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(c) crown copyright
Catalogue Reference:CAB/23/30
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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.
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