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T H I S D O C U M E N T IS T H E P R O P E R T Y O F H E R B R I T A N N I C M A J E S T V S
Printed
for the Cabinet.
December
GOVERNMENT
1956
S E C R E T
Copy N o .
C M . (56).
100th
Conclusions
CABINET
CONCLUSIONS
of a Meeting
on Thursday,
of the Cabinet
13th December,
held at 10 Downing
1956, at 11 a.m.
Street,
S.W. 1,
Present:
The Right Hon. R. A.
T h e R i g h t H o n . VISCOUNT
Lord Chancellor. BUTLER,
M . P . , L o r d P r i v y Seal (in the
KILMUIR,
T h e
Chair).
Right
Hon. GWILYM
LLOYDM . P . , S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e f o r
the H o m e D e p a r t m e n t a n d Minister
for W e l s h Affairs.
T h e Right H o n . T h e EARL O F H O M E ,
S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for C o m m o n w e a l t h
Relations.
The Right Hon. DUNCAN SANDYS, M.P.,
Minister
of H o u s i n g
a n d Local
Government.
T h e R i g h t H o n . D . HEATHCOAT A M O R Y ,
M.P.,
Minister
of
Agriculture,
Fisheries a n d Food.
T h e R i g h t H o n . IAIN M A C L E O D , M . P . ,
M i n i s t e r of L a b o u r a n d N a t i o n a l
Service.
The Right
H o n . PATRICK
BUCHANHEPBURN, M.P.
M i n i s t e r of W o r k s .
GEORGE,
T h e R i g h t H o n . JAMES STUART, M . P . ,
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 .
T h e R i g h t H o n . Sir W A L T E R M O N C K T O N ,
Q.C., M . P . , Paymaster-General.
T h e R i g h t H o n . PETER THORNEYCROFT,
M . P . , P r e s i d e n t of t h e B o a r d of T r a d e .
T h e R i g h t H o n . Sir D A V I D E C C L E S ,
M . P . , M i n i s t e r of E d u c a t i o n .
T h e R i g h t H o n . T h e EARL O F SELKIRK,
C h a n c e l l o r of t h e D u c h y of L a n c a s t e r .
T h e following w e r e also p r e s e n t :
T h e Right H o n . HAROLD WATKINSON,
M . P . , M i n i s t e r of T r a n s p o r t a n d Civil
A v i a t i o n (Item 1).
T h e Most H o n . T h e MARQUESS O F
R E A D I N G , Q . C . , M i n i s t e r of S t a t e f o r
F o r e i g n Affairs.
T h e Right H o n . EDWARD HEATH, M.P.,
Parliamentary Secretary, Treasury.
T h e LORD LLOYD, Parliamentary UnderS e c r e t a r y of S t a t e f o r t h e C o l o n i e s
(Items 1 and 2). Dr. T h e Right H o n . CHARLES
M . P . , P o s t m a s t e r - G e n e r a l (Item
Secretariat
B.
Mr.
H.
ST. J.
O.
1).
T h e Right H o n . ALLAN NOBLE, M . P . ,
M i n i s t e r of S t a t e for F o r e i g n Affairs
(Item 1).
T h e Right H o n . HENRY BROOKE, M . P . ,
Financial Secretary, T r e a s u r y
(Items
1-3).
The EARL O F GOSFORD, Parliamentary
Secretary,
Ministry
of
Defence
(Item
1).
The Hon. G. R. WARD, M.P., Parha­
mentary and Financial
Secretary,
A d m i r a l t y (Item 1).
Mr.
HILL,
:
TREND.
HOOPER.
CONTENTS
Minute
No.
1
Subject
Suez Canal
Clearance of t h e C a n a l .
Prisoners of War.
2
Malaya
3
H o u s i n g Policy
Manchester.
4
N e w Zealand H o u s e in L o n d o n
S u e z Carnal.
(Previous
Reference:
C M . (56) 99th
Conclusions,
M i n u t e 3.)
Clearance of
the Canal.
1. The Lord Privy Seal said t h a t t h e F o r e i g n S e c r e t a r y h a d
n o w sent a m e s s a g e t o t h e S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l of t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s
(Paris t e l e g r a m N o . 465) c o m m e n t i n g vigorously o n t h e u n s a t i s f a c t o r y
s i t u a t i o n w h i c h a p p e a r e d to b e d e v e l o p i n g at P o r t Said a n d
e m p h a s i s i n g t h a t , if t h e c l e a r a n c e of t h e C a n a l w e r e s u b s t a n t i a l l y
d e l a y e d by r e a s o n of a n u n c o - o p e r a t i v e a t t i t u d e o n t h e p a r t of t h e
C o m m a n d e r of t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s s a l v a g e fleet, G e n e r a l W h e e l e r ,
t o w a r d s the use of B r i t i s h r e s o u r c e s , g r e a t r e s e n t m e n t w o u l d b e felt
against t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s .
T h e s a m e p o i n t h a d been forcefully m a d e to t h e U n i t e d States
A m b a s s a d o r in L o n d o n , w h o h a d u n d e r t a k e n to u r g e t h e U n i t e d
States S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e t o press t h e S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l o n c e a g a i n
to clarify t h e p o s i t i o n . It a p p e a r e d , f r o m N e w Y o r k t e l e g r a m
N o . 1668, t h a t t h e S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l w a s a l r e a d y i n t o u c h w i t h
G e n e r a l W h e e l e r in a n e n d e a v o u r to c o r r e c t t h e l a t t e r ' s a p p a r e n t
m i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g of his i n s t r u c t i o n s .
T h u s , t h e r e w e r e g r o u n d s for h o p i n g t h a t w e m i g h t still s e c u r e
t h e u s e of B r i t i s h r e s o u r c e s for t h e c l e a r a n c e of the C a n a l .
But
t h e r e c o u l d be n o c e r t a i n t y o n t h i s p o i n t , a n d o p i n i o n a m o n g
t h e G o v e r n m e n f s s u p p o r t e r s in t h e H o u s e of C o m m o n s w a s
b e c o m i n g critical of t h e s i t u a t i o n w h i c h a p p e a r e d t o b e d e v e l o p i n g .
It w a s for c o n s i d e r a t i o n w h e t h e r a n y o t h e r a c t i o n c o u l d be t a k e n to
r e i n f o r c e the r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s w h i c h t h e F o r e i g n S e c r e t a r y h a d a l r e a d y
m a d e t o t h e S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l of t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s .
I n d i s c u s s i o n t h e following p o i n t s w e r e m a d e : —
(a) A l t h o u g h it w o u l d n o t b e p o s s i b l e to d e l a y t h e c o m p l e t i o n
of t h e w i t h d r a w a l of t h e A n g l o - F r e n c h force f r o m P o r t Said b e y o n d
t h e d a t e of 2 2 n d D e c e m b e r w h i c h h a d n o w b e e n a g r e e d w i t h t h e
F r e n c h G o v e r n m e n t , public o p i n i o n w o u l d only a c c e p t this
w i t h d r a w a l if s o m e a p p r o p r i a t e a c t i o n h a d b e e n t a k e n b y t h e U n i t e d
N a t i o n s to s e c u r e t h e u t m o s t s p e e d in clearing t h e C a n a l . F o r this
p u r p o s e we m i g h t o u r s e l v e s t a b l e a fresh r e s o l u t i o n in t h e G e n e r a l
Assembly. O n the other hand we could n o t be certain that such a
r e s o l u t i o n w o u l d be p a s s e d against t h e p r o b a b l e o p p o s i t i o n of t h e
Afro-Asian States.
(b) If it w e r e m a d e clear to the G o v e r n m e n t s of the
S c a n d i n a v i a n c o u n t r i e s , b o t h in t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e c a p i t a l s a n d a t the
U n i t e d N a t i o n s , t h a t a refusal b y t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s t o e m p l o y
British r e s o u r c e s for t h e c l e a r a n c e of t h e C a n a l w o u l d a p p r o x i m a t e l y
d o u b l e the t i m e t a k e n by t h e c l e a r a n c e o p e r a t i o n , t h e y w o u l d
probably support our representations to the Secretary-General.
The Cabinet—
li:
Prisoners of
War.
(1) I n v i t e d t h e M i n i s t e r of S t a t e for F o r e i g n Affairs ( C o m m a n d e r
N o b l e ) t o i n f o r m the F o r e i g n S e c r e t a r y of t h e p o i n t s m a d e
in t h e i r discussion, a n d t o suggest t o h i m t h a t h e s h o u l d
a r r a n g e for further c o n s i d e r a t i o n to be g i v e n to the
possibility of tabling a n e w r e s o l u t i o n in t h e G e n e r a l
A s s e m b l y a b o u t t h e c l e a r a n c e of t h e C a n a l , a n d
m o b i l i s i n g t h e s u p p o r t of t h e G o v e r n m e n t s of the
S c a n d i n a v i a n c o u n t r i e s for the r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s w h i c h he
h a d a l r e a d y m a d e to t h e S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l .
The Parliamentary
Secretary,
Ministry
of Defence,
said t h a t
further c o n s i d e r a t i o n h a d c o n f i r m e d that the c h o i c e lay b e t w e e n
t r a n s f e r r i n g o u r E g y p t i a n p r i s o n e r s of w a r t o t h e C o m m a n d e r of t h e
U n i t e d N a t i o n s force o r r e m o v i n g t h e m f r o m E g y p t t o C y p r u s . T h e r e
w a s n o o t h e r m i l i t a r y b a s e t o w h i c h they c o u l d c o n v e n i e n t l y be
r e m o v e d ; a n d it h a d b e e n a s c e r t a i n e d t h a t , while the G o v e r n o r of
C y p r u s w o u l d be r e l u c t a n t to a c c o m m o d a t e these p r i s o n e r s in the
Island, h e w o u l d be p r e p a r e d to a c c e p t t h e m in t h e a b s e n c e of any
alternative solution.
The Minister
of State for Foreign Affairs ( C o m m a n d e r N o b l e )
said t h a t , in t e r m s of legal s t a t u s , t h e W a r Office c o n t r a c t o r s ' staffs
w e r e u n d o u b t e d l y civilians, a n d t h a t w e s h o u l d therefore h a v e h o
case for s e e k i n g t o n e g o t i a t e their release a g a i n s t t h e transfer of o u r
E g y p t i a n p r i s o n e r s of w a r . B u t it w a s p r o p o s e d that, even if w e
h a n d e d over t h e p r i s o n e r s of w a r u n c o n d i t i o n a l l y , w e s h o u l d r e t a i n
t h e m o s t senior of t h e m until t h e E g y p t i a n s r e t u r n e d t h e British
officer w h o m t h e y h a d recently k i d n a p p e d in P o r t Said.
D i s c u s s i o n s h o w e d t h a t t h e C a b i n e t r e m a i n e d u n c o n v i n c e d of
t h e w i s d o m of h a n d i n g o v e r o u r E g y p t i a n p r i s o n e r s of w a r , w i t h n o
g u a r a n t e e of a n y c o r r e s p o n d i n g release of o u r o w n n a t i o n a l s . I t w a s
agreed t h a t , d e s p i t e t h e u r g e n c y w h i c h a t t a c h e d t o this m a t t e r , t h e
final decision m u s t a w a i t the P r i m e M i n i s t e r s r e t u r n .
In the
m e a n t i m e p r e l i m i n a r y p r e p a r a t i o n s for t h e r e c e p t i o n of t h e p r i s o n e r s
i n C y p r u s s h o u l d b e p u t in h a n d .
!
The Cabinet—
:
Malaya.
(Previous
Reference:
C M . ( 5 6 ) 16th
Conclusions,
M i n u t e 11.)
;
(2) A g r e e d t o r e s u m e their discussion of t h e disposal of o u r
E g y p t i a n p r i s o n e r s of w a r after t h e r e t u r n of t h e P r i m e
Minister.
(3) I n v i t e d t h e P a r l i a m e n t a r y U n d e r - S e c r e t a r y of State for t h e
C o l o n i e s to a r r a n g e for p r e l i m i n a r y p r e p a r a t i o n s t o b e
m a d e in C y p r u s for t h e r e c e p t i o n of the E g y p t i a n
p r i s o n e r s of w a r , w i t h o u t p r e j u d i c e t o t h e C a b i n e f s final
decision.
2. T h e C a b i n e t h a d before t h e m a m e m o r a n d u m b y t h e
C o l o n i a l S e c r e t a r y ( C P . (56) 279) a b o u t a p r o p o s a l , p u t f o r w a r d b y
M a l a y a n M i n i s t e r s , t h a t t h e F e d e r a t i o n of M a l a y a , o n a t t a i n i n g full
s e l f - g o v e r n m e n t , s h o u l d r e t a i n t h e r i g h t of a p p e a l to t h e J u d i c i a l
C o m m i t t e e of t h e P r i v y C o u n c i l b u t t h a t t h e advice of t h e J u d i c i a l
C o m m i t t e e s h o u l d be t e n d e r e d n o t t o T h e Q u e e n b u t t o t h e n e w
H e a d of S t a t e in M a l a y a .
The Lord Chancellor
said t h a t this p r o p o s a l w o u l d n e e d to b e
e x a m i n e d v e r y carefully. T h e n e w State of M a l a y a w o u l d suffer
juridically if it did n o t r e t a i n t h e right of a p p e a l t o t h e J u d i c i a l
C o m m i t t e e , as I n d i a a n d P a k i s t a n h a d a l r e a d y d i s c o v e r e d b y their
o w n e x p e r i e n c e . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d it w a s a r g u a b l e w h e t h e r it w o u l d
b e consistent w i t h c o n s t i t u t i o n a l p r o p r i e t y t h a t t h e advice of t h e
Judicial C o m m i t t e e s h o u l d be m a d e a v a i l a b l e n o t t o t h e H e a d of
t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h b u t t o the H e a d of a n o t h e r State w i t h i n t h e
C o m m o n w e a l t h . I n p a r t i c u l a r , t h e i m p l i c a t i o n s of s u c h a d e v e l o p ­
m e n t in r e l a t i o n t o o t h e r C o m m o n w e a l t h c o u n t r i e s , p a r t i c u l a r l y t h o s e
C o l o n i a l T e r r i t o r i e s w h i c h w e r e n o w a d v a n c i n g t o w a r d s full
s e l f - g o v e r n m e n t , w o u l d n e e d to b e c o n s i d e r e d .
The C a b i n e t A p p o i n t e d a C o m m i t t e e of M i n i s t e r s consisting of—
L o r d President
L o r d Chancellor
C o m m o n w e a l t h Secretary
Colonial Secretary
Paymaster-Gerieral
Attorney-General
t o c o n s i d e r t h e p r o p o s a l t h a t t h e F e d e r a t i o n of M a l a y a , o n
a t t a i n i n g full s e l f - g o v e r n m e n t , s h o u l d r e t a i n t h e r i g h t of
a p p e a l t o the Judicial C o m m i t t e e of the Privy C o u n c i l b u t
t h a t t h e advice of t h e Judicial C o m m i t t e e s h o u l d b e
t e n d e r e d n o t t o T h e Q u e e n b u t t o t h e n e w H e a d of S t a t e
in Malaya.
3. T h e C a b i n e t h a d b e f o r e t h e m a n o t e by t h e S e c r e t a r y of
t h e C a b i n e t ( C P . (56) 280) c o v e r i n g a r e p o r t b y a S u b - C o m m i t t e e of
t h e H o m e Affairs C o m m i t t e e a n d a m e m o r a n d u m b y t h e L o r d
Chancellor o n the renewed application by the
Manchester
C o r p o r a t i o n t o b e a l l o w e d to b u i l d 12,000 h o u s e s o n a g r i c u l t u r a l
l a n d at L y m m in C h e s h i r e .
The Lord
Chancellor
said t h a t o n a r e a s o n a b l e basis of
calculation Manchester would have, during the period 1961-71,
a b o u t 18,000 sites a v a i l a b l e for h o u s e s ; a n d t h a t , if t h e r a t e of b u i l d i n g
d u r i n g this p e r i o d w a s 3,000 h o u s e s a y e a r , sufficient sites w o u l d b e
a v a i l a b l e until 1967. Until m o r e p r o g r e s s h a d been m a d e in utilising
these sites he d i d n o t t h i n k it w o u l d b e justifiable t o a l i e n a t e 3,000
acres of t h e best f a r m i n g l a n d ; a n d h e t h e r e f o r e p r o p o s e d t h a t t h e
p o s i t i o n s h o u l d b e r e - e x a m i n e d in a few y e a r s ' t i m e , d u r i n g w h i c h
interval efforts s h o u l d be m a d e t o find a n a l t e r n a t i v e s o l u t i o n .
The Minister
of Housing s a i d t h a t t h e 18,000 sites c o u l d n o t in
fact b e relied u p o n . I t w a s very unlikely t h a t Macclesfield w o u l d b e
r e a d y to facilitate t h e b u i l d i n g of 4,500 h o u s e s for M a n c h e s t e r ' s
n e e d s ; e x p e r i e n c e h a d s h o w n t h a t t h e s c o p e for f u r t h e r d e v e l o p m e n t
i n u r b a n a r e a s r e a s o n a b l y close t o M a n c h e s t e r w a s liable to b e
e x a g g e r a t e d ; a n d t h e a s s u m p t i o n t h a t a c e r t a i n n u m b e r of sites c o u l d
b e found w i t h i n t h e city itself did n o t t a k e sufficient a c c o u n t of t h e
fact t h a t t h e s e sites w e r e a l r e a d y o c c u p i e d b y s l u m p r o p e r t i e s , t h e
i n h a b i t a n t s of w h i c h w o u l d n e e d to b e r e - h o u s e d .
Since it w a s
i m p r a c t i c a b l e t o t r a n s f e r M a n c h e s t e r ' s excess p o p u l a t i o n a n d i n d u s t r y
t o r e m o t e r t o w n s , t h e r e w a s n o a l t e r n a t i v e t o t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of a
n e w large site if t h e u r g e n t n e e d s of M a n c h e s t e r w e r e t o b e m e t .
T h e rejection of t h e C o r p o r a t i o n ^ p r o p o s a l to d e v e l o p t h e site at
L y m m w o u l d , t h e r e f o r e , clearly i m p l y t h a t s l u m c l e a r a n c e h a d b e e n
s u b o r d i n a t e d t o the interests of a g r i c u l t u r e . T h e G o v e r n m e n t ,
h o w e v e r , h a d stressed t h e i r d e t e r m i n a t i o n t o press f o r w a r d w i t h
s l u m c l e a r a n c e as a n a r g u m e n t justifying t h e a b o l i t i o n of t h e g e n e r a l
h o u s i n g s u b s i d y . If, t h e r e f o r e , t h e C a b i n e t felt u n a b l e to a c c e p t t h e
C o r p o r a t i o n ^ p r o p o s a l , h e could only r e c o m m e n d that, t h e i s s u e
s h o u l d a g a i n b e s u b m i t t e d t o a p u b l i c e n q u i r y , i n t h e light of w h i c h
a decision c o u l d b e t a k e n a t a l a t e r d a t e .
The Minister
of Agriculture
said t h a t t h e G o v e r n m e n t h a d
publicly c o m m i t t e d themselves t o t h e policy of p r e s e r v i n g
first-class
agricultural land from further development.
T h e agricultural
c o m m u n i t y r e g a r d e d the p r e s e n t p r o p o s a l as a test case of t h e
firmness of t h e G o v e r n m e n f s i n t e n t i o n s i n t h e m a t t e r .
Further­
m o r e , t h e site a t L y m m , w h e n d e v e l o p e d , m i g h t well b e c o m e m e r e l y
a d o r m i t o r y of M a n c h e s t e r , so t h a t t h e e x p r e s s e d i n t e n t i o n of t h e
M a n c h e s t e r C o r p o r a t i o n to r e - h o u s e t h e i r s u r p l u s
population
elsewhere w o u l d n o t in fact be c a r r i e d o u t .
I n d i s c u s s i o n t h e view was e x p r e s s e d t h a t M a n c h e s t e r s h o u l d
a p p r o a c h t h e p r o b l e m by i n c r e a s i n g t h e p r e s e n t density r a t i o of
b u i l d i n g i n o r d e r t o m a k e m o r e efficient a n d e c o n o m i c a l u s e of t h e
sites a l r e a d y a v a i l a b l e . M o r e o v e r , t h e n e e d s of M a n c h e s t e r f o r s l u m
clearance had by n o m e a n s the highest priority among the larger
cities.
D o u b t s w e r e also e x p r e s s e d a b o u t the ability of t h e
M a n c h e s t e r C o r p o r a t i o n to b u i l d at t h e r a t e of 3,000 h o u s e s a y e a r , a
figure w h i c h t h e y h a d n o t a c h i e v e d h i t h e r t o .
The Minister
of Housing
said t h a t , in h i s view, n o n e of these
a r g u m e n t s w a s valid. A n i n c r e a s e in t h e d e n s i t y r a t i o w o u l d h a v e
o n l y a m a r g i n a l effect; a n o r d e r of p r i o r i t y a m o n g cities in r e g a r d t o
r e - h o u s i n g w a s d o u b t f u l l y c o n s i s t e n t with t h e d m p o r t a n c e w h i c h t h e
G o v e r n m e n t h a d publicly a n d r e p e a t e d l y a t t a c h e d to slum c l e a r a n c e ;
a n d h e h a d n o d o u b t t h a t , if t h e t h e M a n c h e s t e r C o r p o r a t i o n w e r e
e n a b l e d t o p l a n sufficiently far a h e a d b y b e i n g given the n e c e s s a r y
a s s u r a n c e t h a t a d e q u a t e sites w o u l d b e a v a i l a b l e , they w o u l d b e a b l e
t o achieve a r a t e of b u i l d i n g of a t least 3,000 h o u s e s a year.
:
:
1
The Lord Privy Seal said t h a t the discussion s h o w e d t h a t t h e
C a b i n e t c o n s i d e r e d t h a t a case h a d n o t b e e n m a d e o u t for t a k i n g a
decision in f a v o u r of M a n c h e s t e r at the p r e s e n t t i m e .
Such a
d e c i s i o n w o u l d c a u s e g r e a t disquiet a m o n g G o v e r n m e n t s u p p o r t e r s
a n d a m o n g t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l c o m m u n i t y . A further p u b l i c e n q u i r y
w o u l d w e a k e n t h e incentive t o t h e M a n c h e s t e r C o r p o r a t i o n t o seek
a n y a l t e r n a t i v e s o l u t i o n , since they w o u l d c o n c e n t r a t e t h e i r efforts o n
justifying their case before t h e e n q u i r y . I t w a s in a n y case p r e m a t u r e
t o r e o p e n an issue w h i c h h a d a l r e a d y b e e n e x h a u s t i v e l y e x a m i n e d
w i t h i n t h e last few y e a r s ; a n d a d e c i s i o n t o disallow M a n c h e s t e r ' s
a p p l i c a t i o n for t h e t i m e being c o u l d b e justified o n this g r o u n d . T h i s
decision could n o t , h o w e v e r , b e easily reconciled with the
G o v e r n m e n f s policy on slum c l e a r a n c e a n d the t e r m s of the
a n n o u n c e m e n t w o u l d n e e d careful c o n s i d e r a t i o n .
The
Cabinet—
(1) A g r e e d t h a t t h e r e n e w e d a p p l i c a t i o n by t h e M a n c h e s t e r
C o r p o r a t i o n t o d e v e l o p a n a g r i c u l t u r a l site for b u i l d i n g a t
L y m m in C h e s h i r e s h o u l d be rejected.
(2) Invited t h e M i n i s t e r of H o u s i n g to circulate t h e text of his
p r o p o s e d a n n o u n c e m e n t o n this subject.
New Zealand
H o u s e in
London.
(Previous
Reference:
C M . (56) 47th
Conclusions,
M i n u t e 11.)
4. The, C a b i n e t h a d before t h e m a m e m o r a n d u m by the
M i n i s t e r of A g r i c u l t u r e ( C P . (56) 276) a b o u t the a p p l i c a t i o n b y the
G o v e r n m e n t of N e w Z e a l a n d for t h e c o n s e n t of the C o m m i s s i o n e r s
of C r o w n L a n d s t o a design for t h e new N e w Z e a l a n d H o u s e t o be
built o n t h e site of the C a r l t o n H o t e l .
The Minister of Agriculture
said t h a t a decision o n this question
w a s n o w urgent. T h e G o v e r n m e n t of N e w Z e a l a n d , w h o w o u l d t a k e
possession of the site in J a n u a r y , w e r e a n x i o u s t h a t w o r k s h o u l d
p r o c e e d as r a p i d l y as possible. M o r e o v e r , the C o m m i s s i o n e r s of
C r o w n L a n d s w o u l d h a n d over their responsibility f o r t h e C r o w n
E s t a t e to the n e w B o a r d of C r o w n E s t a t e C o m m i s s i o n e r s o n the
following day, a n d it w a s p r e f e r a b l e t h a t the decision on this
p a r t i c u l a r issue s h o u l d h a v e b e e n t a k e n b e f o r e the n e w B o a r d c a m e
i n t o existence.
Of t h e t h r e e designs by Professor M a t t h e w for t h e p r o p o s e d
b u i l d i n g , design A h a d met with criticism from the C o m m i s s i o n e r s
of C r o w n L a n d s a n d t h e R o y a l F i n e A r t C o m m i s s i o n . It h a d n o w
been d i s c a r d e d by g e n e r a l a g r e e m e n t . Of t h e r e m a i n i n g a l t e r n a t i v e
designs B a n d C , t h e former w a s m o r e a c c e p t a b l e to the
C o m m i s s i o n e r s of C r o w n L a n d s , b u t the N e w Z e a l a n d G o v e r n m e n t
h a d e x p r e s s e d a s t r o n g p r e f e r e n c e for design C. T h e F i n e A r t
C o m m i s s i o n h a d e x p r e s s e d objection to t h e height of b o t h b u i l d i n g s ,
b u t p r e f e r r e d d e s i g n B to design C. B o t h designs h a d r e c e n t l y been
m a d e p u b l i c a n d h a d e v o k e d n o criticism in t e r m s of either their
h e i g h t or their design. In principle, t h e r e f o r e , we w e r e n o w virtually
c o m m i t t e d to a h i g h building in the c o n t e m p o r a r y i d i o m w h i c h was
c o m m o n t o all t h r e e designs, a n d the only issue w a s t h e choice
b e t w e e n design B a n d design C.
I n discussion t h e following p o i n t s w e r e m a d e : —
(a) The Minister of Works said t h a t h e w a s directly c o n c e r n e d by
r e a s o n of his r e s p o n s i b i l i t y for R o y a l P a l a c e s a n d P a r k s . H e did n o t
t h i n k t h a t a very tall b u i l d i n g o n this site w a s a p p r o p r i a t e a n d , if it
w e r e p r a c t i c a b l e t o o p p o s e this c o n c e p t i o n in principle, h e w o u l d wish
t o do so. If, h o w e v e r , it w a s t h o u g h t t h a t t h e o v e r r i d i n g n e e d w a s
t o avoid friction w i t h t h e N e w Z e a l a n d G o v e r n m e n t o n this m a t t e r ,
h e w a s r e l u c t a n t l y p r e p a r e d to acquiesce i n design C.
(b) W e w e r e entitled t o r e p r e s e n t t o t h e N e w Z e a l a n d
G o v e r n m e n t t h a t d e s i g n B r e m a i n e d t h e b e t t e r d e s i g n in the o p i n i o n
of t h e C o m m i s s i o n e r s of C r o w n L a n d s a n d t h e F i n e A r t
C o m m i s s i o n . B u t it w o u l d b e u n d e s i r a b l e to insist o n this p o i n t
a g a i n s t t h e o p p o s i t i o n of t h e N e w Z e a l a n d G o v e r n m e n t ; a n d , if t h e y
m a i n t a i n e d their p r e f e r e n c e for design C , w e s h o u l d n o t p r e s s o u r
c o n t r a r y view to the p o i n t of p r o v o k i n g friction b e t w e e n N e w
Z e a l a n d a n d ourselves.
(c) T h e details of t h e design a n d t h e m a t e r i a l s used in c o n s t r u c t i o n
w e r e n o less i m p o r t a n t t h a n t h e h e i g h t a n d g e n e r a l s h a p e of t h e
b u i l d i n g . T h e views of t h e P l a n n i n g C o m m i t t e e of t h e L o n d o n
C o u n t y C o u n c i l h a d still t o be o b t a i n e d . T h e r e w a s n o r e a s o n t o
e x p e c t t h a t C o m m i t t e e ' s r e a c t i o n t o b e u n f a v o u r a b l e ; b u t , if p l a n n i n g
a p p r o v a l in p r i n c i p l e w a s given, it s h o u l d b e left t o t h e p l a n n i n g
a u t h o r i t i e s to agree w i t h t h e a r c h i t e c t a n d the N e w Z e a l a n d
G o v e r n m e n t t h e details of the final design a n d the m a t e r i a l s to b e
employed.
(d) O n the o t h e r h a n d the N e w Z e a l a n d G o v e r n m e n t c l a i m e d
t h a t , while the t e r m s of t h e i r lease of t h e C a r l t o n H o t e l r e q u i r e d t h e m
to o b t a i n t h e assent of t h e C o m m i s s i o n e r s of C r o w n L a n d s t o t h e
d e s i g n of a n y b u i l d i n g w h i c h they m i g h t e r e c t o n t h a t site, t h e y w e r e
e x e m p t , as a n i n d e p e n d e n t G o v e r n m e n t , from any o t h e r p l a n n i n g
r e q u i r e m e n t . It w o u l d n o t , t h e r e f o r e , b e possible to m a k e o u r
a g r e e m e n t to t h e p r o j e c t c o n d i t i o n a l o n their a c c e p t i n g a n y
s t i p u l a t i o n s w h i c h we c h o s e to m a k e a b o u t t h e details of the design
a n d t h e m a t e r i a l s t o b e e m p l o y e d . T h e s e q u e s t i o n s w o u l d best b e
d e a l t w i t h by t h e M i n i s t e r s t o w h o m t h e B o a r d of C r o w n E s t a t e
C o m m i s s i o n e r s w o u l d h e n c e f o r w a r d b e r e s p o n s i b l e , in c o n s u l t a t i o n ,
as n e c e s s a r y , with the M i n i s t e r of H o u s i n g a n d t h e M i n i s t e r of
Works.
The Cabinet—
(1) I n v i t e d t h e M i n i s t e r of A g r i c u l t u r e to i n s t r u c t
the
C o m m i s s i o n e r s of C r o w n L a n d s t o i n f o r m t h e N e w
Z e a l a n d G o v e r n m e n t , subject to t h e c o n c u r r e n c e of t h e
L o n d o n County Council, that the Commissioners would
c o n s e n t to t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n , o n t h e site of t h e C a r l t o n
H o t e l , of a b u i l d i n g of t h e t y p e desired b y t h e N e w
Z e a l a n d G o v e r n m e n t , within a limit of 210 ft. of height.
(2) I n v i t e d t h e L o r d P r i v y Seal a n d t h e Secretary of S t a t e for
S c o t l a n d , as the M i n i s t e r s to w h o m t h e B o a r d of C r o w n
Estate Commissioners would henceforward be responsible,
to k e e p u n d e r review t h e n e g o t i a t i o n w i t h t h e N e w
Z e a l a n d G o v e r n m e n t of t h e final details of t h e d e s i g n t o
be adopted and the materials t o b e employed.
Cabinet
13th
Office,
S.W.
December,
1,
1956.