(c) crown copyright
Catalogue Reference:CAB/23/9
Image Reference:0029
[This Document is the Property of His * Britannic Majesty s Government.]
Printed
sec
for
the War
Cabinet.
March
.1919.
hit.
V*1
4
WAR
Minutes
of
a Meeting
CABINET,
held at 1 0 , Downing
542.
Street,
S.W.,
on Thursday,
March
6,
at 1 2 noon.
1919,
Present :
T h e R i g h t Hon. A . BONAR L A W , M . P . (in the
The Right
H o n . t h e E a r l CURZON OP
KEDLESTON, K . G . , . G . C . 3 . L , G . C . I . E .
Chair).
T h e R i g h t Hon. G . N. BARNES, M.P.
T h e f o l l o w i n g w e r e also p r e s e n t :
T h e R i g h t Hon. W . LONG, M.P.,
L o r d of the A d m i r a l t y .
First
The
M.P.,
-
Right
Hon.
E . SHORTT, K . C . ,
T h e R i g h t Hon. S i r A . C. GEDDES, K . C . B . ,
M . P . , M i n i s t e r of Reconstruction a n d
National Service.
T h e R i g h t Hon. S i r J . MACLAY, B a r t . ,
S h i p p i n g C o n t r o l l e r (for - M i n u t e s 2
and 3 ) .
Right
Hon.
Sir
L.
WORTHINGTON
E V A N S , B a r t . , M . P . , M i n i s t e r of P e n s i o n s
(for M i n u t e 4 ) .
T h e R i g h t l i o n L o r d INVERFORTH, M i n i s t e r
of M u n i t i o n s (for M i n u t e 1 ) .
The
R i g h t Hon.
H. A . L . FISHER,
M . P . , P r e s i d e n t of
the
E d u c a t i o n (for M i n u t e 4 ) .
Major-General
P.
P.
DE B.
M.P.,
RADUXIFFE,
C . B . , D.S.O., D i r e c t o r
of
O p e r a t i o n s (for M i n u t e s 1 - 3 ) .
Military
S i r T . W . HOLDERNESS, G.C.B., K . C . S . I . ,
Permanent Under - Secretary,
India
Office (for M i n u t e 1 ) .
Colonel L. S. A M E R Y , M.P., P a r l i a m e n t a r y
S e c r e t a r y , Colonial Office (for M i n u t e 1 ) .
M a j o r the Hon. W . ASTOR, M.P., P a r l i a mentary Secretar)', Local Government
B o a r d (for M i n u t e 4 ) .
Mr. W . T . LAYTON, C.B.E.,
M u n i t i o n s (for M i n u t e 1 ) .
M i n i s t r y of
of
Secretary.
M r . G. M. E V A N S , Assistant.
Secretary.
L i e u t e n a n t - C o l o n e l L . STORR, C.B., Assistant
Mr. PEMBROKE WICE:S, Assistant
[8261-308
W . S. CHURCHILL,
LL.D.,
Board
Mr. THOMAS JONES, Acting
R i g h t Hon.
S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for W a r .
S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for Home Affairs (for
Minute 4).
The
The
Secretary.
Secretary.
P
Arms Traffic.
1. T h e W a r C a b i n e t h a d before t h e m the R e p o r t of a S u b C o m m i t t e e o f t h e C o m m i t t e e o f I m p e r i a l Defence on A r m s Traffic
( P a p e r P . - 1 3 ) ; a M e m o r a n d u m by t h e F o r e i g n Office ( P a p e r
G . T . - 6 8 7 5 ) , to w h i c h w a s a t t a c h e d a D r a f t C o n v e n t i o n for t h e
control of a r m s traffic ; and t n e R e p o r t of an I n t e r - D e p a r t m e n t a l
Conference, h e l d a t the I n d i a Office on t h e 2 4 t h F e b r u a r y , 1 9 1 9
( P . - 1 0 8 ) , w h i c h h a d m e t to consider a t e l e g r a m from t h e B r i t i s h
Delegation i n P a r i s (No. 3 2 7 ) to t h e W a r C a b i n e t , r e q u e s t i n g an
e a r l y decision of t h e C a b i n e t on t h e subject, as n e g o t i a t i o n s w i t h the
French t o s e c u r e t h e i r a d h e s i o n to t h e d r a f t of t h e A r m s Conven­
tion w e r e a b o u t to open.
S i r T h o m a s H o l d e r n e s s s t a t e d t h a t h e h a d been the C h a i r m a n
of t h e I n t e r - D e p a r t m e n t a l Conference, a n d briefly e x p l a i n e d t h e
r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s m a d e in the C o n f e r e n c e ^ R e p o r t . T h e Conference
h a d to consider w h e t h e r t h e policy embodied in t h e R e p o r t of t h e
A r m s C o m m i t t e e w a s to p r e v a i l , or w h e t h e r r e a l i s a t i o n of B r i t i s h
s u r p l u s s t o c k s w a s t o continue. If disposal w a s to be a l l o w e d at all,
it w a s d e s i r a b l e t o d e t e r m i n e w h a t s a f e g u a r d s w o u l d h a v e to be
insisted upon. T h e Conference found t h a t t h e only e x i s t i n g c o n t r a c t
a t present w i t h t h e M i n i s t r y of M u n i t i o n s w a s one to s u p p l y
g u n s , & c , to t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s G o v e r n m e n t to t h e v a l u e of
7,0O0,0O0L, b u t n e g o t i a t i o n s w e r e proceeding, for t h e s u p p l y of
a r m s , & c , from s u r p l u s s t o c k s t o v a r i o u s n e u t r a l G o v e r n m e n t s .
In t h e F o r e i g n Office m e m o r a n d u m a s u g g e s t i o n h a d been
m a d e t h a t t h e Conference over which h e h a d p r e s i d e d should,
in d e f a u l t of a n y other solution, d r a w up t w o l i s t s , ( a ) of
c o u n t r i e s to which w a r m a t e r i a l m i g h t be sold r e g a r d l e s s of i t s
n a t u r e , (6) of w a r m a t e r i a l w h i c h m i g h t safely b e sold r e g a r d l e s s of
t h e c o u n t r y of destination.
I n r e s p e c t of these s u g g e s t i o n s t h e
Conference h a d been faced w i t h t h e difficulty t h a t c e r t a i n c o u n t r i e s
could n o t b e t r u s t e d not to re-sell a r m s p u r c h a s e d b y t h e m to
u n c i v i l i s e d r a c e s . A f u r t h e r proposal h a d been m a d e , to t h e effect
t h a t g u n s , a n d g u n a m m u n i t i o n , a n d possibly bombs, a n d m a c h i n e
g u n s should be left out of t h e Convention, a n d t h a t in r e g a r d to t h e s e
t h e L e a g u e of N a t i o n s m i g h t impose a u n i v e r s a l r a t i o n i n g s y s t e m .
M r . B o n a r L a w said t h a t he t h o u g h t t h a t t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s
would n e v e r a g r e e t o t h e u n r e s t r i c t e d s a l e of g u n s a n d a m m u n i t i o n ,
e s p e c i a l l y to L a t i n A m e r i c a . T h e best w a y , in his v i e w , w o u l d be
s i m p l y t o confine t h e Convention t o small a r m s , to w h i c h t h e r e should
be no difficulty in o b t a i n i n g t h e concurrence of t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s .
T h e M i n i s t e r of M u n i t i o n s , in reply t o a q u e s t i o n , s a i d t h a t his
D e p a r t m e n t n a t u r a l l y w a s v e r y a n x i o u s to see t h e s u r p l u s s t o c k s sold.
L o r d C u r z o n s a i d t h a t t h e problem o r i g i n a l l y arose out of t h e
a r m s traffic in t h e R e d S e a a n d t h e P e r s i a n Gulf. T h e s i t u a t i o n w a s
now c o m p l i c a t e d b y t h e enormous a m o u n t of m a t e r i a l t h a t e x i s t e d . In
t h e old d a y s w e h a d received no a s s i s t a n c e from F r a n c e in s t o p p i n g t h e
traffic, b u t both F r a n c e a n d t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s w e r e now so f r i g h t e n e d
about t h e consequences of g r e a t q u a n t i t i e s of a r m s g e t t i n g into t h e
w r o n g h a n d s t h a t t h e y w e r e w i l l i n g to m a k e common cause w i t h us.
T h e W a r C a b i n e t d e c i d e d :—
( a . ) T h a t t h e t e r m s of t h e Draft Convention should be so
a m e n d e d a s t o refer to a n d i n c l u d e small a r m s a n d s m a l l
a r m s a m m u n i t i o n only ;
(b.) T h a t , c o n s e q u e n t l y , a r t i c l e 3 s h o u l d s t a n d , a n d t h a t t h e
proposed a m e n d m e n t of t h e I n t e r - D e p a r t m e n t a l Con­
ference of t h i s a r t i c l e n e e d not be a c c e p t e d ;
(c.) T h a t a r t i c l e 4 of t h e C o n v e n t i o n should b e a m e n d e d b y
o m i t t i n g e v e r y t h i n g following t h e w o r d s " a l l d e s t i n a ­
t i o n s " i n line 2 ;
(d.) To a d d a t t h e e n d of a r t i c l e 5 t h e w o r d s , " w h i c h will satisfy
i t s e l f i n each case t h a t t h e a r m s a n d a m m u n i t i o n a r e
r e q u i r e d for a l e g i t i m a t e purpose."
(e.) To d e l e t e in A r t i c l e 25 t h e w o r d s " a n d r a w m a t e r i a l s for
explosives."
1 J3
And directed—
The A c t i n g S e c r e t a r y to r e p l y to t e l e g r a m No. 327 from t h e
S e c r e t a r y to t h e B r i t i s h D e l e g a t i o n in t h e a b o v e sense.
Assistance to
General Denekin.
2. The W a r C a b i n e t h a d u n d e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n a M e m o r a n d u m
b y t h e S h i p p i n g C o n t r o l l e r ( P a p e r G . T . - 6 9 2 2 ) w i t h reference to t h e
s h i p p i n g w h i c h w o u l d be r e q u i r e d t o t r a n s p o r t m u n i t i o n s of w a r t o
t h e B l a c k S e a for t h e a s s i s t a n c e of G e n e r a l D e n e k i n , in w h i c h it w a s
s t a t e d t h a t a d d i t i o n a l t o n n a g e t o t h e e x t e n t of 1 5 0 per cent, of t h a t
hitherto,, i n d i c a t e d w o u l d be r e q u i r e d , i n v o l v i n g t h e use of some
t w e n t y or more s h i p s of 5 , 0 0 0 tons, t h a t , o w i n g to the s h o r t a g e of
t o n n a g e , t h e S h i p p i n g Controller c o n s i d e r e d t h e d e m a n d as v e r y
serious, a n d t h a t , if t h e work w e r e t o be u n d e r t a k e n , I t a l y a n d
F r a n c e should be c a l l e d upon to g i v e a t l e a s t e q u a l a s s i s t a n c e , a s a n
A l l i e d responsibility.
The S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for W a r s a i d t h a t t h e s h i p p i n g he a s k e d
for w o u l d n o t a l l be r e q u i r e d a t once, b u t he w i s h e d to a v o i d
successive d e l a y s in o b t a i n i n g ships from t i m e to t i m e a s t h e y w e r e
required. A n Inter-Departmental Committee, which had j u s t m e t
u n d e r Lord Curzon's C h a i r m a n s h i p , h a d d e c i d e d to r e c o m m e n d t o
t h e W a r C a b i n e t a threefold policy i n t h e C a u c a s u s —
(i.) To m a k e p r e p a r a t i o n s t o w i t h d r a w ;
(ii.) To c o m p e n s a t e G e n e r a l D e n e k i n for our w i t h d r a w a l b y
s u p p l y i n g h i m w i t h m a t e r i a l a n d m u n i t i o n s of w a r , a n d
w i t h a m i l i t a r y mission a s proposed ;
( h i . ) To m a k e it a condition of s u c h s u p p o r t t h a t G e n e r a l
D e n e k i n should not i n t e r f e r e w i t h t h e G e o r g i a n s a n d
other i n d e p e n d e n t S t a t e s in t h e C a u c a s u s .
H e r e g a r d e d t h e s u p p l y of a r m s to G e n e r a l Denekin a s a lever, on
t h e one h a n d , to e n a b l e h i m to fight t h e B o l s h e v i k s , a n d , on t h e
other, to p r e v e n t h i m from m a l t r e a t i n g t h e S o u t h e r n S t a t e s ; a n d
t h e s u p p l y of t h i s m a t e r i a l w a s . t h e r e f o r e a n essential p a r t of t h e
scheme for r e m o v i n g our troops a s q u i c k l y a s possible. He proposed
to spread t h e s u p p l y over the n e x t few m o n t h s , doling i t out to
General D e n e k i n a c c o r d i n g to h i s r e q u i r e m e n t s . I t w a s n e c e s s a r y t o
r e t a i n t h e p o w e r t o control him if he d i d not fall in w i t h our w i s h e s .
M r . C h u r c h i l l hoped t h a t t h e S h i p p i n g C o n t r o l l e r w o u l d be w i l l i n g
to s u p p l y t h e s h i p p i n g w i t h i n t h e n e x t few m o n t h s , in order t h a t
t h e W a r Office m i g h t c a r r y out a coherent policy w i t h r e g a r d to t h e
Caucasus.
I t w a s useless to i n v i t e e i t h e r t h e F r e n c h or t h e
A m e r i c a n s to p r o v i d e t h e s h i p p i n g , a s G e n e r a l D e n e k i n c a m e s o l e l y
w i t h i n t h e B r i t i s h s p h e r e , t h o u g h h e a g r e e d t h a t t h e fact t h a t w e
w e r e s u p p l y i n g t h e s h i p p i n g for t h e C a u c a s u s w a s a p o i n t w h i c h
should be r a i s e d i n r e g a r d t o other c l a i m s b y t h e A l l i e s for shipping­
a s s i s t a n c e from t h i s c o u n t r y ; for e x a m p l e , t h e t r a n s p o r t of G e n e r a l
H a l l e r ' s a r m y to Poland. Moreover, t h e d e m a n d for t w e n t y s h i p m e n t s
of 5 , 0 0 0 t o n s did not i n v o l v e t h e e m p l o y m e n t of t w e n t y ships for
more t h a n a s i n g l e v o y a g e . T h e t r a n s p o r t of t h i s m a t e r i a l w o u l d
be s p r e a d over s o m e m o n t h s , a n d it w a s q u i t e possible t h a t only a
q u a r t e r of t h a t n u m b e r of ships w o u l d be r e q u i r e d , each s h i p m a k i n g
several journeys.
The e v a c u a t i o n of t h e B r i t i s h troops could n o t
t a k e place for some m o n t h s , o w i n g to t h e n e c e s s i t y of w i t h d r a w i n g
troops from d i s t a n t p o i n t s , such a s T r a n s - C a s p i a a n d K r a s n o v o d s k ,
a n d m o v i n g t h e m a l o n g t h e B a k u r a i l w a y to B a t u m . Mr. C h u r c h i l l
p o i n t e d out t h a t t h e scheme a d v o c a t e d w a s t h e only p r a c t i c a b l e one
to c a r r y out t h e p o l i c y of e v a c u a t i o n c o n s i s t e n t l y w i t h our o b l i g a t i o n s
to t h e S o u t h e r n peoples, a n d t h e n e c e s s i t y for covering t h e w i t h d r a w a l
of our own troops. I t w a s e s s e n t i a l to s u p p o r t G e n e r a l D e n e k i n , for
if he w e r e to b r e a k down our troops w o u l d be c u t off b y t h e B o l s h e v i k s .
G e n e r a l D e n e k i n w a s a g r e a t shield t o o u r troops along t h e whole of
t h e line.
L o r d Curzon c o n c u r r e d in M r . C h u r c h i l f s o b s e r v a t i o n s w i t h
[826]-308
B
2
r e g a r d to t h e e v a c u a t i o n of troops, a n d pointed o u t t h a t it could not
be c a r r i e d out h u r r i e d l y , b u t m u s ' be progressive, a n d m i g h t be
a t t e n d e d b y disorder and bloodshed, owing to fighting between
t h e local populations in consequence of our w i t h d r a w a l . W e w e r e
r e l y i n g on General D e n e k i n to fight a n d b e a t t h e B o l s h e v i k s .
H e h a d s h o w n a t e n d e n c y , however, to t u r n s o u t h w a r d a n d
a t t a c k t h e S t a t e s on t h e o t h e r side of the C a u c a s u s a s a n easier
t a r g e t . H e w a s a t y p e of t h e old-fashioned m o n a r c h i c a l R u s s i a n
who r e g a r d e d it a s his n a t u r a l role to b r i n g b a c k t h e C a u c a s u s
States under Russian rule.
Lord Curzon s a i d t h a t he w a s
e n t i r e l y in a g r e e m e n t with t h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for W a r t h a t
it w as n e c e s s a r y to r e t a i n control over G e n e r a l D e n e k i n t h r o u g h
the s u p p l y of m a t e r i a l , which s h o u l d be used to c a r r y out his real
object of a t t a c k i n g in t h e north, b u t not in t h e south.
The S h i p p i n g Controller s t a t e d t h a t t h e s h i p p i n g position w a s
becoming more serious e v e r y d a y . N e w proposals were c o n t i n u a l l y
being p u t u p . A l r e a d y e i g h t e e n ships were a s k e d for to t r a n s p o r t
m a t e r i a l to t h e B l a c k S e a , a n d i t w a s now proposed t o increase t h i s
n u m b e r b y 1 5 0 per cent. H e p r o t e s t e d t h a t t h e B r i t i s h G o v e r n m e n t
should not be r e q u i r e d to furnish all t h e ships n e e d e d for t r a n s p o r t .
S h i p s w h i c h h a d r e c e n t l y been t a k e n from t h e A u s t r i a n s b y t h e
I t a l i a n s , a n d were intended t o be u n d e r t h e control of t h e A l l i e s , w e r e
being u s e d b y t h e I t a l i a n s for a g r e a t L i b y a n e x p e d i t i o n .
There
w e r e h e a v y d e m a n d s for t o n n a g e for b r i n g i n g w h e a t from A u s t r a l i a ,
and ships w o u l d s h o r t l y be r e q u i r e d to s u p p l e m e n t t h e w h e a t s u p p l y
of I n d i a . I n addition, t h e r e w e r e over 4 0 0 ships r o u n d t h e coast
r e q u i r i n g r e p a i r s , which it had not been possible to e x e c u t e o w i n g to
the s h i p b u i l d i n g s t r i k e ; w h i l e , o w i n g to t h e possibility of coal trouble,
it h a d been n e c e s s a r y to d i v e r t t o n n a g e to build u p s t o c k s of coal in
our coaling s t a t i o n s . I t w a s q u i t e impossible for h i m t o c a r r y out
properly s h i p p i n g p r o g r a m m e s if c o n s t a n t n e w d e m a n d s w e r e s p r u n g
upon him s u d d e n l y b y t h e W a r Office.
The S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for W a r p r o t e s t e d t h a t it w a s becoming
i n c r e a s i n g l y difficult to c a r r y o u t a n y coherent policy, o w i n g to
objections r a i s e d b y t h e S h i p p i n g Controller a n d t h e T r e a s u r y .
The
W a r Office h a d t r i e d v e r y h a r d t o devise a s c h e m e w i t h i n t h e l i m i t s
laid d o w n b y t h e Cabinet. Moreover, with t h e w i t h d r a w a l of our
forces in t h e C a u c a s u s , a n enormous d r a i n upon s h i p b u i l d i n g would
be removed. A l l h e a s k e d a t p r e s e n t w a s t h a t t h e C a b i n e t should
approve t h e continued d e s p a t c h of these stores, a n d to l e a v e it to
him to a r r a n g e w i t h t h e S h i p p i n g Controller, so far a s possible, to
m a k e t h e n e c e s s a r y provision.
L o r d Curzon observed t h a t t h e a s s i s t a n c e for G e n e r a l D e n e k i n
would go on for some m o n t h s . I t m u s t be s p r e a d over a prolonged
period, a n d h e did not t h i n k t h e s t r a i n on t h e M i n i s t r y of S h i p p i n g
w o u l d be a s g r e a t a t t h e p r e s e n t moment a s S i r J o s e p h M a c l a y
feared.
Mr. B o n a r L a w s u g g e s t e d t h a t t h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for W a r
should a r r a n g e for somebody in t h e W a r Office to h a v e t h e
function of i n v e s t i g a t i n g t h e W a r Office s h i p p i n g r e q u i r e m e n t s ,
and of d i s c u s s i n g them some t i m e in a d v a n c e w i t h t h e S h i p p i n g
Controller.
Mr. Churchill said t h a t Sir S a m F a y was already doing that.
S i r J o s e p h M a c l a y said t h a t he assumed i t w a s understood
t h a t w e s h o u l d e n d e a v o u r to g e t A l l i e d ships for t h e purpose, should
i t be possible.
"The W a r C a b i n e t decided t h a t —
T h e S h i p p i n g Controller should confer 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 , a n d should e n d e a v o u r to do e v e r y t h i n g
possible to provide t h e s h i p p i n g n e c e s s a r y to c a r r y out t h e
W a r C a b i n e f s decision a s to t h e t r a n s p o r t of t h e m a t e r i a l
to t h e B l a c k S e a for t h e support of G e n e r a l D e n e k i n , on
t h e u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h a t t h e provision of s u p p l i e s would be
s p r e a d o v e r a period of s e v e r a l months.
r
Use of Warships
for the Conveyance
of Troops.
3. W i t h reference to W a r C a b i n e t 5 3 7 , M i n u t e 7, t h e W a r
C a b i n e t f u r t h e r considered a s u g g e s t i o n m a d e b y t h e S h i p p i n g
Controller t h a t w a r s h i p s should be used for t h e t r a n s p o r t of troops,
a s w a s beiriir done b y t h e A m e r i c a n G o v e r n m e n t .
T h e F i r s t L o r d of t h e A d m i r a l t y s t a t e d t h a t h e h a d g o n e v e r y
c a r e f u l l y i n t o t h e m a t t e r w i t h his N a v a l A d v i s e r s , a n d h a d come to
t h e conclusion t h a t it w a s impossible to use w a r s h i p s for t h e purpose,
owing to t h e l i m i t e d a c c o m m o d a t i o n on b o a r d . H e h a d no
k n o w l e d g e of how t h e A m e r i c a n s c o n t r i v e d to do i t , b u t a f t e r v e r y
careful e n q u i r y h e w a s convinced t h a t i t w a s not a p r a c t i c a b l e
proposal.
T h e S h i p p i n g Controller said t h a t he found i t v e r y difficult to
believe t h a t i t w a s not possible t o m a k e use of w a r s h i p s for t h e
purpose.
The W a r Cabinet decided t h a t —
T h e F i r s t L o r d of t h e A d m i r a l t y should s u m m o n a m e e t i n g of
h i s N a v a l A d v i s e r s , w h i c h r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of t h e M i n i s t r y of
S h i p p i n g should be i n v i t e d to a t t e n d , in order t h a t t h e
m a t t e r m i g h t b e f u r t h e r explored, h a v i n g r e g a r d in
p a r t i c u l a r to t h e u s e being m a d e b y t h e A m e r i c a n
G o v e r n m e n t of t h e i r w a r s h i p s for t h e t r a n s p o r t of troops.
Ministry of Health.
4. The W a r C a b i n e t h a d u n d e r consideration a m e m o r a n d u m
b y t h e P r e s i d e n t of t h e Local G o v e r n m e n t B o a r d ( P a p e r G . T . - 6 8 6 0 ) ,
in w h i c h t h e W a r Cabinet were a s k e u to a g r e e t o a definite r u l i n g —
( a . ) T h a t no D e p a r t m e n t of S t a t e should c r e a t e a n e w medical
b r a n c h w i t h i n i t s own p r o v i n c e ;
(6.) T h a t no D e p a r t m e n t of S t a t e should e x p a n d an a l r e a d y
e x i s t i n g medical b r a n c h or m a k e new m e d i c a l appoint­
m e n t s , or establish a r e v i s e d scale of m e d i c a l s a l a r i e s .
w i t h o u t t h e concurrence of t h e P r e s i d e n t of t h e Local G o v e r n m e n t
Board.
A f t e r some discussion b e t w e e n t h e M i n i s t e r of P e n s i o n s a n d t h e
P a r l i a m e n t a r y S e c r e t a r y of t h e L o c a l G o v e r n m e n t B o a r d , M r . B o n a r
L a w s u g g e s t e d t h a t t h e proposals in Dr. A d d i s o n ' s m e m o r a n d u m
w e n t f u r t h e r t h a n the case r e q u i r e d , a n d t h a t i t would be sufficient
if t h e M i n i s t e r of H e a l t h w e r e consulted before h i g h e r medical
a p p o i n t m e n t s w e r e m a d e i n a n y b r a n c h of a D e p a r t m e n t w h i c h w a s
l i a b l e t o be t r a n s f e r r e d to t h e M i n i s t r y of H e a l t h . If, on t h e one
h a n d , t h i s a r r a n g e m e n t w e r e found b u r d e n s o m e by t h e D e p a r t m e n t
concerned, or if, on t h e other, t h e M i n i s t e r ot H e a l t h found t h a t
a p p o i n t m e n t s w e r e being m a d e to t h e p r e j u d i c e of t h e a d m i n i s t r a ­
tion of t h e branch w h e n i t w a s t r a n s f e r r e d to him, t h e m a t t e r could
be b r o u g h t before t h e C a b i n e t .
T h e W a r C a b i n e t decided t h a t —
A n i n s t r u c t i o n should be i s s u e d to a l l D e p a r t m e n t s , which were
l i a b l e t o be t r a n s f e r r e d to t h e M i n i s t r y of H e a l t h , t h a t
i m p o r t a n t a p p o i n t m e n t s of m e d i c a l officers should only be
m a d e a f t e r c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h t h e M i n i s t e r of H e a l t h .
Supreme Economic
Council.
5. W i t h reference to W a r C a b i n e t 5 3 5 , M i n u t e 6, a n d
P a p e r I . C . - 1 3 6 , M i n u t e 5, t h e W a r C a b i n e t took note of, a n d
a p p r o v e d , t h e following decision of t h e B r i t i s h E m p i r e D e l e g a t i o n
( P a p e r B . E . D . - 1 0 , M i n u t e 1 ) on t h e subject of t h e SupremepCconomic
Council : ­
( a . ) T h a t t h e S u p r e m e Economic Council s h o u l d be c o n s t i t u t e d ,
a s r e g a r d s t h e B r i t i s h E m p i r e , on t h e p a n e l s y s t e m , w i t h
five r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s for G r e a t B r i t a i n , t h e Dominions,
a n d India. L o r d R o b e r t Cecil w o u l d be t h e principal
B r i t i s h Delegate on t h e C o u n c i l ; .
(b.) T h a t , i n s t e a d of h a v i n g t w o C o m m i t t e e s , one B r i t i s h a n d
one Dominions a n d I n d i a , to a d v i s e t h e B r i t i s h r e p r e s e n ­
t a t i v e s on t h e S u p r e m e Economic Council, a s h a d been
a g r e e d b y t h e W a r C a b i n e t on t h e 2 4 t h F e b r u a r y , t h e r e
should be one B r i t i s h E m p i r e Economic C o m m i t t e e , w i t h
L o r d R o b e r t Cecil as C h a i r m a n ;
(c.) T h a t M r . J . A . S a l t e r s h o u l d be S e c r e t a r y of t h e Economic
C o m m i t t e e , and t h a t he should be a s s i s t e d b y m e m b e r s
of t h e staffs of t h e Dominion a n d I n d i a n D e l e g a t i o n s on
t h e panel s y s t e m , as in t h e case of t h e S e c r e t a r i a t of
the British Empire Delegation.
Gratuties to
Temporary Naval
"
e e i s
6. W i t h reference to W a r C a b i n e t 5 1 4 , M i n u t e 1, t h e W a r
C a b i n e t a p p r o v e d t h e following decision of t h e S o l d i e r s ' a n d Sailors'
P a y C o m m i t t e e on t h e s u b j e c t of g r a t u i t i e s for t e m p o r a r y officers
of t h e R o y a l N a v y ( P a p e r G . T . - 6 9 0 7 ) : T h a t t h e g r a t u i t y to t e m p o r a r y n a v a l officers s h o u l d be on t h e
s a m e scale a s t h a t g r a n t e d to t e m p o r a r y officers of the
A r m y u n d e r a r t i c l e 4 9 7 of t h e R o y a l W a r r a n t , v i z / : 1 2 4
d a y s ' p a y for t h e first y e a r of service, a n d 6 2 d a y s ' p a y for
e a c h s u c c e e d i n g y e a r or p a r t of a y e a r of s e r v i c e .
2, Whitehall
March
Gardens,
6, 1919.
S.W.
1,