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DOCUMENT
IS
T H E PROPERTY
Printed
OF
H I S
BRITANNIC
for the Cabinet.
MAJESTVS
GOVERNMENT
December 1947
Copy Wo.
SECRET
C M . (47)
93rd Conclusions
C A B I N E T 9 3 (47)
CONCLUSIONS
of a Meeting of the Cabinet held at 10 Downing Street, S.W. 1,
on Thursday, 4th December, 1947, at 11 a.m.
Present
The R i g h t H o i
M.P . , P r i m e M i n i s t e r (in the
ATTI
Chair).
The R i g h t Hon. HERBERT MORRISON, The R i g h t Hon. ERNEST BEVIN, M . P . ,
M . P . , L o r d P r e s i d e n t of t h e Council. I
S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e f o r F o r e i g n
;
Affairs (Items 1 - 3 ) .
The R i g h t H o n . S i r S T A F F O R D C R I P P S , I T h e R i g h t H o n . A . V . A L E X A N D E R ,
K.C.,
M P , Chancellor
of t h e
M . P . , M i n i s t e r of Defence.
Exchequer.
The R i g h t H o n . V I S C O U N T A D D I S O N , T h e R i g h t H o n . V I S C O U N T J O W I T T ,
L o r d Chancellor.
L o r d P r i v y Seal.
T
h
e R i g h t H o n . A. CREECH JONES,
The R i g h t H o n . J . C H U T E R E D E , M . P . ,
M . P . , S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for t h e
Secretary of S t a t e f o r t h e H o m e
Colonies.
Department.
The Right Hon. P . J . NOEL-BAKER,
The
Right
H o n . T H E E A R L OF
M.P.,
Secretary
of
State
for
L I S T O W E L , Secretary of S t a t e f o r
Commonwealth Relations.
Burma.
T h e R i g h t H o n . A . WOODBURN, M . P . ,
Secretary of S t a t e f o r Scotland.
The R i g h t H o n . T . W I L L I A M S , M . P . ,
Minister
of
Agriculture
and
Fisheries.
T h e R i g h t H o n . G. A.
ISAACS, 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 R i g h t H o n . GEORGE TOMLINSON,
M . P . , M i n i s t e r of E d u c a t i o n .
T h e following were also p r e s e n t
The r i i g h t Hon. A R T H U R
HENDERSON,
K . C . , M . P . , S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e f o r
A i r (Item 6).
The Right
Hon. L E W I S
M i n i s t e r of T o w n
P l a n n i n g (Item 6).
SILKIN,
and
M.P.,
Country
The R i g h t Hon. W . W H I T E L E Y , M . P . ,
The R i g h t H o n . G. R . S T R A U S S , M . P . ,
M i n i s t e r of S u p p l y (Item 6).
Parliamentary
(Items 1-5).
Secretary,
Treasury
Mr. MICHAEL STEWART, M.P.,
The R i g h t H o n . W . J . E D W A R D S , M . P . ,
Civil Lord, A d m i r a l t y (Item 6).
Parlia-
m e n t a r y U n d e r - S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for
W a r (Item 6).
Secretariat:
S i r N O R M A N BROOK.
Mr. W.
Mr.
34724-4
S. M U R R I E .
S. E .
V . LUKE.
B
C A B I N E T 93 (47)'
CONTENTS
Minute
No.
Subject
1
Palestine
2
S i t u a t i o n in A d e n
....
3
Parliament
....
Page
....
....
133
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
134
....
134
....
135
B u s i n e s s i n t h e H o u s e of C o m m o n s .
B u s i n e s s i n t h e H o u s e of L o r d s .
Parliamentary Printing.
4
G o v e r n m e n t P u b l i c i t y Service
5
M a r r i a g e of H . R . H . T h e P r i n c e s s E l i z a b e t h
....
135
Civil L i s t P r o v i s i o n .
6
L a n d R e q u i r e m e n t s of t h e Service D e p a r t m e n t s a n d t h e
M i n i s t r y of S u p p l y ....
....
....
....
....
....
135
133
Palestine.
(Previous
Reference:
C.M.(47)90th
Conclusions,
Minute
2.)
,.
C M . 93 (17)
1. T h e C a b i n e t considered a m e m o r a n d u m by t h e F o r e i g n
Secretary a n d the Secretary of S t a t e for the Colonies ( C P . (47) 320)
on t h e w i t h d r a w a l of B r i t i s h a u t h o r i t y from P a l e s t i n e .
T h e m e m o r a n d u m recommended t h a t , while H i s M a j e s t y ' s
Government should do n o t h i n g to obstruct t h e c a r r y i n g o u t of t h e
U n i t e d N a t i o n s decision i n favour of t h e p a r t i t i o n of P a l e s t i n e ,
B r i t i s h troops a n d t h e B r i t i s h a d m i n i s t r a t i o n should i n no circum­
stances become involved i n enforcing t h a t decision o r i n m a i n t a i n i n g
law a n d order while the U n i t e d N a t i o n s Commission enforced i t .
I t w a s suggested t h a t t h e w i t h d r a w a l of the B r i t i s h forces a n d
a d m i n i s t r a t i o n should be c a r r i e d out i n accordance w i t h the p l a n
s u m m a r i s e d in A n n e x B of C P . (47) 320. T h i s would m e a n t h a t
the civil a d m i n i s t r a t i o n would be t e r m i n a t e d by 15th M a y , 1948,
a n d the w i t h d r a w a l completed by 1st A u g u s t . 1948. No feasible
a r r a n g e m e n t could be m a d e for the division of a u t h o r i t y between
the P a l e s t i n e Government a n d the U n i t e d N a t i o n s Commission :
indeed, even the a r r i v a l of the Commission would probably provoke
A r a b d i s t u r b a n c e s on a scale w h i c h would seriously affect the w i t h ­
d r a w a l p l a n a n d e n d a n g e r the whole B r i t i s h position i n t h e M i d d l e
E a s t . E v e r y t h i n g possible should therefore be done t o ensure t h a t
the a r r i v a l of the Commission w a s delayed a t least u n t i l the begin­
n i n g of May, by w h i c h time a u t h o r i t y could be t r a n s f e r r e d w i t h o u t
p r e j u d i c e to the w i t h d r a w a l p l a n ; a n d the U n i t e d K i n g d o m r e p r e ­
sentative a t the U n i t e d N a t i o n s should be i n s t r u c t e d t o n e g o t i a t e
w i t h the Commission accordingly. H e would also have to n e g o t i a t e
w i t h the Commission on financial, economic a n d o t h e r m a t t e r s
connected w i t h the t r a n s f e r of a u t h o r i t y . A l t h o u g h i t would n o t
be possible to m a i n t a i n preventive measures i n P a l e s t i n e a g a i n s t
illegal i m m i g r a t i o n after 1st F e b r u a r y , every effort should be made,
so long as H i s M a j e s t y ' s G o v e r n m e n t r e m a i n e d responsible for t h e
a d m i n i s t r a t i o n of the t e r r i t o r y , to check this traffic by m e a s u r e s
t a k e n outside P a l e s t i n e . I f i t proved i m p r a c t i c a b l e t o m a i n t a i n
the present i m m i g r a t i o n quota, the first step should be to remove
the legal i m m i g r a n t s n o w i n Cyprus, w h o should in a n y event be
t r a n s f e r r e d to P a l e s t i n e before o u r w i t h d r a w a l w a s completed.
P a r l i a m e n t a r y Counsel should be i n s t r u c t e d to prepare t h e legisla­
t i o n which would be necessary on the r e l i n q u i s h m e n t of t h e M a n d a t e .
I n discussion the following p o i n t s were m a d e :—
(a) The Chancellor
of the Exchequer
said t h a t n e g o t i a t i o n s
would have to t a k e place w i t h t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s Commission on
some complex financial a n d economic questions, such as t h e exclusion
of P a l e s t i n e from t h e s t e r l i n g a r e a on the t e r m i n a t i o n of the B r i t i s h
a d m i n i s t r a t i o n . T h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m r e p r e s e n t a t i v e a t the U n i t e d
N a t i o n s should be informed t h a t i n s t r u c t i o n s on these questions
would be sent to h i m a s soon as possible, a n d t h a t e x p e r t assistance
for the n e g o t i a t i o n s would, if necessary, be p r o v i d e d for h i m . I n
the first instance, the Overseas N e g o t i a t i o n s Committee should
p r e p a r e a comprehensive p a p e r for consideration by M i n i s t e r s .
(b) The Minister
of Defence said t h a t p a r a g r a p h 1 *(4) of
C P . (47) 320 should be e x p a n d e d to i n d i c a t e the i m p o r t a n c e a t t a c h e d
by H i s M a j e s t y ' s Government t o t h e n e g o t i a t i o n w i t h t h e U n i t e d
N a t i o n s Commission of suitable a r r a n g e m e n t s for t h e custody or
disposal of Service stores left i n P a l e s t i n e after o u r w i t h d r a w a l .
I t w a s agreed t h a t t h i s m a t t e r should also be d e a l t w i t h i n
the p a p e r to be p r e p a r e d by t h e Overseas N e g o t i a t i o n s Committee.
(c) T h e C a b i n e t were informed t h a t every effort w o u l d be m a d e
by the N a v y to m a i n t a i n preventive measures a g a i n s t illegal i m m i ­
g r a n t s a f t e r 1st F e b r u a r y , a n d t h a t i t w a s h o p e d t h a t the t r a n s ­
s h i p m e n t of illegal i m m i g r a n t s , for t r a n s f e r t o C y p r u s , could be
m a n a g e d w i t h o u t m i l i t a r y assistance. These a r r a n g e m e n t s would
not, however, be effective if t h e traffic became heavy.
(d) Some doubt w a s felt w h e t h e r t h e local m i l i t a r y a u t h o r i t i e s
in P a l e s t i n e would be competent t o m a k e a correct selection of stores
for evacuation i n t h e l i g h t of t h e g e n e r a l s u p p l y position a n d of
needs elsewhere. I t w a s agreed t h a t , i n view of the m a g n i t u d e of
the task, i t would be advisable t o m a k e a special a p p o i n t m e n t for
3 4 7 2 4 - 4
B 2
t h e specific p u r p o s e of supervising the collection and evacuation of
m i l i t a r y stores from P a l e s t i n e .
(e) W o u l d the U n i t e d N a t i o n s Commission have legal power
to assume responsibility for m a t t e r s , such as the maintenance of
contracts, w h i c h H i s M a j e s t y ' s Government would wish to transfer
to them i n d u e course? I t w a s pointed out thai, this question h a d
been r a i s e d d u r i n g t h e discussions i n New York, a n d t h a t the
G e n e r a l Assembly h a d considered t h a t t h e Commission would possess
t h e necessary powers. T h e Commission would have the r i g h t to
invoke the assistance of the Security Council.
The C a b i n e t ­
(1) E n d o r s e d the recommendations made i n C P . (47) 320 on
f u t u r e policy i n Palestine, a n d approved those recom­
m e n d a t i o n s as a basis for the negotiations w i t h the
U n i t e d N a t i o n s Commission to be u n d e r t a k e n by the
U n i t e d K i n g d o m r e p r e s e n t a t i v e a t the U n i t e d N a t i o n s ;
(2) I n v i t e d the M i n i s t e r of Defence to a r r a n g e for a special
a p p o i n t m e n t to be m a d e for supervision of the collection
a n d evacuation of m i l i t a r y stores from Palestine.
2. T h e C a b i n e t were informed t h a t the Governor of Aden
h a d r e p o r t e d t h a t a n t i - J e w i s h riots h a d broken out in the Colony
on the p r e v i o u s day, a n d t h a t a s t a t e of emergency h a d been
proclaimed.
I t w a s a g r e e d t h a t i m m e d i a t e steps should be taken to reinforce
the local security forces, if the l a t t e r proved unable to control the
s i t u a t i o n . I t w a s suggested t h a t t r o o p s m i g h t be sent by a i r from
E g y p t , a n d t h a t the possibility of d e s p a t c h i n g one of K M . ships
to A d e n should also be considered.
Situation
in
Aden.
The C a b i n e t I n v i t e d the M i n i s t e r of Defence, in consultation w i t h the
Secretary of S t a t e for the Colonies, to consider urgently
w h a t steps should be taken to reinforce the security forces
in A d e n .
Parliament.
B u s i n e s s in
the House
of
Commons.
B u s i n e s s in
t h e H o u s e of
Lords.
Parliamentary
Printing.
3. The C a b i n e t w e r e informed of the business to be taken in
the H o u s e of Commons in the following week.
I t w a s expected t h a t the House of Commons would complete
t h e i r consideration of the P a r l i a m e n t Bill d u r i n g the following­
week. T h e C a b i n e t a g r e e d t h a t proceedings on this Bill in the House
of L o r d s could be d e f e r r e d u n t i l a f t e r the C h r i s t m a s Recess.
A t t e n t i o n w a s d r a w n to the d a n g e r t h a t proceedings in the
H o u s e of L o r d s on the E m e r g e n c y L a w s (Miscellaneous Provisions)
Bill m i g h t be delayed by discussions on the Control of Engagement
a n d R e g i s t r a t i o n for E m p l o y m e n t Orders.
Some Opposition
Members m i g h t even seek to c a r r y a m e n d m e n t s to t h a t Bill limiting
the G o v e r n m e n t s power to direct labour. Every effort would be
m a d e to p e r s u a d e the H o u s e of L o r d s t h a t these m a t t e r s lay outside
the scope of t h a t Bill, which should be passed into law before
31st December, 1947, and t h a t other o p p o r t u n i t i e s should be found
to debate these m a t t e r s .
T h e C a b i n e t w e r e informed t h a t the London Society of
Compositors h a d , i n f u r t h e r a n c e of a n i n d u s t r i a l dispute, ordered
t h e i r members to s u s p e n d a t once all w o r k i n g of overtime. The
S p e a k e r h a d p o i n t e d o u t that, if t h i s o r d e r were c a r r i e d out, it
would seriously dislocate the work of the House of Commons. The
Minister
of Labour informed the Cabinet of the history of this
d i s p u t e a n d said t h a t he was a l r e a d y in touch w i t h the Unions
concerned. H e undertook to d r a w t h e i r p a r t i c u l a r attention to the
p r i n t i n g needs of the H o u s e of Commons a n d to see whether arrange ­
m e n t s could n o t be m a d e to ensure t h a t those needs would continue
to be met.
135
Government
Publicity
Service.
(Previous
Reference:
C M (46) 1 7 t h
M i n u t e 4.)
Marriage
H.R.H.
'
of
the
Princess
Elizabeth.
Civil
List
Provision.
(Previous Reference:
C M . (47) 9 2 n d Conclusions, Minute
4.)
4. The Lord President
s a i d t h a t a t t h e i r m e e t i n g i n the
following week the P a r l i a m e n t a r y L a b o u r P a r t y would be
discussing the G o v e r n m e n t s publicity services, a n d the suggestion
would be m a d e t h a t a M i n i s t e r of I n f o r m a t i o n should be a p p o i n t e d .
Subject to the C a b i n e t ' s views, he proposed to take the line t h a t it
i m p r a c t i c a b l e for a single M i n i s t e r to assume responsibility
^
h a n d l i n g of all G o v e r n m e n t publicity, a n d to stress the dam­
culties which would a r i s e if a s e p a r a t e M i n i s t e r dealt w i t h the
publicity aspects of policies for w h i c h o t h e r M i n i s t e r s were
accountable to P a r l i a m e n t .
The C a b i n e t E n d o r s e d the line w h i c h the L o r d P r e s i d e n t proposed to
t a k e in opposing, a t the forthcoming m e e t i n g of the P a r l i a ­
m e n t a r y L a b o u r P a r t y , suggestions for the a p p o i n t m e n t
of a M i n i s t e r for I n f o r m a t i o n .
w
a
or
Conclusions,
C M . 93 (17)'
s
t
n
e
5. The Prime Minister
recalled t h a t on 2nd December the
C a b i n e t h a d a p p r o v e d t h e suggestion t h a t the a n n u a l sum of £15,000
h i t h e r t o p a i d to H e r R o y a l H i g h n e s s T h e P r i n c e s s E l i z a b e t h should
now be raised to £30,000 a n d t h a t a f u r t h e r £10,000 should be p r o ­
vided for H i s Royal H i g h n e s s T h e D u k e of E d i n b u r g h . I n the l i g h t
of the evidence given to the Select C o m m i t t e e on the previous d a y
r e g a r d i n g the probable cost of m a i n t a i n i n g a s e p a r a t e household,
he a n d the Chancellor of the E x c h e q u e r were now inclined to the
view t h a t it would be more reasonable to suggest t h a t the a n n u a l
sum p a i d to P r i n c e s s E l i z a b e t h should be r a i s e d to £35,000, m a k i n g
a t o t a l provision of £45,000 a year.
T h e C a b i n e t endorsed this view.
The Cabinet—
A g r e e d t h a t t h e proposals to be l a i d before the Select Com­
mittee r e g a r d i n g the financial provision to be m a d e for
H e r Royal H i g h n e s s T h e P r i n c e s s E l i z a b e t h a n d H i s R o y a l
H i g h n e s s T h e D u k e of E d i n b u r g h , which they h a d
a p p r o v e d on 2 n d December, should be so modified as to
provide a f u r t h e r £5,000 a y e a r for P r i n c e s s E l i z a b e t h .
Land
Require­
m e n t s of t h e
Service
Departments
and
the
Ministry
of
Supply.
(Previous
Reference:
C M . (47) 58th
Conclusions,
Minute
4.)
6. O n 1st J u l y the C a b i n e t h a d a p p r o v e d i n p r i n c i p l e the
proposals submitted to t h e m i n C P . (47) 184 for the use of l a n d for
t r a i n i n g a n d other p u r p o s e s by the Service D e p a r t m e n t s a n d the
M i n i s t r y of Supply, b u t h a d asked t h a t t h e d r a f t W h i t e P a p e r
e x p l a i n i n g these proposals should be revised.
T h e C a b i n e t now h a d before them a m e m o r a n d u m by the M i n i s ­
ter of Defence ( C P . (47) 318) covering a revised, d r a f t , w h i c h h a d
been p r e p a r e d i n consultation w i t h all the D e p a r t m e n t s concerned
a n d took account of a r e d u c t i o n of 103,000 acres i n the W a r Office
requirement.
I t w a s proposed t h a t t h e W h i t e P a p e r should be
p r e s e n t e d by the P r i m e M i n i s t e r on 10th December; a n d t h a t the
M i n i s t e r of T o w n a n d C o u n t r y P l a n n i n g , w i t h the Secretary of S t a t e
for W a r , should e x p l a i n its contents to a Conference of Lobby
C o r r e s p o n d e n t s on t h a t day. These M i n i s t e r s would also speak on
the G o v e r n m e n t s behalf i n any P a r l i a m e n t a r y debate on the W h i t e
Paper.
I n discussion the following points were m a d e :—
(a) P a r a g r a p h 20 of the d r a f t W h i t e P a p e r , which set out the
reasons w h y t h e remoter a r e a s of S c o t l a n d were unsuitable for
t r a i n i n g purposes, should be so recast a s to give more e m p h a s i s to
the remoteness of these a r e a s a n d less to t h e i r d i s a d v a n t a g e s of
t e r r a i n a n d climate.
(b) T h e figure of 32,000 acres given as t h e a p p r o x i m a t e r e q u i r e ­
ment of l a n d for M i n i s t r y of S u p p l y p u r p o s e s i n p a r a g r a p h 33 need
not be altered because of a project for a c q u i r i n g a n a d d i t i o n a l 1,000
acres for these purposes.
(c) The w o r d s " a n d forestry " should, be deleted from the
h e a d i n g of p a r a g r a p h 31.
(d) The M i n i s t e r of T o w n a n d C o u n t r y P l a n n i n g hoped shortly
to be able to communicate w i t h the H o m e Secretary on the question
w h e t h e r any a m e n d m e n t of the M i l i t a r y L a n d s Act, 1892, or the
R e q u i s i t i o n e d L a n d a n d W a r W o r k s Act, 1945, -was necessary in
o r d e r t o preserve the r i g h t of access to common l a n d acquired under
these A c t s a n d subsequently released.
The C a b i n e t ­
(1) A p p r o v e d the d r a f t W h i t e P a p e r annexed to C P . (47) 318,
subject to the amendments noted in p a r a g r a p h s (a) and
(c) above, a n d to such o t h e r minor or d r a f t i n g amend­
ments as m i g h t be found, necessary; a n d agreed t h a t it
should be presented by the P r i m e Minister on
10th December;
(2) A g r e e d t h a t the M i n i s t e r of T o w n a n d C o u n t r y Planning,
w i t h t h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for W a r , should hold a Con­
ference w i t h Lobby correspondents on the day on which
the W h i t e P a p e r w a s presented, a n d t h a t these Ministers
should be the Government spokesmen i n any Pariiamen­
t a r y d e b a t e on the W h i t e P a p e r .
inet Office, S. W. 1,
Ath December, 1947.