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Catalogue Reference:CAB/23/75
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E C R E T.
COPY NO.
r—
C A B I N E T
10 ( 5 3 ) .
M e e t i n g o f the Cabinet t o be h e l d a t 10
Downing S t r e e t , S . W . 1 , on WEDNESDAY,
22nd F e b r u a r y , 1933, at 1 1 . 0 a.m.
AGENDA.
1.
THE FAR EAST AND GENEVA.
Memorandum by the S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e f o r
F o r e i g n A f f a i r s , w i t h d r a f t Report of The
Committee o f N i n e t e e n a t t a c h e d .
( C P . 42(33)
already c i r c u l a t e d ) .
2 . OTHER FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
3
*
'
(If
required).
REDUCTION AND LIMITATION OF ARMAMENTS.
(Reference
4
-
(If
required)
Cabinet 9 ( 3 3 ) , Conclusion 4 ) .
INDIAN CONSTITUTION:
(Reference
-
THE JOINT SELECT COMMITTEE.
Cabinet 6 8 ( 3 2 ) , Conclusion 1 ) .
Memorandum by the S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e f o r
( C P . 39(53)
already c i r c u l a t e d ) .
India.
5 . FUTURE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ADEN.
Memorandum by the S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e f o r I n d i a .
( C P . 37(33)
already c i r c u l a t e d ) .
Memorandum by the S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e f o r
( C P . 40(33)
already c i r c u l a t e d ) .
6 . THE NAVY:
Air.
CONDITIONS OF RE-ENGAGEMENT.
Memorandum by the F i r s t Lord of the A d m i r a l t y .
( C P . 33(33)
already c i r c u l a t e d ) .
7 . AGRICULTURAL MARKETING BILL.
(Reference
Cabinet 6 7 ( 3 2 ) , Conclusion 6 ) .
Memorandum by the M i n i s t e r o f A g r i c u l t u r e
and F i s h e r i e s , c o v e r i n g d r a f t B i l l .
( C P . 38(53)
already circulated).
(Reference
Cabinet 4 6 ( 3 2 ) , C o n c l u s i o n 1 2 ) .
Note by the S e c r e t a r y c o v e r i n g l e t t e r
a d d r e s s e d t o the Prime M i n i s t e r by the
Committee on Economic I n f o r m a t i o n o f the
Economic A d v i s o r y C o u n c i l .
( C P . 34(33)
already c i r c u l a t e d ) .
TO TAKE NOTE OF: ­
9 . THE SEVERN BARRAGE SCHEME.
Note b y the S e c r e t a r y c o v e r i n g Report o f a
Committee of the Economic A d v i s o r y C o u n c i l .
( C P . 35(33)
already c i r c u l a t e d ) .
10. INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION:ON HOURS OF WORK
IN COAL MIMES.
(Reference
Cabinet 9 ( 3 3 ) , C o n c l u s i o n 5 ) .
Memorandum by the P r e s i d e n t o f the Board o f
Trade. ­
( C P . 41(33)
already c i r c u l a t e d ) .
( S i g n e d ) . H.P..A. HANKEY,
S e c r e t a r y t o the
2 W h i t e h a l l Gardens, S . W . 1 .
21st F e b r u a r y ,
1933.
Cabinet.
S E C R E T
COPY NO.
C A B I N E T
10 ( 3 3 ) .
CONCLUSIONS of a M e e t i n g o f the Cabinet h e l d
a t 10 Downing S t r e e t , S . W . 1 , on WEDNESDAY,
F e b r u a r y 22nd, 1 9 3 3 , a t 11.0 a.m.
PRESENT: The R i g h t Hon. J, Ramsay MacDonald, M . P . ,
( I n the C h a i r ) .
Prime M i n i s t e r .
The R i g h t Hon.
Stanley Baldwin, M . P . ,
Lord P r e s i d e n t of the C o u n c i l ,
The R i g h t Hon.
N e v i l l e Chamberlain, M . P . ,
C h a n c e l l o r o f the E x c h e q u e r .
The R i g h t Hon.
S i r John G i l m o u r , B t . , D . S . O . ,
M.P., S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e f o r
Home A f f a i r s .
The R i g h t Hon.
The V i s c o u n t Sankey,
Lord C h a n c e l l o r .
The R i g h t Hon.
The V i s c o u n t Hailsham,
S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e f o r War.
The R i g h t Hon.
S i r Samuel H o a r e , B t . , G . B . E . ,
C.M.G.,M.P., S e c r e t a r y of
State f o r I n d i a .
G.B.E.,
The R i g h t Hon.
S i r John Simon, C C S . I . ,
K . C V . O . , O . B . E . , K . C ,M.P. ,
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 .
The R i g h t Hon.
J . H . Thomas, M . P . , S e c r e t a r y
of S t a t e f o r Dominion A f f a i r s .
The R i g h t Hon.
Sir P h i l i p C u n l i f f e - L i s t e r ,
G.B.E. ,M.C. . M . P . , S 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 .
The Most Hon.
The Marquess o f Londonderry,
K.G.,M.V.O., Secretary of
State f o r A i r .
The R i g h t Hon.
S i r Edward H i l t o n Young,
G.B.E.,D.S.O.,D.S.C. ,M.P.,
M i n i s t e r of H e a l t h .
The R i g h t Hon.
Sir Bolton Eyres-Monsell,
G.B.E. , M . P . , F i r s t Lord o f
the A d m i r a l t y .
The R i g h t Hon.
Lord I r w i n , K.G . ,G .C . S. I . ,
G . C . I . E . , P r e s i d e n t o f the
Board o f E d u c a t i o n .
Major The R i g h t Hon.
Walter E l l i o t , M . C . M . P . ,
M i n i s t e r o f A g r i c u l t u r e and
Fisheries.
The R i g h t Hon.
S i r Henry B e t t e r t o n , S t . ,
C.B.E. , M . P . , M i n i s t e r of
Labour.
Major The R i g h t Hon..
W. Ormsby-Gore, M . P . ,
F i r s t Commissioner o f YJorks.
MANCHURIA .
League o f
Nations
Report.
(Previous
Reference:
Cabinet 9
( S 3 ) , Con­
e l u s i o n 1,)
1.
The Cabinet had b e f o r e them a Memorandum by
the S e c r e t a r y
(33))
of
entitled
State f o r Foreign A f f a i r s
(CP.-42
"The Far East and G e n e v a " , t o
was a t t a c h e d a copy o f t h e D r a f t
Report o f
the
Committee o f N i n e t e e n on the Chino-Japanese
The p a r t
which
dispute.
o f the R e p o r t t o which t h e S e c r e t a r y
of
S t a t e c a l l e d t h e s p e c i a l a t t e n t i o n o f t h e Cabinet
was P a r t
I V , which c o n t a i n e d recommendations.
The 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 was r e t u r n i n g
Geneva w i t h t h e i n t e n t i o n o f e x p r e s s i n g
a c c e p t a n c e by His M a j e s t y ' s
the
Government o f
Report as i t s t o o d , and t h e S e c r e t a r y
of
the
State
wished t o be assured t h a t t h e a t t i t u d e o f
Foreign Office
the end o f
the
i n t h i s r e s p e c t was a p p r o v e d .
the Memorandum some broad
to
At
reflections
were submitted as t o p o s s i b l e f u t u r e
developments
i n r e g a r d t o which d e c i s i o n s would have t o be taken
by t h e C a b i n e t ,
These i n c l u d e d : -
s a n c t i o n s under A r t i c l e X V I :
(l)
( S ) The
No r e s o r t
to
probability
that t h e Government w i l l s h o r t l y b e c h a l l e n g e d as
t o whether they would p r o h i b i t
and munitions
t h e e x p o r t o f arms
o f war t o Japan I f
all
the
other
countries
producing, or d e a l i n g i n armaments
did
t h e same;
( 3 ) The p r o b a b l e r e s i g n a t i o n o f
Japan
from t h e L e a g u e .
The S e c r e t a r y o f
asked f o r
State for
Foreign
a d e c i s i o n by t h e C a b i n e t
Affairs
on the
question
of s a n c t i o n s under A r t i c l e XVI o f the Covenant, and
on t h e e x p o r t
warring
o f arms and munitions
o f war t o
the
countries.
On t h e q u e s t i o n o f a p p l y i n g s a n c t i o n s
t o Japan
t h e r e was g e n e r a l agreement w i t h the S e c r e t a r y
of
S t a t e ' s v i e w t h a t we must d i s s o c i a t e
from
any such p r o p o s a l .
In reply
ourselves
t o a q u e s t i o n as t o how
this
c o u l d he p r e s e n t e d t o t h e p u b l i c ,
Secretary
o f s t a t e p o i n t e d out t h a t t h i s was a
m a t t e r on which e v e r y
as t o how f a r
tion.
the
it
country had t o he the
could put A r t i c l e
We should have t o s t a t e
i n t e n t i o n o f doing so on t h i s
p o i n t e d out t h a t
judge
XVI i n t o
opera­
t h a t we had no
occasion.
I t was
t h e r e might b e p r e s s u r e from some
o f t h e s m a l l e r P o w e r s , but t h e r e was g e n e r a l
agree­
ment t h a t t h e N a v a l Powers would have t o be t h e
judge
on t h i s
issue.
In connection with the export
o f war m a t e r i a l
t o China and Japan, t h e S e c r e t a r y
Foreign Affairs
o f State
for
drew s p e c i a l a t t e n t i o n to t h e
R e s o l u t i o n by t h e E x e c u t i v e Committee o f the
League
of N a t i o n s U n i o n , a t t a c h e d as an Appendix t o
his
Memorandum, and t o e v i d e n c e t h a t t h e r e was
likely
t o be a s u s t a i n e d demand i n t h e House o f Commons
against
allowing
Japan.
On the o t h e r hand, he p o i n t e d out t h e
difficulties
the e x p o r t o f war m a t e r i a l
t h a t would a r i s e
if
to
Japan were t o
s t o p a B r i t i s h s h i p c a r r y i n g arms t o China, and t o
the p o s s i b i l i t y
blockade
t h a t Japan might even d e c l a r e a
of China.
He was informed t h a t i n t a k i n g
such a c t i o n Japan would put h e r s e l f wrong w i t h
International
Law unless
d e c l a r a t i o n of war.
likely
t h e r e was a formal
N e i t h e r p a r t y , h o w e v e r , was
to d e s i r e a formal
d e c l a r a t i o n o f war:
Japan because she p r e f e r r e d t o c h a r a c t e r i s e h e r
a c t i o n as p u n i t i v e o p e r a t i o n s ,
and. China because
she w i s h e d . t o a v o i d a b l o c k a d e .
I n t h e -course o f t h e d i s c u s s i o n t h e
suggestion
was made t h a t we should ask o t h e r n a t i o n s
a g r e e t o supply arms t o n e i t h e r
side,
to
and t h a t ,
irrespective
o f o t h e r s , we might announce t h a t
was our i n t e n t i o n .
that this
this
I t was p o i n t e d o u t , h o w e v e r ,
course would not s t o p h o s t i l i t i e s
would not v i n d i c a t e
the a t t i t u d e
and
of the League,
s i n c e i t would h i t China h a r d e r than Japan.
The
only r e s u l t would he t o arouse the i r r i t a t i o n
of
both c o n t e s t a n t s because they were not allowed, t o
place contracts h e r e .
Moreover,
be p l a c e d i n f o r e i g n i n d u s t r y
The Cabinet a g r e e d
t h e o r d e r s would
instead
of h e r e .
—
( a ) To approve t h a t t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e
o f t h e U n i t e d Kingdom a t the Assembly
o f t h e League should be a u t h o r i s e d t o
a c c e p t , on b e h a l f o f His M a j e s t y s
Government, the D r a f t Report o f the
Committee o f N i n e t e e n on the ChinoJapanese d i s p u t e :
1
( b ) To approve the p r o p o s a l of t h e
S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e far ForeignA f f a i r s t h a t t h e r e must be no r e s o r t
t o economic o r o t h e r s a n c t i o n s under
A r t i c l e XVI o f t h e Covenant, and t h a t
a t any r a t e we must, i f n e c e s s a r y ,
d i s s o c i a t e o u r s e l v e s from any such,
proposal:
(c)
That t h e G o v e r n m e n t s a t t i t u d e towards
t h e q u e s t i o n o f the supply o f war
m a t e r i a l t o China and Japan should be
c o n s i d e r e d i n t h e f i r s t i n s t a n c e by
t h e M i n i s t e r i a l Committee on Disarm­
ament, which had a l r e a d y arranged
t o meet t h e same a f t e r n o o n at 4 p . m , ,
and s u b s e q u e n t l y a t a S p e c i a l M e e t i n g
o f t h e Cabinet at 7-30 p,m.
r
(NOTE:
The S e c r e t a r y was i n s t r u c t e d
t o a r r a n g e t h a t , i n the
absence o f the P r e s i d e n t o f
t h e Board o f T r a d e , the
Permanent S e c r e t a r y t o the
Board o f Trade should be
a v a i l a b l e at the Meeting
o f t h e M i n i s t e r i a l Committee
on Disarmament.)
VISITS OP
MINISTERS
^0 FOREIGN
CAPITALS.
2 , The Prime M i n i s t e r asked h i s c o l l e a g u e s
note that
if
pay a v i s i t
any M i n i s t e r
to
should have o c c a s i o n to
t o the C a p i t a l o f a f o r e i g n
he should n o r m a l l y g i v e ample n o t i c e
both t o the Foreign O f f i c e
country
of h i s
and t o the
visit
Ambassador,
and c a l l upon t h e l a t t e r
soon a f t e r
was e s p e c i a l l y
i f he wished t o see any
Minister
i n t h e Government
Ministers
to notify
important
arrival.
o f the country
concerned.
at t h e head o f Departments were asked
Under-Secretaries
The above p r o c e d u r e , o f
accordingly.
course,
does not
t o passage through a f o r e i g n C a p i t a l
other
This
destinations.
apply
on the way t o
3 , The Cabinet had b e f o r e them a Memorandum by
joint Seleet
Committee on
the I n d i a n
Constitution,
(Previous
Reference:
Cabinet 68
( 3 2 ) , Oon­
c l u s i o n 1,)
the Secretary
of State f o r
asking the approval o f h i s
proposals
as t o t h e s i z e
India
(G.P.-39
colleagues
o f the J o i n t
to
( 33))
certain
Select
Committee on the I n d i a n C o n s t i t u t i o n and t h e number
and s t a t u s
o f the Indians who are t o
i n i t s work.
strength of
participate
His own s u g g e s t i o n was t h a t t h e
the Committee should be about 20,
1
10 from the Lords
(including
t h e Chairman)
from t h e Commons, and t h a t t h e number o f
participators
and 10
Indian
(who would not a c t u a l l y be members
t h e Committee or be e n t i t l e d
s h o u l d be on a b a s i s
t o s i g n any R e p o r t )
of 15, 10 from B r i t i s h
and 5 from t h e S t a t e s .
of
India
A t t a c h e d t o the Memorandum
was an Appendix r e p r o d u c i n g v a r i o u s
pronouncements
w h i c h have been made from time t o time r e g a r d i n g the
Joint
S e l e c t Committee and the p a r t i c i p a t i o n
of
Indians.
While r e a l i s i n g
find, i t
that the Secretary
impossible t o l i m i t
o f S t a t e might
the s t r e n g t h o f the
Committee t o the numbers mentioned a b o v e , the
approved h i s p r o p o s a l s and a g r e e d
—
That e v e r y e f f o r t should b e made
t o g e t the J o i n t S e l e c t Committee
on t h e I n d i a n C o n s t i t u t i o n s e t up
b e f o r e the Easter Recess.
Cabinet
ADEN.
Future Respons-ibility for.
(Previous
Reference:
Cabinet 66
( 2 6 ) , Conelusion 4.)
4 . The C a b i n e t had b e f o r e
documents on the q u e s t i o n of
bility
for
them the
following
the Future
Responsi­
Aden:­
A Memorandum by the S e c r e t a r y o f
State f o r India ( C P . - 3 7 ( 3 3 ) ) in
which, a f t e r b r i e f l y i n d i c a t i n g the
p r e s e n t p o s i t i o n i n r e g a r d t o Aden,
he asked h i s c o l l e a g u e s t o d e c i d e
the f o l l o w i n g q u e s t i o n s : ­
(i)
Whether, i n t h e i r v i e w , the
b a l a n c e o f advantage r e s t s
w i t h the s e p a r a t i o n o f Aden
from I n d i a :
and
(ii)
W h e t h e r , i f s o , the S e c r e t a r y
o f S t a t e might i n f o r m the
Government o f I n d i a t h a t , i n
the e v e n t of t h e i r a g r e e i n g
to s e p a r a t i o n , His M a j e s t y s
Government w i l l be p r e p a r e d
t o r e l i e v e them of t h e
c o n t r i b u t i o n at present paid
by them towards m i l i t a r y and
p o l i t i c a l e x p e n d i t u r e a t Aden:
Y
I n p a r a g r a p h 12 of h i s Memorandum he
c a l l e d a t t e n t i o n t o the f o l l o w i n g
recommendations of the Committee of
I m p e r i a l Defence i n 1 9 2 3 : ­
"(1)
That as Aden i s an e s s e n t i a l
f u e l l i n g s t a t i o n on the I m p e r i a l
l i n e s o f communication t o t h e
Far E a s t , i t i s o f g r e a t e r
g e n e r a l s t r a t e g i c importance to
the Empire than t o I n d i a .
It
has a l s o a s t r a t e g i c importance
-with r e g a r d t o the Suez Canal,
S o m a l i l a n d and Arabia,- and i s the
s i t e o f an i m p o r t a n t w i r e l e s s
telegraph station.
( 2 ) That so f a r as s t r a t e g i c a l con­
s i d e r a t i o n s , as s e t out i n ( 1 )
a b o v e , a r e c o n c e r n e d , i t would be
a d v i s a b l e f o r the a d m i n i s t r a t i v e
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r Aden t o r e s t
w i t h t h e I m p e r i a l Government."
( 1 7 5 t h M e e t i n g , h e l d on J u l y 23,
1923) .
A Memorandum by the S e c r e t a r y of
State for A i r ( C P . - 4 0 ( 3 3 ) ) ,
commenting on C P . - 3 7 ( 3 3 ) and
r e p l y i n g t o the above two q u e s t i o n s
as'follows:­
(a)
I t i s e s s e n t i a l , on grounds o f
Imperial strategy, to retain
t h e defence of Aden as a
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f the I m p e r i a l
Government:
(b)
I a g r e e t h a t i f the l o s s
c o n t r i b u t i o n by I n d i a i s
i n e v i t a b l e consequence of
s e p a r a t i o n o f Aden, then
i s no a l t e r n a t i v e but t o
it.
The F i r s t
of
set
Lord o f the A d m i r a l t y and the
S t a t e f o r War e x p r e s s e d v e r b a l l y
i n the v i e w s
forth
o f any
an
the
there
accept
o f the S e c r e t a r y
their
of S t a t e f o r A i r as
the Exchequer shared t h e v i e w
t h a t Aden should be an I m p e r i a l r a t h e r
responsibility,
must be
than an I n d i a n
and t h a t t h e i m p l i c a t i o n t h a t
in future
India
c o n t r i b u t e towards t h e expense
accepted.
The Cabinet agreed
(a)
concurrence
in C P . - 4 0 ( 3 3 ) .
The C h a n c e l l o r o f
would not
Secretary
—
To approve i n p r i n c i p l e t h a t t h e
b a l a n c e of advantage r e s t s w i t h
t h e s e p a r a t i o n o f Aden from I n d i a ,
and t h a t His M a j e s t y ' s Government
should be p r e p a r e d t o r e l i e v e I n d i a
o f t h e c o n t r i b u t i o n at p r e s e n t p a i d
by them towards t h e m i l i t a r y and
p o l i t i c a l expenditure t h e r e :
( b ) That the Government Department a
concerned should work out the
details .
ADMIRALTY
ECONOMIES .
Conditions o f
Re-engagement,
(Previous
Reference:
Cabinet 61
( 3 1 ) , Con­
o l u s i o n 1.)
5.
The Cabinet had b e f o r e them a Most
Memorandum by the F i r s t l o r d o f the
(CP.-33
(33))
on t h e s u b j e c t
Re-engagement
the F i r s t
e v i d e n c e i n d i c a t i n g the e x i s t e n c e
a d o p t e d i n t h e Defence S e r v i c e s
that c e r t a i n
cuts
o f the g e n e r a l 10 per c e n t , cut i n pay
emergency, had
p e n a l i s e d a l a r g e number o f t h e men i n t h e
a v i e w which was a l s o g e n e r a l l y h e l d by
the F l a g and Commanding O f f i c e r s
the F l e e t .
which t h i s
that,
in
i n 1931, which were
made i n o r d e r t o meet t h e f i n a n c i a l
Navy -
year
o f the Admiralty a
t h e Navy o f a w i d e s p r e a d f e e l i n g
in excess
of
I n t h i s Memorandum
L o r d s t a t e d t h a t during the past
deal of
unfairly
Admiralty
of Conditions
i n t h e Royal Navy .
t h e r e had come t o t h e n o t i c e
great
Secret
After
setting
and O f f i c e r s
of
f o r t h the grounds on
f e e l i n g was b a s e d , t h e Memorandum s t a t e d
subsequent t o the Prime M i n i s t e r ' s
statement
i n t h e House o f Commons on September 2 1 , 19 3 1 ,
the
C a b i n e t had r u l e d t h a t i n the case o f t h e Defence
Services
t h e Prime M i n i s t e r ' s
pledge
limiting
r e d u c t i o n s t o not more than 10 per c e n t , should be
r e g a r d e d as a p p l y i n g only t o the period, o f a man's
existing
engagement.
On e n t e r i n g i n t o h i s
second
engagement, h o w e v e r , he was r e q u i r e d t o a c c e p t
larger
reductions
i n pay and the l o w e r pension s e a l s
which formed p a r t o f
I t was t h i s r u l i n g ,
the o r i g i n a l Economy m e a s u r e s .
as a p p l i e d t o t h e Naval
which appeared t o both o f f i c e r s
cent.,
o f pay,
i.e.,
Rating,
and men.ito' be u n f a i r .
The e s t i m a t e d c o s t o f a l l o w i n g men t o r e t a i n
1931 r a t e s
the
the 1919 r a t e s
their
l e s s 10 per
on r e - e n g a g e m e n t , would be £6,000 i n the
financial
y e a r 1933, r i s i n g
a peak f i g u r e
i n subsequent y e a r s
to
of £83,868 i n 1939, a f t e r which t h e
c o s t would f a l l
g r a d u a l l y t o £5,242 i n 1948;
-8­
the
total
cost
£809,000.
immediately
over the whole 16 y e a r s amounting
The A d m i r a l t y t h e r e f o r e
asked
to
permission
to issue the orders necessary f o r
removal o f what they s t r o n g l y
felt
the
t o be a f a i r
and
r e a s o n a b l e cause o f a sense of h a r d s h i p i n the Wavy,
The Cabinet were informed t h a t the numbers
War O f f i c e
p e r s o n n e l who r e - e n g a g e d was s m a l l ,
t h e e x t e n t t o which t h e War O f f i c e would be
t h e A d m i r a l t y would i n v o l v e v e r y
The e f f e c t
on t h e ^^s^^e^^^e^
t o p r e s e n t no d i f f i c u l t y .
little
Vas a l s o
reported
I t appeared t h a t
principle.
criticised
of
proposal
fact
through
c h a n n e l s , and t h e r e had as y e t
been no s i g n o f p o l i t i c a l
pressure being used,
o f the s t r o n g f e e l i n g s
that
in
e x i s t e d in the
subject.
The C h a n c e l l o r
o f the Exchequer s a i d h e would
l i k e time t o c o n s i d e r t h e m a t t e r f u r t h e r
necessary,
The
Some importance was a t t a c h e d t o t h e
the c o n s t i t u t i o n a l
Navy on the
neither
on grounds
t h a t t h e men a f f e c t e d had made t h e i r
spite
Lord
money.
t h e Teachers nor the P o l i c e were a f f e c t e d .
proposal was, however,
and
affected
by t h e a d o p t i o n o f t h e p r o p o s a l o f t h e F i r s t
of
of
and,
if
t o submit a Memorandxm.
The Cabinet
agreed
—
That the F i r s t Lord o f t h e A d m i r a l t y
should c o n f e r on t h e s u b j e c t w i t h t h e
C h a n c e l l o r o f the Exchequer, and, i f
agreement was not reached w i t h i n t h r e e
d a y s , they should b r i n g t h e q u e s t i o n
back t o the C a b i n e t .
f"
t^HE AGRICULTURAL
MARKETING B I L L .
(Previous
Reference:
Cabinet 67
( 3 2 ) , Con­
clusion 6.)
the M i n i s t e r
(3s))
o f A g r i c u l t u r e and F i s h e r i e s
c o v e r i n g the d r a f t
(C.P.-38
A g r i c u l t u r a l Marketing
Bill
which t h e C a b i n e t , a t t h e M e e t i n g mentioned i n the
m a r g i n , had a u t h o r i s e d him t o p r e p a r e .
asked,
if
t h e Cabinet approved the p r i n c i p l e s
f o r a u t h o r i t y t o submit t h e B i l l
Committee o f Home A f f a i r s ,
duction.
Fisheries,
with a view to i t s
(i.e.,
intro­
o f which had been
o f A g r i c u l t u r e and
the Board o f T r a d e , the S c o t t i s h
and the Home O f f i c e
involved,
Immediately t o t h e
The B i l l , t h e p r o v i s i o n s
discussed with the M i n i s t r y
as t o t h e
r e l a t i n g t o Northern I r e l a n d ) ,
(i)
The M i n i s t e r
Office
provisions
provided:­
( C l a u s e 1) f o r t h e r e g u l a t i o n o f the
i m p o r t a t i o n of any a g r i c u l t u r a l product
i n t o the U n i t e d Kingdom by Order by the
Board of Trade i f i t appears —
(a)
t h a t u n l e s s t h e Order i s made the
r e o r g a n i s a t i o n contemplated by an
A g r i c u l t u r a l Marketing Scheme f o r
t h e t i m e b e i n g i n f o r c e cannot be
a c h i e v e d : or
( b ) t h a t the Order i s n e c e s s a r y t o meet
an emergency a f f e c t i n g the economic
s t a b i l i t y o f any branch o f t h e
a g r i c u l t u r a l industry i n the United
Kingdom.
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
( C l a u s e 3) f o r t h e r e g u l a t i o n by Order
o f s a l e s o f home-produced a g r i c u l t u r a l
products;
( C l a u s e 4 ) f o r t h e appointment o f a
Market Supply Committee t o a d v i s e the
a g r i c u l t u r a l M i n i s t e r s in c o n n e c t i o n
with the discharge of t h e i r functions
under the A c t ;
( C l a u s e 5) f o r t h e submission and
a p p r o v a l o f a g r i c u l t u r a l development
schemes f o r the purpose o f r e g u l a t i n g
t h e production, o f " s e c o n d a r y " products
such as bacon and hams;
For c e r t a i n minor amendments t o t h e
A g r i c u l t u r a l Marketing A c t , 1931.
The Prime M i n i s t e r
informed the C a b i n e t
t h e S e c r e t a r y t o t h e Cabinet had r e c e i v e d
from t h e Permanent S e c r e t a r y
which s t a t e d t h a t
t o the Eoard of
Moreover,
o f t h e Board o f Trade was s t a t e d
h o l d s t r o n g v i e w s as t o the p o l i c y
I n t h e s e circumstances
a r e q u e s t had been made t h a t
u n a v o i d a b l e absence ' through bereavement)
o f t h e Board of
The M i n i s t e r
not a s k i n g f o r
i n the
of
the
Trade.
o f A g r i c u l t u r e and F i s h e r i e s ,
a d e c i s i o n committing the
o f the Board o f T r a d e , hoped t h a t ,
urgency
to
involved.
t h e Cabinet wovild not a r r i v e at c o n c l u s i o n s
President
Trade
and t h a t P a r t I would be
o p e r a t e d by the Board of T r a d e .
the P r e s i d e n t
a letter
t h a t Department was v e r y much
c o n c e r n e d w i t h the B i l l
mainly
that
o f the m a t t e r , he might
President
in view of
obtain a
while
the
decision
o f t h e Cabinet which could be h e l d up u n t i l he had
the
"All
clear"
from the P r e s i d e n t
o f t h e Board o f
Trade,
After
a preliminary
the Cabinet agreed
d i s c u s s i o n o f the
—
That the q u e s t i o n s h o u l d be
postponed f o r c o n s i d e r a t i o n
a t the n e x t r e g u l a r weekly
Meeting o f t h e C a b i n e t .
11­
question
FINANCIAL
POLICY AND
TRADE
ACTIVITY.
7 . The C a b i n e t ' h a d b e f o r e
Secret
letter
them c o p i e s o f a Most
t o t h e Prime M i n i s t e r
from t h e Committee
on Economic I n f o r m a t i o n of the Economic Ad\n.sory
(Previous
Reference:
Cabinet 46
( 3 2 ) , Con­
clus i o n 1 2 . )
Council
(CP.-34
Financial Policy
circulated for
instructions
(33)),
submitting t h e i r views
and Trade A c t i v i t y ,
which had been
t h e i n f o r m a t i o n o f the Cabinet
o f t h e Prime
on
on the
Minister,
The C a b i n e t were informed t h a t the l e t t e r
before
them was based on a misapprehension o f the p o l i c y
the M i n i s t r y
o"P H e a l t h , and that
t i o n s as a f f e c t i n g
out by t h e l a t e s t
of
some o f the assump­
the economic f u t u r e were not
borne
i n f o r m a t i o n at the d i s p o s a l o f
the
Government.
The Prime M i n i s t e r p o i n t e d
advantages
in obtaining
out t h a t t h e r e were
these v a l u a b l e Reports
t o what informed and expert
persons
outside
as
the
Government were t h i n k i n g , w i t h o u t t r a m m e l l i n g
them
by c o n t a c t s w i t h Government Departments, which would
have t h e d i s a d v a n t a g e of making t h o s e Departments
some e x t e n t
responsible.
The Cabinet took note o f t h i s
statement and of t h e R e p o r t .
-12­
to
8.
The Cabinet had b e f o r e them, t h e Report
t h e Severn B a r r a g e Committee o f
Advisory Council
Economic
( C . P . - 3 5 ( . 3 3 ) ) , which had been
circulated for their
t h e Prime
the
of
i n f o r m a t i o n by d i r e c t i o n
of
Minister.
The Prime M i n i s t e r p a i d a t r i b u t e
valuable s c i e n t i f i c
R e p o r t was b a s e d .
information
t o the v e r y
on which
this
The only o b j e c t i o n t h a t had been
made t o p u b l i c a t i o n was on the ground, that i t
contain information of assistance
to
foreigners.
The Cabinet were i n f o r m e d , h o w e v e r ,
h y d r o - e l e c t r i c matters
some f o r e i g n
that
in
countries
ahead, o f us and t h a t t h e r e was no o b j e c t i o n
this
point of view to
publication.
Report was so o p t i m i s t i c
that i t
would l e a d
p r e s s u r e on t h e Government t o p r o c e e d w i t h
the scheme were approved t o - d a y ,
affecting
years,
to
the
that
no work
unemployment would be begun f o r
five
and t h e maximum employment would not be
reached for ten years .
before
the
The Cabinet were reminded, h o w e v e r ,
even i f
were
from
Another o b j e c t i o n t o p u b l i c a t i o n was that
scheme.
might
electrical
I t would be 25 years
c u r r e n t was p r o d u c e d , and t h e n ,
by r e d u c i n g t h e consumption of c o a l ,
t h e scheme
would t e n d t o i n c r e a s e unemployment r a t h e r
than
otherwise .
The Cabinet were a l s o reminded t h a t no
on t h e scheme c o u l d be taken u n t i l
further
g a t i o n had been made o f the p r o p o s e d
s t o r a g e system on the R i v e r Wye
The Cabinet a g r e e d
investi­
secondary
(Para.36).
­
( a ) That the R e p o r t should be
(b)
decision
published:
That the Prime M i n i s t e r s h o u l d
consult L i e u t e n a n t - C o l o n e l MooreB r a b a z o n , t h e Chairman o f t h e
Committee, as t o t h e a d v i s a b i l i t y
of allowing further i n v e s t i g a t i o n
on t h e q u e s t i o n o f t h e secondary
storage system.
14­
THE BRITISH
WAR DEBT TO
THE UNITED
STATES OP
AMERICA. .
(Previous
Reference:
Cabinet 8
( 3 3 ) , Gon­
clus ion 2 , )
F.R
9.
The Prime M i n i s t e r
informed h i s
colleagues
t h a t a t e l e g r a m had been r e c e i v e d from S i r
Ronald
Lindsay and d i s t r i b u t e d t o members o f t h e
Cabinet
Committee which had been d e a l i n g w i t h t h e
question
of War D e b t s .
S i r Ronald Lindsay had seen Mr.
R o o s e v e l t , but not much p r o g r e s s had t e e n made as
yet.
I t had been a good t h i n g t o g e t i n t o
contact with the P r e s i d e n t - E l e c t ,
personal
and S i r Ronald,
was a t once t o meet Mr H u l l , whose appointment
Secretary
of S t a t e would be announced almost
immediately .
-15­
as
10-The C a b i n e t
International
Convention
l i m i t i n g Hours
of Work .
the President
(Previous
Reference:
Cabinet 9
( 5 5 ) , Con-,
elusion 5.)
Cabinet,
P.R.
lo($)j.
took n o t e o f a Memorandum by
o f t h e Board o f Trade ( C . P . - 4 1
(33))
e x p l a i n i n g why i t had been i m p o s s i b l e f o r him t o
find,
as s u g g e s t e d a t t h e p r e v i o u s M e e t i n g o f
some p o i n t
or p o i n t s
the
on which t h e Government
would have t h e support b o t h o f the M i n e r s '
Federation
and the Mining A s s o c i a t i o n i n u r g i n g o b j e c t i o n s
the r a t i f i c a t i o n
o f the D r a f t
International
Convention on Hours o f Work i n Coal M i n e s .
9
-Ifi­
to
THE PARLIAMENT
AC
(1911)
AMENDMENT
(No.2) BILL.
m
that
t h e second Order f o r P r i v a t e Members^
on F r i d a y ,
C
February 2 4 t h , v/as the BwsPiapaiiBe^-"^!^
Pn
C3fQl4)' Amondmont (Mo^C)
that
Bills
this B i l l
Dill,
He t o o k the v i e w
should be r e s i s t e d ,
accordance with the a t t i t u d e
and t h i s was
of p r e v i o u s
Governments
The C a b i n e t a g r e e d w i t h t h e Home
S e c r e t a r y t h a t the B i l l should be
res is t e d .
-17­
in
FURTHER MEETING
OP CABINET.
12,
The Cabinet a g r e e d
—
(a)
To meet the same e v e n i n g ,
Wednesday, February 22nd,
i n the Prime M i n i s t e r s
Room at t h e House o f Commons,
at 7-SO p.m.
(b)
T Q h o l d t h e i r next r e g u l a r
w e e k l y M e e t i n g on Wednesday,
March 1 s t , a t 11 a,m,
at
N o . 10, Downing S t r e e t .
2 , W h i t e h a l l Gardens, S.W.1,
February 2 2 , 19 3 3 .