(c) crown copyright
Catalogue Reference:CAB/23/9
Image Reference:0039
[This Document is.the Property of His Britannic Majestys Government]
Printed
for the War Cabinet.
April
1919.
SECRET
WAR
Minutes
of a Meeting
of the War
Monday,
27
CABINET, 5 5 2 .
Cabinet
March
held at 10, Downing
Street,
S.W., on
3 1 , 1 9 1 9 , at 1 2 noon.
Present:
The R i g h t H o n . A .
The R i g h t
H o n . t h e Earl
KEDLESTON,
K.G.,
BONAR
CURZON
CCS.I.,
LAW,
OF
M . P . (in the
Chair).
The R i g h t Hon. A .
CHAMBERLAIN,
MVP.
CC.I.E.
T h e following were also present :
Tbe R i g h t
H o n . t h e Viscount
MILNER,
G . C . B . , G . C . M . G . , S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for
t h e Colonies.
The R i g h t H o n . W . . S . C H U R C H I L L , M . P . ,
S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for W a r .
T h e R i g h t H o n . Lord E R N L E , M.V.O.,
P r e s i d e n t of t h e B o a r d of A g r i c u l t u r e
a n d F i s h e r i e s (for M i n u t e s 4 a n d 5 ) .
The
R i g h t Hon. V i s c o u n t
GOSCHEX,
C.B.E.,
Controller, L a b o u r
Division,
(for
Department
Food
Production
Minute 4 ) .
The R i g h t H o n . S i r A . M O N D , B a r t . , M . P . ,
First
Commissioner of W o r k s (for
Minute 5 ) .
S i r A . D U R R A N T , M . V . O . , H . M . Office of
W o r k s (for M i n u t e 5).
Mr.
The R i g h t Hon. S i r A . C. G E D D E S , K . C . B . ,
M . P . , M i n i s t e r of R e c o n s t r u c t i o n a n d
N a t i o n a l Service.
Vice-Admiral S. R. FREMANTLE, C.B.,
D e p u t y Chief of t h e N a v a l Staff (for
Minute 3).
T h e R i g h t Hon. S i r R. S . H O R N E , K . B . E . ,
K . C , M . P . , M i n i s t e r of L a b o u r (for
Minute 4).
The R i g h t Hon. S i r J . M A C L A Y , B a r t . ,
M i n i s t e r of S h i p p i n g (for M i n u t e s 5, 6,
and 7).
The R i g h t Hon. R . M U N R O , K . C . , M . P . ,
S e c r e t a r y for S c o t l a n d (for M i n u t e 4 ) .
The
Right
Hon. Lord INVERFORTH,
M i n i s t e r of Munitions (for M i n u t e 5).
T H O M A S J O N E S , Acting
Mr. PEMBROKE
W I C K S , Assistant
Lieutenant-Colonel L.
STORE,
M r . G : M . E V A N S , Assistant
C a p t a i n L . F.
[826]-444
Secretary.
BURGIS,
Assistant
Secretary.
C.B., Assistant
Secretary.
Secretary.
Secretary.
Equipment for
Eoumania.
1. W i t h r e f e r e n c e tq W a r C a b i n e t 550, M i n u t e 1, t h e W a r
C a b i n e t t o o k n o t e of M r . B a l f o u r ' s t e l e g r a m No. 5 7 0 , d a t e d t h e
26th instant, which stated that, a t a meeting w i t h M . Clemenceau,
P r e s i d e n t W i l s o n , a n d S i g n o r O r l a n d o on t h e p r e v i o u s d a y , M r .
L l o y d G e o r g e , w h o w a s a c c o m p a n i e d by the, D i r e c t o r of M i l i t a r y
I n t e l l i g e n c e , a g r e e d t h a t t h e b a l a n c e of e q u i p m e n t o r i g i n a l l y
d e s t i n e d f o r G e n e r a l D e n e k i n s h o u l d be sent to R o u m a n i a .
This
b a l a n c e w a s s a i d to a m o u n t t o s e t s of c l o t h i n g a n d e q u i p m e n t for
150,000 men.
Utilisation of
National Factories.
2. W i t h r e f e r e n c e to W a r C a b i n e t 543, M i n u t e 2, t h e W a r
C a b i n e t took n o t e of a M e m o r a n d u m by t h e M i n i s t e r of M u n i ­
t i o n s , on t h e s u b j e c t of t h e u t i l i s a t i o n of N a t i o n a l F a c t o r i e s
(Paper G.T.-7025).
Allied Policy in
Russia.
3. T h e W a r
Memoranda:—
Cabinet
had
before
them
(a.) b y L o r d C u r z o n ( P a p e r G . T . - 7 0 3 5 ) .
(&.) b y
the
Chief
of
the
Imperial
the
following
General
Staff
(Paper P.-111A).
M r . B o n a r L a w r e f e r r e d to a r e p o r t w h i c h h a d a p p e a r e d i n
the p r e s s t h a t m o r n i n g of a s p e e c h m a d e b y t h e F r e n c h TJnderS e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for W a r i n t h e C h a m b e r of D e p u t i e s , r e f e r r i n g
to t h e f o r c e s o n t h e M u r m a n coast a n d i n t h e S o u t h of R u s s i a ,
from w h i c h he quoted the following extract:—
" T h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r h a s a u t h o r i z e d m e to t e l l y o u t h a t
he w o u l d be f a l s e to h i s p a s t a t t i t u d e i f h e p r o p o s e d s e n d i n g
a n e x p e d i t i o n to R u s s i a . F r o m t o - d a y , n o t a m a n w i l l g o
to R u s s i a , a n d those w h o a r e s e r v i n g t h e r e a r e b e i n g r e l i e v e d . "
T h e A c t i n g S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for F o r e i g n A f f a i r s s a i d t h a t ,
when the m a t t e r h a d last been before the W a r Cabinet, it h a d
been d e c i d e d t h a t o u r p o l i c y s h o u l d be to p r e s s for t h e e a r l y
e v a c u a t i o n of M u r m a n s k a n d A r c h a n g e l . S i n c e t h a t d e c i s i o n h a d
been r e a c h e d
the B r i t i s h Commissioner a t A r c h a n g e l h a d
f u r n i s h e d h i s v i e w s on t h e s u b j e c t of t h e p r o p o s e d e v a c u a t i o n ,
w h i c h he h a d b r i e f l y s u m m a r i s e d i n t h e P a p e r n o w b e f o r e t h e
Cabinet.
A p a r t from t h e m i l i t a r y a s p e c t of t h e s i t u a t i o n , i t
w o u l d be n e c e s s a r y for t h e A l l i e s to a r r a n g e f o r t h e r e m o v a l of,
a n d to find a d e s t i n a t i o n for, some 13,500 m e n of v a r i o u s
n a t i o n a l i t i e s other t h a n F i n n s , Poles, Esthonians, L e t t s a n d
L i t h u a n i a n s , w h o , i t w a s to be h o p e d , c o u l d e v e n t u a l l y be
r e p a t r i a t e d to t h e i r o w n c o u n t r i e s . S e c o n d l y , t h e r e w a s t h e ques­
t i o n of t h e a t t i t u d e to be a d o p t e d b y t h e A l l i e s t o w a r d s t h e P r o ­
v i s i o n a l G o v e r n m e n t . I n M r . L i n d l e y ' s v i e w w e w e r e b o u n d to
give that Government fair w a r n i n g .
S u c h a n o t i f i c a t i o n , con­
v e y e d a t t h e p r e s e n t t i m e , w o u l d h a v e effects w h i c h w o u l d r e a c t
far beyond Archangel.
A t h i r d p o i n t w a s , — w a s i t p o s s i b l e or
desirable to m a k e terms w i t h the Bolshevik Government, which
no doubt w o u l d b e g l a d to come to some a g r e e m e n t w i t h u s a n d
to see the l a s t of our t r o o p s .
S u c h action, however, would r u n
c o u n t e r to t h e w h o l e of o u r p o l i c y h i t h e r t o . I n M r . L i n d l e y ' s
o p i n i o n , t h e r i g h t t i m e for t h e e v a c u a t i o n to t a k e p l a c e w a s not
now, but i n t h e a u t u m n .
H e f u r t h e r r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t 8,000
t r o o p s s h o u l d be sent o u t i n o r d e r t o cover t h e e v a c u a t i o n a n d to
l e t t h e t i r e d m e n t h e r e r e t u r n h o m e . H e f u r t h e r p o i n t e d out t h a t
b y t h e e v a c u a t i o n t h e f a t e of Esthonia, w o u l d b e s e a l e d , a n d t h e
d i s a s t r o u s effect t h e a n n o u n c e m e n t of o u r d e c i s i o n w o u l d h a v e
upon the v a r i o u s S t a t e s who were co-operating w i t h u s in fighting
the Bolsheviks.
GOL. DALLY
B
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feot ^ e ^ r G s o x r t
o f t h i s B t ^ t o i f l c j i t b u t i t HQQB
his? sstrcisg. o p i n i o n , - a n t i t h e o p i n l o i L o f ' M B
a o l l e & s p t o - s oxi t h o C o i m o - i l o x i; oui*. *­
:
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tn
;,
Ai/i il 1 s t . 1 9 1 9
l
WC 552
T h e C h a n c e l l o r of t h e E x c h e q u e r e x p r e s s e d t h e v i e w t h a t w e
s h o u l d come to some a r r a n g e m e n t w i t h t h e B o l s h e v i k Government.,
i f w e could, i n r e g a r d to the w i t h d r a w a l of our t r o o p s , who w e r e
in a serious position.
I n r e g a r d to t h e s u g g e s t e d e v a c u a t i o n of
t h o u s a n d s of m e n of o t h e r n a t i o n a l i t i e s , f e w of w h o m h a d n e v e r
l i f t c d a f i n g e r i n our s u p p o r t , h e d i d not t h i n k t h a t w e w e r e u n d e r
a n y r e a l o b l i g a t i o n to do t h i s .
T h e D e p u t y C h i e f of t h e N a v a l S t a f f s a i d t h a t c o n s i d e r a b l e
t r o u b l e h a d been c a u s e d a t A r c h a n g e l by t h e b e h a v i o u r of c e r t a i n
F r e n c h t r o o p s w h o h a d been d e m o b i l i s e d t h e r e , 1 5 0 of whom w e r e
now t i n d e r a r r e s t . H e s u g g e s t e d t h a t it w a s e q u a l l y u r g e n t for
u s to d e c i d e our p o l i c y i n r e g a r d to the B a l t i c S t a t e s . On a p r e ­
vious o c c a s i o n h e h a d p o i n t e d o u t to the W a r C a b i n e t i n w h a t a
p e r i l o u s s i t u a t i o n o u r t r o o p s t h e r e w o u l d find t h e m s e l v e s w h e n t h e
ice b r o k e .
T h e A c t i n g 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 A f f a i r s e x p r e s s e d
d o u b t s as to t h e w i s d o m of t h e p o l i c y s u g g e s t e d by t h e C h a n c e l l o r
of the, E x c h e q u e r . A n y r e c o g n i t i o n of, or n e g o t i a t i o n s w i t h , even
a provincial Bolshevik Government would give considerable
impetus to Bolshevik prestige throughout R u s s i a .
With regard
to w h a t t h e D e p u t y C h i e f of t h e N a v a l S t a f f h a d s a i d a b o u t t h e
B a l t i c S t a t e s , he h a d , i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e r e c e n t W a r C a b i n e t
d e c i s i o n , w r i t t e n a d e s p a t c h on t h e s u b j e c t to M r . B a l f o u r w h i c h
he w o u l d c i r c u l a t e s h o r t l y , p r e s s i n g v e r y s t r o n g l y for a d e c i s i o n
of the A l l i e s i n r e g a r d to t h e p o l i c y to be p u r s u e d i n t h a t q u a r t e r .
The W a r Cabinet decided:—
t
(a.)
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 s h o u l d f u r n i s h a
P a p e r g i v i n g p a r t i c u l a r s of the s t e p s t h e W a r Office
h a d t a k e n a n d w e r e t a k i n g to p r e p a r e for t h e
e v a c u a t i o n of our t r o o p s a n d s u c h f r i e n d l y i n h a b i ­
t a n t s a s w e m i g h t be u n d e r a n o b l i g a t i o n to remove.
(.'&.) T o r e s u m e t h e d i s c u s s i o n a s soon a s t h e W a r Office
p r o g r a m m e h a d been c i r c u l a t e d .
T h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for W a r ( w h o e n t e r e d a t t h i s
m o m e n t ) s a i d t h a t the a n n o u n c e m e n t of t h e A l l i e d p o l i c y in t h e
French Chamber completely compromised our position in North
R u s s i a , a n d m i g h t g r a v e l y e n d a n g e r the l i v e s of our soldiers, of
w h o m t h e r e w e r e some 13,000 i n t h a t t h e a t r e . T h e r e w a s n o t h i n g
to i n d i c a t e w h e t h e r t h e s a i d a n n o u n c e m e n t h a d been m a d e w i t h
t h e a p p r o v a l of t h e B r i t i s h d e l e g a t e s i n P a r i s .
Eetention of
Prisoners and
Soldiers on the
Land.
Soldiers.
4. W i t h r e f e r e n c e to W a r C a b i n e t 5 5 1 , M i n u t e 3, t h e W a r
Cabinet h a d under consideration a M e m o r a n d u m by the P r e s i d e n t
of t h e B o a r d of A g r i c u l t u r e a n d F i s h e r i e s ( P a p e r G . T . - 7 0 4 2 ) ,
a n d a M e m o r a n d u m by the S e c r e t a r y f o r S c o t l a n d ( P a p e r
G . T . - 7 0 5 6 ) , on t h e s u b j e c t of t h e r e t e n t i o n of p r i s o n e r s a n d
s o l d i e r s on t h e l a n d .
T h e P r e s i d e n t of t h e B o a r d of A g r i c u l t u r e s a i d t h a t , o w i n g
to t h e b a d w e a t h e r of t h e l a s t f e w m o n t h s , w o r k o n t h e l a n d h a d
been p o s t p o n e d . A l l f a r m i n g o p e r a t i o n s , s u c h a s p l o u g h i n g a n d
s o w i n g , w o u l d be t a k i n g p l a c e f r o m now o n w a r d s , e s p e c i a l l y d u r ­
i n g the n e x t t w o m o n t h s . T h e p r e s e n t w a s a, b a d m o m e n t to w i t h ­
d r a w s o l d i e r s a n d p r i s o n e r s f r o m t h e l a n d . A t t h i s t i m e of y e a r
t h e A r m y g e n e r a l l y l e n t a d d i t i o n a l m e n to f a r m e r s , i n s t e a d of
t a k i n g m e n a w a y . T h e r e w e r e s t i l l e n g a g e d on t h e l a n d 2 7 , 0 0 0
s o l d i e r s , 2 5 , 0 0 0 of w h o m t h e W a r Office w a n t e d for t h e A r m i e s
of O c c u p a t i o n .
T h e f a r m e r s w o u l d o n l y r e q u i r e t h e m for t h e
n e x t t w o m o n t h s , a n d t h e y could t h e n be r e t u r n e d to t h e d u t i e s
for w h i c h t h e W a r Office w a s k e e p i n g t h e m .
M r . B o n a r L a w s a i d t h a t to r e t a i n s o i l d i e r s i n a g r i c u l t u r e
w o u l d be in opposition, to t h e d e c l a r e d p o l i c y of t h e Government,
to r e l e a s e f r o m the A r m y a l l m e n w h o Avere n o t r e q u i r e d for t h e
A r m i e s of O c c u p a t i o n .
T h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e f o r W a r s a i d t h a t i t w a s i m p o s s i b l e to
e x e r c i s e t h e p o w e r of e n f o r c i n g c o m p u l s o r y m i l i t a r y s e r v i c e f o r
the p u r p o s e of p r o v i d i n g a g r i c u l t u r a l l a b o u r .
Men who were
b e i n g k e p t i n t h e A r m y by t h e W a r Office w e r e those w h o f u l f i l l e d ,
certain conditions as r e g a r d s a g e and the time at which they j o i n e d
the s e r v i c e . I t w a s n o t possible to r e t a i n these m e n for a n y p u r ­
. pose -except m i l i t a r y s e r v i c e .
If there w a s a surplus, the W a r
Office w o u l d h a v e to c o n s i d e r t h e m o d i f i c a t i o n of t h e c o n d i t i o n s
u n d e r w h i c h t h e y w e r e r e t a i n e d . I t w a s i n t e n d e d to r e l e a s e f r o m
the A r m y a l l those w h o w e r e not r e q u i r e d for t h e A r m i e s of
Occupation.
T h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for t h e C o l o n i e s s u g g e s t e d t h a t , i f
t h e 2 5 , 0 0 0 m e n w h o w e r e i n a g r i c u l t u r e w o u l d be k e p t i n a n y c a s e
a s a m i l i t a r y reserve, t h e r e w a s no r e a s o n w h y - t h e y s h o u l d n o t
be e m p l o y e d i n t h i s c o u n t r y i n s t e a d of b e i n g s e n t to T r a n c e .
T h e S e c r e t a r y f o r S c o t l a n d s a i d t h a t if t h e s o l d i e r s c o u l d be
r e t a i n e d on t h e l a n d for t h e n e x t t w o m o n t h s i t w o u l d m a k e a
g r e a t d i f f e r e n c e to f a r m e r s . T h e W a r C a b i n e t s h o u l d c o n s i d e r t h e
effect of t a k i n g t h e s e m e n a w a y u p o n the a g r i c u l t u r a l c o m m u n i t y .
T h e a n n o u n c e m e n t of t h e g u a r a n t e e d p r i c e s of c e r e a l s , w h i c h w o u l d
t a k e p l a c e i n t h e c o u r s e of t h e n e x t w e e k , w o u l d r a i s e a s t o r m
amongst farmers.
I f a t t h e s a m e t i m e s o l d i e r s , whose w o r k
m e a n t so m u c h to t h e f a r m e r s , w e r e w i t h d r a w n f r o m t h e l a n d
a t s u c h a b u s y p e r i o d a s ' t h e p r e s e n t , t h e r e m i g h t be a g r e a t d e a l
of' t r o u b l e .
T h e C h a n c e l l o r of t h e E x c h e q u e r p o i n t e d o u t t h a t the q u e s t i o n
e n t a i l e d m o r e t h a n t h e m e r e p r o v i s i o n of a g r i c u l t u r a l l a b o u r .
T h e G o v e r n m e n t a t p r e s e n t w e r e p a y i n g o u t - o f - w o r k d o n a t i o n to
p e o p l e w h o r e f u s e d to t a k e w o r k . There, wets a s h o r t a g e of m e n
on t h e l a n d , a n d a t t h e s a m e t i m e w e w e r e a s k e d to k e e p a n d p a y
s o l d i e r s for d o i n g w o r k w h i c h the p e o p l e d r a w i n g u n e m p l o y m e n t
d o n a t i o n r e f u s e d to d o . H e t h o u g h t i t w a s t i m e t h a t t h e w h o l e
q u e s t i o n of t h e o u t - o f - w o r k d o n a t i o n s h o u l d b e r e c o n s i d e r e d .
The W a r Cabinet decided that—
T h e w i t h d r a w a l of s o l d i e r s from w o r k on t h e l a n d s h o u l d
continue, but should proceed a s slowly as is consistent
w i t h our m i l i t a r y r e q u i r e m e n t s .
Prisoners of War.
T h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for W a r , r e f e r r i n g to t h e r e q u e s t o l
t h e B o a r d of A g r i c u l t u r e to be a l l o w e d to r e t a i n G e r m a n p r i s o n e r s
of w a r on t h e l a n d , s a i d t h a t t h e W a r Office h a d no o b j e c t i o n to
offer t o t h i s course. H e t h o u g h t the m a i n o b j e c t i o n s i n t h e c o u n t r y
a n d t h e H o u s e of C o m m o n s w e r e to t h e i r r e t e n t i o n i n i n d u s t r y .
I n r e p l y to M r . B o n a r L a w , he s a i d t h a t h e h a d c e r t a i n l y a d v i s e d
t h a t a l l p r i s o n e r s of w a r s h o u l d be r e t u r n e d to F r a n c e a s soon a s ­
possible, b u t he h a d p r o p o s e d t h a t e x c e p t i o n s h o u l d be m a d e i n t h e
case of those e m p l o y e d i n a g r i c u l t u r a l a n d l i m e s t o n e q u a r r i e s .
T h e M i n i s t e r of R e c o n s t r u c t i o n r e f e r r e d to a
Paper
( G . T . - 7 0 2 2 ) w h i c h h e h a d c i r c u l a t e d on t h e s t a t e of t r a d e a n d
employment in Sussex, in which attention w a s called to the
u n r e s t o c c a s i o n e d b y t h e c o n t i n u e d e m p l o y m e n t of p r i s o n e r s o f w a r
i n t h a t c o u n t r y . T h i s c o n d i t i o n of u n r e s t h a d been g r o w i n g s i n c e
t h e d e c l a r a t i o n of p o l i c y iby 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
. p r i s o n e r s w o u l d be r e t u r n e d to F r a n c e .
- T h e M i n i s t e r of L a b o u r a g r e e d w i t h t h e C h a n c e l l o r o f t h e
E x c h e q u e r t h a t t h e u n e m p l o y m e n t d o n a t i o n w a s a source of con­
si d e r a b l e a n x i e t y , a l t h o u g h i t w a s t r u e t h a t a c o n s i d e r a b l e r e d u c ­
t i o n h a d b e e n m a d e for t h e second p e r i o d of p a y m e n t — i n t h e c a s e
of m e n , f r o m 2 9 s . to 20.s. a w e e k , a n d , i n t h e c a s e of women, f r o m
2 5 s . to 15s. a w e e k . T h e l a c k of a g r i c u l t u r a l l a b o u r w a s a c c o u n t e d
for i n some m e a s u r e b y t h e p r e v a i l i n g w a g e s c o n d i t i o n s . B e f o r e
t h e W a r a n a g r i c u l t u r a l l a b o u r e r w a s e a r n i n g 18s. a w e e k corn­
p a r e d w i t h 2 0 s . a w e e k e a r n e d by a r a i l w a y p o r t e r i n t h e s a m e
d i s t r i c t . S i n c e t h e n , r a i l w a y m e u s w a g e s h a d been i n c r e a s e d b y
3 3 s . a w e e k , but a g r i c u l t u r a l w a g e s b a d not i n c r e a s e d i n t h e s a m e
proportion.
The Employment E x c h a n g e s were supposed to scrutinise each
a p p l i c a t i o n for u n e m p l o y m e n t d o n a t i o n s , b u t t h e v o l u m e of w o r k
l a i d u p o n t h e m h a d become v e r y h e a v y , a n d i t w a s p o s s i b l e t h a t
it h a d o c c a s i o n e d i r r e g u l a r i t i e s i n t h e g r a n t i n g of u n e m p l o y m e n t
donations.
The W a r Cabinet decided t h a t —
F a r m e r s s h o u l d b e p e r m i t t e d , for t h e p r e s e n t , t o
G e r m a n p r i s o n e r s of w a r for w o r k on t h e l a n d .
retain
Office Aecommoda5. W i t h r e f e r e n c e to W a r C a b i n e t 4 7 1 ( 1 4 ) a n d W a r C a b i n e t
fcion and Demobili- 5 5 0 , M i n u t e 2, t h e 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 note
b y L o r d C u r z c n ( P a p e r G . T . - 7 0 3 9 ) r e l a t i n g to office a c c o m m o d a ­
t i o n for t h e D e p a r t m e n t of O v e r s e a s T r a d e , t o g e t h e r w i t h
M e m o r a n d a by t h e P r e s i d e n t of t h e B o a r d of A g r i c u l t u r e
( P a p e r G . T . - 6 8 6 4 ) , t h e F i r s t C o m m i s s i o n e r of W o r k s ( P a p e r
G . T . - 6 8 8 9 ) , a n d t h e M i n i s t e r of M u n i t i o n s ( P a p e r G . T . - 7 0 2 6 ) .
L o r d C u r z o n e x p l a i n e d t h a t it h a d become v e r y n e c e s s a r y t h a t
a d e q u a t e a c c o m m o d a t i o n for t h e D e p a r t m e n t of "Overseas T r a d e
s h o u l d be p r o v i d e d close to t h e F o r e i g n Office a n d t h e B o a r d of
Trade.
S i r A r t h u r S t e e l - M a i t l a n d ' s staff w a s w o r k i n g a t h i g h
p r e s s u r e a n d u n d e r g r e a t difficulties, w i t h the result t h a t their
w o r k w a s s u f f e r i n g , a n d m a n y of t h e chief officials h a d broken
d o w n . T h e staffs of the. F o r e i g n Office a n d of S i r A r t h u r S t e e l ­
M a i t l a n d ' s d e p a r t m e n t w e r e so o v e r c r o w d e d t h a t i t m i g h t be
n e c e s s a r y a t some f u t u r e d a t e to a s k t h a t t h e C o l o n i a l Office should
be g i v e n over e n t i r e l y to house t h e s e staffs.
T h e C h a n c e l l o r of t h e E x c h e q u e r , i n r e p l y to a s u g g e s t i o n by
t h e F i r s t C o m m i s s i o n e r of W o r k s t h a t n e w offices s h o u l d be
e r e c t e d , s a i d t h a t t h e r e w o u l d be t h e s t r o n g e s t o p p o s i t i o n i n t h e
H o u s e of C o m m o n s to t h e e r e c t i o n of a d d i t i o n a l b u i l d i n g s , w h i l e
t h e p r e m i s e s s t i l l h e l d by v a r i o u s d e p a r t m e n t s w e r e n o t b e i n g
vacated.
H e t h o u g h t t h e p r o p e r p r o c e d u r e w o u l d be to b r i n g
p r e s s u r e on d e p a r t m e n t s to g i v e u p a l l the a c c o m m o d a t i o n
necessary.
T h e F i r s t C o m m i s s i o n e r of W o r k s s a i d t h a t , i n h i s o p i n i o n ,
t h e G o v e r n m e n t w o u l d h a v e to come to a d e c i s i o n to p u t u p n e w
blocks of b u i l d i n g s .
He had already made a preliminary
e x a m i n a t i o n of v a r i o u s s i t e s , b u t t h o u g h t t h a t i t w o u l d be
n e c e s s a r y to s c r a p t h e b u i l d i n g s i n W h i t e h a l l G a r d e n s a n d
M o n t a g u Blouse a n d to p u t u p a n e w and" m o d e r n block of offices
which, w o u l d h o u s e a c o n s i d e r a b l e staff. W i t h r e g a r d to S i r
A r t h u r S t e e l - M a i t l a n d ' s d e p a r t m e n t , he could n o t r e q u i s i t i o n
p r e m i s e s for h i s staff, a s t h e y were, n o t a w a r d e p a r t m e n t . ' H e
w a s e x p e r i e n c i n g g r e a t d i f f i c u l t i e s i n h o u s i n g staffs of G o v e r n m e n t
d e p a r t m e n t s , b e c a u s e i n a g r e a t m a n y d e p a r t m e n t s t h e r a t e of
d e m o b i l i s i n g c e r t a i n p a r t s of t h e staff w a s n o t e q u a l to t h e r a t e
of increase, of o t h e r p a r t s . A t t h e s a m e t i m e , he w a s c o n t i n u a l l y
b e i n g m e t w i t h d e m a n d s for a c c o m m o d a t i o n w h i c h w a s r e q u i r e d
urgently.
H e i n s t a n c e d , i n h i s connection, the o c c u p a t i o n o f
c e r t a i n nouses i n P a l l M a l l b y t h e E a s t e r n C o m m a n d . T h e W a r
Office, h o w e v e r , h a d s a i d t h a t i t w a s n e c e s s a r y f o r t h e E a s t e r n
C o m m a n d to be h o u s e d i n those b u i l d i n g s .
M r . B o n a r L a w e n q u i r e d if S i r A u c k l a n d Geddes h a d gone
into this m a t t e r at a l l ( W a r Cabinet 550, M i n u t e 2)i
S i r A u c k l a n d Geddes pointed out that, i n accordance with
t h a t m i n u t e , h e h a d p r e p a r e d a s c h e m e , w h i c h he p r o p o s e d to a s k
t h e T r e a s u r y to c a r r y out, for o b t a i n i n g a r e t u r n f r o m a l l d e p a r t ­
m e u t s of t h e n u m b e r s of t h e i r s t a f f s , a n d t h e p a r t i c u l a r w o r k t h a t
e a c h , w a s d o i n g , a n d a s o m e w h a t s i m i l a r scheme w i t h r e g a r d to
[826-4441
C
s a t i o n
M r . B o n a r L a w s a i d t h a t he t h o u g h t the Government should
a s s i s t a n e x - s o l d i e r to e m i g r a t e , a n d , provided Lord Milner's
p r o p o s a l s w e r e confined to e x - s e r v i c e m e n , f o r w h o m t h e
D o m i n i o n s m a d e s u i t a b l e p r o v i s i o n , he s a w no objection to their
receiving W a r Cabinet approval.
The W a r Cabinet decided that—
S u b j e c t t o t h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r s a p p r o v a l , free
t h e D o m i n i o n s for e x - s o l d i e r settlers
provided.
Communications
Board.
passages t o
should be
8 . W i t h r e f e r e n c e to W a r C a b i n e t 525, M i n u t e 4, t h e W a r
C a b i n e t a p p r o v e d of the a p p o i n t m e n t of t h e H o n . S i r H e n r y
N o r m a n , B a r t . , a s V i c e - C h a i r m a n of t h e
Communications
Committee.
2, Whitehall
March
Gardens,
31.
1919.
o
S.W.1,