h e l d a t 1 0 , Downing s t r e e t s . k . , on T u e s d a y , 1 6 t h s a y , 19gg a t 1 1 - 3 0 a.ta. t PB 8.3EI fj- Tfce A i g h t H b a . 4 * O h a s a t s e r l a i n , Lord P r i v y S e a l . ( in the Ghalr). S h e E i g h t Hon. V i a c c u n t S l r & e n h i s a s l , Lord C h a n c e l l o r . f h e B i g h t I o n . s i r R o b e r t Home G.,B:.li*j, £.C., M.P*, C h a n c e l l o r of % he &% o h e q u e r . The M i g h t Hon. &* d h o r t t , A . Q . , M . P . , S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for Home A f f a i r s s . 'ih e Hi g h t ) i o n . K Oliu r c hi I I , S e c r e t a r y of s t a t e for tha Colonies * t h e R i g h t Hon. L o r d L e e o f F a r o h a m , ,/w.C.B., F i r s t Lord of the AdEii r a l t y . The a i g h t Hon. L. B a l d w i n ; , P r e s i d e n t of t h e Board of Trade. T t e R i g h t Hon. s i r A l f r e d , Mond, Bart .:,M.P., M i n i s t e r of Health, The R i g h t President The R i g h t Hon. M r A. G r i f f i t h Bosoawen, M . P . , £Sinister of A g r i c u l t u r e and f i s h e r i e s . The B i g h t Hon. f.*T. M a c n a m a r a M i n i s t a r of L a b o u r . The R i g h t Hon. K. i l u n r o , X . G . . , M.P. , Seer-atary for S c o t l a n d . xha R i g h t Hon. S i r Haiaar G r e e n w o o d , B a r t . ,ii.O. ,M.B,, Chief s e c r e t a r y for I r e l a n d . ; The R i g h t Hon. The " S a r i o f and B a l c a r r e s , K . T . , F i r s t of f o r k s . t Hon. B . A . L . P l a n e r , of t h e Board of Aduoatlore, Crawford Commissioner The f q l l o w i n ^ . , w e j r . e , , a l a o - p r e s e n t : r The' R i g h t Hon. V i s c o u n t P i t s A l a n o f Berwent, G . C . V . O . , D . S . O . , Lord L i e u t ­ e n a n t of I r e l a n d . I i-'or C o n c l u s i o n 1 . ) rfr. Thomas J o n e s . * * * ^ * . * . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A c t i n g Secretary. S i r John C h a n c e l l o r , ! ? : . C.M,C. S . O . . . . . . . P r i n c i p a l assistant Leoretary, .,. . 0*1 * h . Sir. Howortn... v . . . . . . . . . . . . . a s si st ant S e c r e t a r y . THisi GONFSREJ3QR AT GilHOA. ( 1) W i t h r e f e r e n c e t h e Lord P r i v y a t Genoa, t o C a b i n e t 26 ( 2 2 ) S e a l summarised the p o s i t i o n a s shewn i n t h e t e l e g r a m s . to forward two r e p l i e s 1 * reached I t was to the S o v i e t one d e a l i n g w i t h P r o p a g a n d a , Conclusion proposed representatives, and t h e o t h e r w i t h p r o j e c t f o r a f u r t h e r m e e t i n g a t t h e Hague i n the June.of two Commissions t o be n o m i n a t e d b y t h e R u s s i a n s and b y t h e o t h e r JSuropean Governments r e s p e c t i v e l y . These C o m m i s s i o n s w o u l d d e a l w i t h p r i v a t e and p u b l i c ana w i t h c r e d i t s , and w o u l d r e p o r t t h e i r f i n d i n g s t h e i r s e v e r a l G o v e r n m e n t s w i t h whom a l l rest. I n t h e meantime t h e r e s h o u l d be a p a c t from a t t a c k s to on n e i g h b o u r s , a n d f r o m m a k i n g agreements with Russia. t o send e x p e r t s t o t h e Hague b u t t h e U n i t e d could not a s s o c i a t e refrain separate themselves t o R u s s i a n s w h i c h f o r m e d p a r t of a The had i n t i m a t e d i n any that communication correspondence from w h i c h t h e y had w i t h d r a w n , b u t t h e y had t o recommend t h e p r o p o s a l s invited States to p a r t i c i p a t e . F r e n c h and B e l g i a n r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s would binding Germany w o u l d n o t b e Government was b e i n g I n v i t e d to decisions t h e Powers t o r e s p e c t e x i s t i n g b o u n d a r i e s , they debts undertaken to t h e i r Governments acceptance. The C a b i n e t t o o k n o t e o f t h e L o r d Seal'a statement. Privy for BBXME k I M S I ' i i R * S SJSKVICJBS G*BQA. (2) The C a b i n e t , a t the instance of t h e lord AT Privy Seal, instructed the Acting S e c r e t a r y convey to the Prime M i n i s t e r t h e i r to profound a d m i r a t i o n of t h e c o u r a g e and r e s o u r c e h e h a d d i s p l a y e d a t Genoa, their appreciation in which, working w i t h i n the l i m i t s laid down b y t h e of t h e way of policy Cabinet, he h a s dominated p r o c e e d i n g s by h i s g r e a t p e r s o n a l g i f t s , t h e i n f l u e n c e and a u t h o r i t y a t i v e s and o f f i c i a l s , the B r i t i s h at the our raised represent-, and e n h a n c e d t h e p r e s t i g e E m p i r e among a l l Conference. of a l l the the nations of represented 1-1* 0,SUliOJiiI& d e s c r i b e d b r i e f l y (3) situation to tee Cabinet. the Irish, I t c o u l d n o t fee d e s c r i b e d as c r i t i c a l "but we a r e w i t n e s s i n g i n I r e l a n d a p r o c e s s rapid social disintegration. We a r e c o n f r o n t e d c l e a r - o u t i s s u e s aaor c a n we $ J o r a s e e f a cut issues w i l l be p r e s e n t e d 10 i n d e t a n a i n a t a . t o ttSt w i t h no t i m e whan $ha clear­ situation In s i g n i n g the I r i s h f r a a t y t h o u g h t we w a r e d e a l i n g w i t h t h e of the I r i s h people * of we plenipotentiaries i i v e n when s e r i o u s o p p o s i t i o n to t h e t r e a t y d e v e l o p e d i n t h e S a i l we h o p e d t h a t a n itMaediete v o t e o f t h e I r i s h p e o p l e w o u l d fee t a k e n w h i c h w o u l d result i n a s u b s t a n t i a l m a j o r i t y f o r t h e a c c e p t a n c e o£ t h e freaty. $be M i n i s t e r s o f t h e t r o v i s i o n a l Government l i v e f a r too u m c h i n t h e n a r r o w c i r c l e o f t h e i r own a s s o c i a t e s and late associates, and t h e y t h i n k o n l y o f p l a c a t i n g the o b s c u r e t e r r o r i s t s who s p r i n g u p o n e a f t e r a n o t h e r all over Ireland. the desire - 3?he o p i n i o n o f t h e I r i s h p e o p l e and of this S o u t h e r n U n i o n i s t s t o h e l p i n t h e settlement d i d n o t weigh, w i t h them a s i t Irish should, have h a r d l y g i v e n due t h o u g h t t o t h e e s s e n t i a l and they measure of g o i n g t o t h e I r i s h p e o p l e f o r t h e i r o p i n i o n on t h e rreaty. 2ho p o s i t i o n w a s l a m e n t a b l e . SJhe e l e c t i o n have t a k e n p l a c e s i x months o r t h r e e months a g o . feeling t h a t an e l e c t i o n would he f a t a l to h i s extorted d a i s y from t h e P r o v i s i o n a l Government. proposed that should Be Valera, position, It is now t h e e l e c t i o n s h o u l d b e h a l d on t h e l 6 t h She p o l i c y of d e l a y w h i l e i t had i n v o l v e d s o c i a l t i o n i n Ireland" had l e d to the p o l i t i c a l strengthening doubtful, of Government * however, if the Provisional Government w e r e c a p a b l e of m a k i n g u s e of advantages * is 8egsners** the Provisional its It tee. t h e Government h a s e s c a p e d the odium of b e i n g t h e i n s t r u m e n t of power and authority, and h a s r a t h e r a d o p t e d t h e r o l e o f a p a s s i v e u n d e r t h e t y r a n n y of t h e e x t r e m i s t p a r t y . sufferer She Irish p e o p l e were i n an i n c r e a s i n g d e g r e e t u r n e d a g a i n s t Bebols. All parties.feel a c u t e l y the and b r i g a n d a g e t h r o u g h o u t t h e c o u n t r y . disorganisation Shay oaplore t h e r e l a x a t i o n o f r e s p e c t f o r l a w and o r d e r a n d petty rival election tyrannies t h a t have sprung u p . t o o k p l a c e now, the the If a t h e Government would free probably o b t a i n a l a r g e m a j o r i t y i n f a v o u r of the S r e a t y . t h e r e a p p e a r s t o be l i t t l e "being h e l d . for chance of a f r e e She Government a r e showing no dealing firmly with the s i t u a t i o n . But election capacity She forces of t h e P r o s S t a t e had Indeed l a t e l y c a r r i e d on one two - s u c c e s s f u l bloody. operations, or although the f i g h t s were not S h o r e i s r e a l l y none t o o much d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n F r e e s t a t e and R e p u b l i c a n p a r t i e s reluctance to k i l l one and t h e r e i s a general another. We h a v e g o o d r e a s o n t o c o m p l a i n o f o u r t r e a t m e n t the Provisional authority, osity Government. We h a v e h a n d e d o v e r t o arms and p r o p e r t y , and p a t i e n c e . and t r e a t e d gener­ S h e y h a v e g i v e n t h e I r i s h p e o p l e no Last week, w h e n t h e S r u e e b e t w e e n t h e two . p a r t i e s s h o w e d s i g n s effect rifles Government i n t e n d e d t o t h a t he might be s u p p l i e d w i t h 10,000 a s W e i l a s g u n s , m o r t a r s and o t h e r m i l i t a r y to enable the Provisional the. r e b e l s . of C o l l i n s has s e n t h l a a message to t h a t the P r o v i s i o n a l He h a d a s k e d by them them w i t h c h a n c e t o e x p r e s s a n o p i n i o n upon t h e S r e a t y . b r e a k i n g down, L r . the Government t o t a k e a c t i o n Ho p r o p o s e d I n t h e f i r s t instance fight. additional equipment against to deal o u t s i d e a r e a s s u c h a s S r o g h e d a and C a s t l e b a r a n d t o Hepublleans in Dublin the with leave undisturbed. Mr. C h u r c h i l l c o n t i n u i n g s a i d t h a t he found d i f f i c u l t y in a s s e n t i n g to further i a o u a a &t s m u n t i l fee w a s s a t i s f i e d against en a l a r g e scale t h a t t h e y would b e tiead t h e Bepttfellcan p a r t y . that the s i n c e r i t y o f t h e P r c v i a - l o n a l Government e n o u l d h e put to a t e s t , He c o n s i d e r e d affectively t h a t they must prove they intended If resolutely with disorder In Mblixu th*y to deal shewed themselves capable of dealing with the s i t u a t i o n Uufelin, he weuld g l a d l y s u p p o r t them and g i v e t h e n t h e a j e s s r e q u i r e d t o e n a l ^ e them t o u n d e r t a k e on s l a r g e ? a a a l e la the country i i a t r l c i t i i n o t a c q t t i e n a c e In t h a i r s e n d i n g country d i s t r i c t s in Dublin, la operations could into the end c a n t i n n i n g t o p a r l e y w i t h t h e rebels thought t h e r e was a s e r i o u s danger o f $esGsalnatt British i n Buhlin w i t h t h e o b j e c t of &ia$ttil£$g intervention all but ^poditloss 0 ' C o n n o r b e g i n n i n g t o k i i i n s p ar:f officers in of t h e B r i t i s h assay.- I f he c o u l d a c o l l i s i o n with the B r i t i s h troopa, i t was b e l i e v e d , would f a l l provoke CoHln*a eupportera, away from t h e F r e e S t a t e , t h e BepubileanlfrA$say w o u l d p r o b a b l y u n i t e i n to the B r i t i s h troops. the He u n d e r s t o o d opposition t h a t i t waa p r o b a b l e t h a t t h e t r u c e between B e ^ n l a r s and and thought Irregulars w o u l d b r e a k d o w n , h u t i f a p a c t w e r e m&da i t w a s t o c o n s i d e r w h a t s o r t o f a p a c t i t would b e * necessary -fhe t h a t had b e e n m a d e by t h e P r o v i s i o n a l G o v e r n m e n t concessions to K e p n f e l l o a n e a n d o p e n o p p o n e n t s t o t h e t r e a t y made their a r r a n g e m e n t s d e p a r t f u r t h e r :&nd f u r t h e r f r o m t h e b a s i s the t r e a t y . He u n d e r s t o o d bed e n t e r t a i n e d be held.- t h a t the £-rovielo&el Government the idee that "an agreed election" fba-t was t o s a y t h a t t h e r e would b e h o c o n t e s t a b u t t h a t t h e M J f e l e r a p a r t y would be s a y 40 s e a t s e n d t h e P r o v i s i o n a l of should electoral allotted G^vernm^nt 80 s e a t s . He had w r i t t e n to Mr. C o l l i n s l a s t n i g h t r e g a r d i n g t h i s Eeport and had pointed otit to him t h a t such an e l e c t i o n would he . r e c e i v e d w i t h world-wide r i d i c u l e end r e p r o b a t i o n . I t mnlQ be an o u t r a g e en d e m o c r a t i c . p r i n c i p l e s f o r a s m a l l and i r r e s p o n s i b l e b o d y i n Dublin to t a k e away tv&m the I r i s h p e o p l e t h e i r r i g h t of d e c i d i n g m to t h e i r own f u t u r e forsa p$ Oevernment. He had esspresaed a hope t h a t Mr. C o l l i n s would eneble him to deny i n P a r l i a m e n t t h a t such a s t e p was e o n t e & p l a t e d . T h a t w a s t h e d a n g e r of on a g r e e m e n t b e t w e e n t h e F r e e S t a t e Government and t h e R e p u b l i c a n s . happen i n the event of a b r e a c h b e t w e e n t h e m ? put i t t o t h e P r o v i s i o n a l effective Government t h a t a c t i o n t o meet t h e r e p u b l i c a n authority. What would We m u s t t b e y must t a k e . challenge Re p r o p o s e d t h a t t h e y s h o u l d be i n v i t e d come o v e r t o L o n d o n , a n d t h a t we s h o u l d u n f o l d serious griefs we h a v e a t d e v e l o p i n g and e x p l a i n to t h e m t h a t no l a r g e the s i t u a t i o n cleared if tip. Of c o u r s e Club t h e y s h o u l d issue to d e a l Provisional been mortar Kildare b u t no l a r g e i s s u e a r m s s h o u l d bo made u n t i l t h e y h a v e shown t h a t intend of in Dublin has they r e q u i r e d a trench have them, to is t o e n a b l e t h e m t o r e d u c e t h e F o u r C o u r t s or t h e Street their t o thorn t h e t h e way t h e s i t u a t i o n a r m s c a n b e made u n t i l to r e s o l u t e l y with the r e b e l s . of they If the Government w e r e n o t s i n c e r e and we c o n t i n u e d t o s u p p l y t h e m w i t h a r m s , and t h e s i t u a t i o n got t h e o p e r a t i o n of r e a s s e r t i n g o u r s e l v e s worse, In Ireland would b e much m o r e s e r i o u s and & much m o r e b l o o d y one t h a t otherwise n i g h t have been. issues At t h e same t i m e i f o f a r m s a r e made i n S o u t h e r n I r e l a n d , w o u l d a l e t o h a v e t o b e made t o U l s t e r well ahead. inlention had r e c e n t l y of t h e P r o v i s i o n a l lost r e p u b l i c a n body. it. confidence in them the to a c t . ,Recruiting the was i n t h e o r y a n i S x - S e r v i o e men w e r e not- issues that o p e n t o members of I r i s h R e p u b l i c a n Army, a l t h o u g h i t in further so a s t o k e e p Government i n t h e P r e e S t a t e Array i s o n l y allowed further He h a d b e e n much c o n c e r n e d t o l e a r n G e n e r a l Kaoready it anti­ officially t o j o i n t h e Army o r t o o c c u p y i m p o r t a n t positions ^ v a c a n t i o n of Work. MB. CH.UBCEILL i n f o r m e d , t h e C u b i n e t deal-dee t h a t Gork s h o u l d b e e v a c u a t e d ' t r o o p s from Cork ( f o u r b a t t a l i o n s ) to Ulster. "Refugees from S . should be of t h e t r o o p s in U l s t e r would s t r e n g t h e n t h e l e increase Valera throughout the o ountry d i s t r i c t s was not l a r g e i n v o l u m e , but i f of r e f u g e e s t o t h i s affect oountry. She f l o w a t present t h e r e m i g h t , be a l a r g e f i n England. which would have an stream might a p a l e round f o r t h e a c c o m m o d a t i o n of refugees. ' S h e c o n s t i t u t i o n w a s now b e i n g d r a f t e d . informed.that . ublin the He w a s good p r o g r e s s w a s b e i n g raade w i t h i t , t h a t i t would p r o b a b l y be shown t o him i n p r i v a t e week. He u n d e r s t o o d democratic in that the c o n s t i t u t i o n was and next very form. THE LOSE' CErtSOiSLbOIl p o i n t e d regard to the constitution out t h a t was d most c o m p l e x t a s k , w o u l d -not h e b e f o r e t h e B r i t i s h ones o f M&y, a n d t h a t if the the draft legal Government much b e f o r e 1 6 t h J u n e , n o t - m u c h more t h a n a f o r t n i g h t w o u l d he 1 larllament left to /to -a­ of constitution t h e e l e a t i o n w o u l d be h e l d on t h e f o r H i s ISaj o s t y a Government a n d a Treaty G o v e r n m e n t w o u l d be c a p a b l e Assuming t h a t In So d r a f t t h e t e r r a s of t h e and h e w a s d o u b t f u l of t h e F r e e S t a t e accomplishing i t . the s i t u a t i o n was v e r y d i f f i c u l t . constitution"interpreting accurately advisers was important He t h o u g h t t h a t i t u l t i m a t e l y bo n e c e s s a r y t o e s t a b l i s h and t o make c a m p s i n i t producing the s i t u a t i o n became worse and m u r d e r s became f r e q u e n t Free S t a t e , the Govera­ was not p o s s i b l e t o t a k e t h a t f a s t o r i n t o & f u r t h e r point was t h a t the disorder of r e f u g e e s t o E n g l s n d . political the transferred General Macready i s prevailing of o p i n i o n t h a t been and t h a t men t . a flow The - l e a s t i t u t i o n of t h e to-day, Shis measure w o u l d . r e a s s u r e the U l s t e r f a o t i o n , but i t - consideration. Ireland. t h a t i t had the t o a c c o m p l i s h t h e most f o r m i d a b l e t a s k of s t u d y i n g constitution, T r e a t y were the and e n s u r i n g t h a t a n y c o n t r a v e n t i o n s of adjusted. MR. OHAMBERLA IN s t a t e d t h a t the Free State Government had b e e n i n f o r m e d t h a t t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n must b e i n accordance w i t h t h e t e r m s o f t h e T r e a t y a n d t h a t we m u s t i n s i s t compliance with the the Government would a t t e m p t t o r u s h H i s M a j e s t y a 8 g i v e them l i t t l e upon conditions. LORD FITZALAN e x p r e s s e d t h e o p i n i o n t h a t that Provisional Government, time t o examine the s i t u a t i o n . representa­ 9 I t must be remembered t h a t and He u n d e r s t o o d they wanted t o d i m i n i s h the power of t h e K i n g s tive. the they were r e p u b l i c a n s in sentiment, and t h a t p r o b a b l y t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n would c o n t a i n many provisions t h a t H i s M a j e s t y s Government w e r e u n a b l e t o m* CHAMBERLAIN e x p l a i n e d that while the constitution would h a v e t o be confirmed b y an Act of P a r l i a m e n t , would not be p a s s e d u n t i l tion before the after the Act ourselves therefore as to the constitu­ e l e c t i o n so as t o prevent our having t o disavow Election. MR. CHURCHILL s t a t e d t h a t he had most s t r o n g l y w a r n e d Mr. C o l l i n s not t o t a k e a f i n a l less that a f t e r the E l e c t i o n and i t had b e e n a r r a n g e d t h a t we s h o u l d s a t i s f y it accept. , to publish it, d e c i s i o n on t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n , u n t i l we h a d s e e n i t . I t must be remembered t h a t the d r a f t i n g of t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n was t h e b u s i n e s s of I r i s h F r e e S t a t e , and i t concerned His M a j e s t y ' s in so far as the Government i t was i n c o n f l i c t w i t h t h e T r e a t y o r w i t h t h e given to the Southern Unionists. He r e m i n d e d t h e C a b i n e t t h e l i v e s o f t h e members o f t h e P r o v i s i o n a l danger. still Government w e r e They were f a c e d w i t h e v e r y k i n d of d i f f i c u l t y waa a n x i o u s n o t t o p u t u p o n t h e m m o r e t h a n t h e y c o u l d His a d v i c e to t h e Cabinet was t h a t only pledge that in and he bear. as soon a s t h e q u e s t i o n the/ of the truce with the Republican Party had been e e t t l e d Free State representatives s h o u l d b e I n v i t e d t o come o v e r IS t h e r e w a s a b r e a c h we s h o u l d make to t h i s country. sure t h a t t h e r e would be a r e a l while if fight with the Republicans, t h e T r u c e w a s c o n t i n u e d we s h o u l d s e e t h a t n o t on a r e p u b l i c a n b a s i s . possible country u n t i l nest i n r e g a r d t o which he would be g l a d i f further Mr. Churchill These were p o s i t i o n on t h e U l s t e r b o u n d a r y , a n d t h e q u e s t i o n o f fooF^W" troops in Dublin. Hq w a s a n x i o u s l e s t occur in Dublin. It was n o t i m p r o b a b l e t h a t t h e rebels end m u r d e r i n g Ho p u t t h e q u e s t i o n a s * to whether the Dublin. t r o o p s s h o u l d n o t b e r e m o v e d from D u b l i n . Ho t h o u g h t w i t h d r a w a l j u n c t u r e would be f a t a l . Ireland. If Ireland f e l l prior to reconquest. we Dublin As r e g a r d s t h e U l s t e r B o r d e r s i t u a t i o n w a s now q u i e t e r . this Capital Into a s t a t e of a n a r c h y , should have t o r e - e s t a b l i s h a p a l e a g a i n round his authority from D u b l i n a t Dublin was the English that likely General Macready h a s no doubt of a b i l i t y to maintain h i s position in Dublin If our were c h a l l e n g e d . the He b e l i e v e d t h e t r o o p s were removed, a R e p u b l i c would v e r y soon be p r o c l a i m e d . of It retain/troops M R , CHmRCHILL w a s s t r o n g l y o f o p i n i o n t h a t if the should was n e c e s s a r y i n view of t h e d a n g e r t o in the incidents would t r y t o e m b r o i l u s b y k i d n a p p i n g British Officers. to week. c o u l d g i v e t h e C a b i n e t some I n f o r m a t i o n . If TENTION was Government MR, CHAMBERLAIN s a i d t h a t t h e r e w e r e two points it He d i d n o t t h i n k i t w o u l d b e f o r t h e members of t h e P r o v i s i o n a l come o v e r t o t h i s the He w a s e n d e a v o u r i n g the/ to the secure t h e amalgamation of t h e Border L i a i s o n Coramissions, understood project. He C o l l i n s was ao* yr^avouratole t o t h e ^he f o u r b a t t a l i o n s going t o U l s t e r from Cork would h e l p t o r e a s s u r e the people i n U l s t e r . SOSE) FIT3ALAN e x p r e s s e d M s g e n e r a l agreement with S r . C h u r c h i l l s d e s c r i p t i o n of t h e s i t u a t i o n , tout he toeliovsd. t h a t t h e p r o c e s s of R e g e n e r a t i o n was much more e x t e n s i v e then Bad he en s u g g e s t e d b y hira. e l e c t l o n w a s n e c e s s a r y t o c l e a r the s i t u a t i o n . A free He was convinced t h a t an e l e c t i o n would l e a d t o an overwhelming m a j o r i t y i n favour of t h e Free S t a t e s The Church wag now s o l i d in support of the Free S t a t e , sad t h e r e c e n t m a n i f e s t o i s s u e d h y t h e Church i n f a v o u r of t h e Free S t a t e was a l l t o t h e good a l t h o u g h t h e Churches i n f l u e n c e a t t h e p r e s e n t time was not v e r y s t r o n g . In r e p l y t o a s u g g e s t i o n hy Lord Crawford t h a t we should p r o s s the V a t i c a n t o u s e i t s I n f l u e n c e i n favour of t h e F r e e S t a t e , LORP FiT&fcSAN e x p r e s s e d t h e opin&on t h a t i t i s u n d e s i r a b l e t o approach Home on t h e s u b j e c t . I t "is undo s i r stole t h a t Rome should i n t e r v e n e a t the present time. LOW BlRZBmmiT) f e a r e d from i n f o r m a t i o n "*hich had reached him t h a t t h e d e t e r i o r a t i o n was so r a p i d t h a t t h e e l e c t i o n Might not t a k e p l a c e i n time t o a r r e s t it. In r e p l y t o an e n q u i r y from MT* Chamberlain a s t o t h e a c t i o n of t h e Transport Workers, %1R. CHURCHILL s t a t e d t h a t the l a b o u r p a r t y had not been u n h e l p f u l . They had been wording for p e a c e , tout t h e r e was soree S o v i e t i s n emoog them. He r e g r e t t e d to o b s e r v e t h a t L a r k i n had b e e n l i b e r a t e d on b a i l i n America. He thought i t probable t h a t he would e s c h e a t h i s b a l l and go t o I r e l a n d , where h i s presence would have a most u n f o r t u n a t e effect. In ewmsiug up t h e d i s c u s s i o n , SFU OHAMBSRLAIH s t a t e - 11 - that/ that i t w&a n e c e s s a r y to await the r e s u l t m e e t i n g ' h a t w e a n t h e m e m b e r s of t h e and t h e R e p u b l i c a n s . Provisional After -that Government c o u l d to d i s c u s s the s i t u a t i o n ^ of to-morrow'e iro visional Government the members of the be p r e s s e d t o come He h o p e d t h a t over-here i t might p o s s i b l e f o r t h e m t o come o v e r n e x t w e e k when t h e M i n i s t e r would expressed probably have that holiday, present at the meeting w i t h t h e P r o v i s i o n a l would r e t u r n Mr.Churchill, Government Provisional p l a c e d i n h i s h a n d s , a n d he had a n of t h e d e t a i l s of t h e country t o London i n o r d e r t o t h e w h o l e of t h e n e g o t i a t i o n s w i t h t h e knowledge He contemplated l e a v i n g the on a b r i e f tnent h a d b e e n Prime r e t u r n e d from Genoa. t h e e a r n e s t - h o p e of t h e C a b i n e t who o w i n g t o i n d i s p o s i t i o n be t h e . a b o v e Minute t o the Prime M i n i s t e r a t intimate forward Genoa. as Covern­ situation.. TPS ACTING SECRETARY w a s i n s t r u c t e d t o be 4* The C a b i n e t w e r e i n f o r m e d t h a t o p p o s i t i o n the Teachers Superannuation B i l l was t e n d i n g crystallise to i n the d i r e c t i o n of the postponement any a c t i o n u n t i l the Keport of t h e Committee was a v a i l a b l e . to o f Lord. H a s ton.-' C o m m i t t e e on t h e p e r c e n t a g e g r a n t s s y s t e m , the question Committee and would have h a v e due r e g a r d t o t h e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s that of Departmental The D e p a r t m e n t a l m i g h t t a k e many m o n t h s t o r e p o r t , the fact to of t e a c h e r s ' i n v i e w of pensions was c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e q u e s t i o n of t h e method by w h i c h government a s s i s t a n c e f o r Local A u t h o r i t i e s would future be given. The C a b i n e t w e r e r e m i n d e d t h a t t h e Teachers S u p e r a n n u a t i o n B i l l was a rough a n d . r e a d y of o b t a i n i n g and t h a t t h e s a v i n g of £ 2 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 in method 1922-23, i t had n e v e r been I n t e n d e d t o r e g a r d a s a p e r m a n e n t s o l u t i o n of t h e it superannuation question. The C a b i n e t a g r e e d — That p r o p o s a l s to postpone the o p e r a t i o n of t h e T e a c h e r s S u p e r ­ a n n u a t i o n B i l l s h o u l d be opposed on t h e g r o u n d t h a t i t i s i m p e r a t i v e t o s e c u r e t h e s a v i n g of £ 2 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 i n the current f i n a n c i a l y e a r , but t h a t an u n d e r t a k i n g s h o u l d , h o w e v e r , b e g i v e n t h a t due r e g a r d s h o u l d b e p a i d to the recommendations contained i n the Keport of t h e D e p a r t m e n t a l C o m m i t t e e , and. r e f e r e n c e : w o u l d a l s o b e made t o t h e f a c t t h a t w h e r e a s t h e C o m m i t t e e on n a t i o n a l E x p e n d i t u r e h a d r e c o m m e n d e d e c o n o m i e s on e d u c a t i o n i n E n g l a n d , S c o t l a n d , and W a l e s a m o u n t ­ i n g t o £ 1 8 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 , t h e Government o n l y p r o p o s e d , e c o n o m i e s of £ 6 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 , i n c l u s i v e of t h e s u p e r a n n u a t i o n p r o ­ posals. The d i f f e r e n c e , n a m e l y , £ 1 2 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 was a l m o s t e n t i r e l y r e p r e s e n t e d by nurabers and s a l a r i e s o f t e a c h e r s , and t h e d e c i s i o n r e s p e c t ­ i n g t h e e x c l u s i o n of c h i l d r e n under six. in ^ F13WE8& OF COHTIMUATIQil SCHOOLS. i 5. The C a b i n e t w e r e i n f o r m e d that t h e London County Council were about to approach the Board o f E d u c a t i o n w i t h a r e o u o s t t o be r e l e a s e d from day their statutory obligation to provide/continuation Schools. I n t h e e a s e o f t h e London County Council two o r t h r e e o t h e r a u t h o r i t i e s w h e r e t h e day had been f i x e d , process. fact these Schools, to enforce and t h e l a w by it was civil The London C o u n t y C o u n c i l w e r e n o t compelling children to attend, of E d u c a t i o n h a d s o f a r r e f r a i n e d p r e s s u r e on t h e C o u n c i l r e s p e c t i n g The C a b i n e t a g r e e d Day/ appointees t h e A u t h o r i t i e s w e r e u n d e r an o b l i g a t i o n to provide open t o any p a r e n t and and t h e Board from p u t t i n g such in any attendance. - That the n e c e s s a r y l e g i s l a t i o n s h o u l d foe o b t a i n e d f o r r e l i e v i n g those A u t h o r i t i e s which a r e a t p r e s e n t under s t a t u t o r y o b l i g a t i o n to p r o v i d e / C o n t i n u a t i o n Schools for c h i l d r e n in t h e i r areas. o6 f-- ROYAL IRISH C 0 $ S TABULARY COMPENSATION. 6. The a t t e n t i o n o f t h e C a b i n e t w a s G a l l e d t h e d e b a t e i n t h e H o u s e o f L o r d s on t h e Irish Constabulary suggested that Compensation B i l l , steps should terms of t h e f i n a n c i a l to increase the certain cases, and i t be t a k e n t o d r a f t compensation payable the in r e f e r e n c e had Lords. The C a b i n e t a g r e e d was should t h i s be n e c e s s ­ to Which s p e c i a l made i n t h e H o u s e o f Royal r e s o l u t i o n i n such a manner a s t o e n a b l e the Government, ary, to - To d r a w t h e a t t e n t i o n o f t h e I r i s h Committee t o t h e s p e c i f i c p o i n t s r a i s e d i n t h e House o f Lords, with a view to those p o i n t s b e i n g d e a l t w i t h by the Committee b e f o r e t h e t e r m s of the f i n a n c i a l r e s o l u t i o n were actually drafted. been IQUSB OF LORDS REFORM. 7. 'fhe C a b i n e t w e r e i n f o r m e d that the o f t h e House o f L o r d s R e f o r m C o m m i t t e e had s u b m i t t e d h i s d r a f t Chairman (Lord resolutionson the subject of t h e r e f o r m of t h e House of L o r d s t o t h e Minister and t h a t , questions, the subject t o o n e o r two the l a t t e r was i n g e n e r a l resolution^* Curzon) Prime outstanding agreement with M*HGCIflls$ I B SUKKgSt. S. f h e L o r d JSSrivy S e a l d r e w t h e a t t e n t i o n o f t h e Q Oahinet t o t h e t e r n s o f t b s s t a t e m e n t IMt&i e n t h e p r e v i o u s Say by him i n t h e House o f Ooeaaons on t h e s u b j e c t of t h e furMsh- a t r o c i t i e s * Shis statement haa ho en c a r e f u l l y prepared i n c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h t h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e f o r foreign, A f f a i r s . Aha Cabinet took n o t a o£ and approved t h e testas of t h e s t a t e m e n t made i n t h e House of Oemsons by t h e £0*9 -SWWsr S e a l on t h e s u b j e c t of ferkish a t r o c i t i e s on Monday * May 15th, 192a. ^ 2, W h i t e h a l l h a r d e n s , l^th f May, 1922.