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Catalogue Reference:CAB/23/31
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48
SOJSQLllSlOJffl of a seating of the Sahl&ei
held at 10, Downing Straot,
em
Thursday, 9tit Septea&er,
at 12 Seen.
(3JI f l U CMAiH)
33SB PlUfSii OitXilflllil
YheftijgatHon. A. Ch&isfcerl&i. n,
i.i -, Lord Fcivy 3eal.
The flight hoa. Sir H chert Horne,
Jv,^,,^.?,, Ch&rieeilor of
the Lxehequer,
?he Right lion, 13.. r^hortt, 1UC,,
fli-P..-; Secretary of -Hate for
iiossa Affairs.
The Wont Han, The ^lifqusRfl u w s s n
of Kedlenton, jhu,,u,c,;;;,l,,
'. . hI,K., Secretary of -State for
Foreign Affairs.
The Right Hos. 'W.S3. Ohurehill,
M.J?. Secretary of Stats for
fehs Colonise.
The Hight Hon. ?he Viscount Pool,
(hJhih, Secretary of 531ate for
India.
7he Hightftoa*- Sir L. Worthington­
vans, ) 3 a r t . , v ; ,
, Secretary
of "iste for War.
Yhe flight Hon. Lord Leo of Farehas
-w
, K.,0
, First Lord of the
Admiralty.
The Right hon. S. Baldwin,
Freaideht of the ii-oard of Trade.
^h-o Right iioo. siv Alfred Kond,
H a r t .
Minimtm of Health.
Tne Bight uon, Riv A. Griffith­
£osoawas, M.P., tsiinieter of
Agriculture arid fisheries.
The Right Ho a, T . J . ^aonaaartt,
Sinister of"Labour,-
The Hight Kon. H. Munro, K. 0.,
.1 ., --eeretary for Scotland.
The Hijfht Boa. -Sir Hastar Ctreenisood
Bart * K d .. Shi ef Secretary
for Ireland.
s
f
::
;
:
r
?
r
9
The Slight aoa. the Karl of drafford ­
and $aiearrea, JUT., First Coassaisaioner
of aorks.
Sir Hdwrd firing, K. t'.V.O. ,C.M .0.
Ur. Thomas Joaap;....
Acting Secretary.
Lieut. Col. -Sir John Chancellor, \..C.M.O.,tf.-.'uo.,
Principal Assistant Secretary, C1..D,
Sr. Pembroke ^icfcs....
.L
Principal, Cabinet,
-
3
.
GUE?.OM ex&loijaer; tbftt we &&6 m&n workiiag TO to
.
the piNN&^nt eltuation einoe %mm% ilmroh, when he fcai
m$&tin.%%&.
Powers?
sa* tagreoaamt &igm&
is
by
all tit a Al&itd
irho failure to give eftfeots to that fagree&ent w&s
Hue to the eonslatent treaehery of * ranee*
fhe Frenoh
been is aom?tt^Jt eom&uhicmtiofi with Sternal &&&
Q-ovananMMit
h&4 urgeo. hiss to p&y no attention to what
e t f&rieu
bees agreed to
juelfc^u sere f ir*?t ofews^l Q wtng to- the
£iff ioul­
tiee aede i&g? $sfsmoe in &rr*mglng for a meeting to &leases
the terete for en ^ m i B t i a e .
I**tte3? o.u farther $eliiy wits
by the proposal to establish & &aimifusion
to enquire
into tbe &trooltles oomifcted by the Keis&l ifctoB^ina%
$reek. vdfMlat-ioB.
way of
tfce
i,.g&iu. the Freneh threw ebgt&elea in the
the *nuuiry*
It had boon fintolly agreed tbet the
enquiry should bo eeadttetee by the &ea Cross Soaiety, but
the yrQoofe ruA refu&ea to eontribute the ir eaot& to the oout
of" tbe enutiiry.
S?he Sreeke tied beep, for deoje tltae eonfce&plstins? tbo
oontr&otiota of their front in Asia Miner to a line nearer to'
Srayrnsu
1% w&e regrettable thnt they h&S not undertaken
thvt operation eoo&er*
the re eon t furkieb attack bed t&ken
pl;.,oe In oireufiset^noee tmfc-voarable to tbe 8rooks.
' fhe SreeknB
fcatf soon thus tbo Po?*ere *ere &iseKite$ &n8 had thereupon
tbreatene-i to &&nmiuv
of
upon Oonat antinople*
The
tr&taefer
troops to $fcsaoe xvifch th&t objoot h&d $oakeneS their
front in
"Miner;
ana at tbo **mi time tbey hsfi foolishly
prooleliaed tbo estubliehsaent of an antofioaoue province of
Smyrna.
the witbdrew.ttl of tbo troops
the Issue of tbo
proolea&tion gave tbo iLegaelists?. their eheaoe en-3 they seised
it end advowees eg&lnet tbe Oroeks *
It. m o sot el ear
- whether tbo retirwaent of tbo areete mip involnnttiry or
Whether/
whethor the Qm&t
of the troopa*
aovermaa&t lisl ooanlwd at the ^ithdr&sral'
$eaay&l Barington had recently expressed the
aplnlon that the Creates t&tigtot saho & st&aai in the' m*ighhoarheod
of 8t8ynt&*
Xt now speared that there was no posaieility- of
reat&tanoe by the Qreeic &r$ijgri
and refugees $?era B O W pour lag
into yjsyraa in large ftumSsera- our issssediate pre*aaettpatioii
*step the imltt%wnm&&
of order li$ d&yftnuu
. fh* fur-fca
haft
enormous a&Vaatagae through reeeivixig lailltary eealpaost
areas in large ouantitiee fross * roiaaa and Italy.
:i
fhe
ireaka, an finding theesealvaa in a d^gareais nofjjtioa. had
sow approaohe* the British Government
with the object of
obtainlag an arsjiatieo on the eaaia of the eoaspleta evaeixatiao.
It wm
of i*aia Minor.
desirable that the fighting should ho
ended aw soon a^ roasihie j bn, it w&e iaoarpodient ft at we
Khotijd
aot *laae, oath haeaaaa it Iras desirable to avoid r^iBia^
eaapioioae la the ainda of oar ixlliea ond stlao la view of
t
the rlex: of the failure of mmk
a eo&sarehe.-
Is haf. eosiatuai­
eated the repp as t of the £irsok^ to far is -and to feome wad had
saggeated that the High BaiBfclseioRera ahoald offer their
good offlose.
fh&t -prope&al
praatiaaily rajeaten by the
Prenoh, who had Ijapoaol the £$ppsaihia soisditlaae that the
High daasaitSBlasers aboald not intervene anlos;o the $ree&a gave
en nndertfthin-j.? that the truapa withdrawn frost &ala iSinor would
not he seat to ffartsoafcn-dthat the $reek troops in fhr&ee
should QO withdrawn &ohin£ the Mnoa-Midia line-
fheee eon­
ditioaa In fact prejudged the whole political ieeae*
reply had yet been reoeived £rma
Mo
the Italian (Soverasaent..
the
reply of the fronoh shewed that aa &Xlie3 re pre & en t ati eta at
doastoaatiaople m-ji
oat of the question.
Ho W*-a of opinion that
we ought to follow the advioa of our High, Soawatsstosser sad
raeo&^and the/
t n * g r a f t tlmmmam
a flit
t o & o j * r a a o i * tfes mmiu%
t o ofctfciatag a n A*wU*i*&o*
o*mfci, p u t f o r w a r d
wero a t
areoks
Vim *i%mtim-
preset
w o u l d ho i n S i m
refugees
f&ft K e a s a i l s t s m W ,
in
A*%* Mwm
5
w i t h i n a few & t y a *
mrA tim
l^salists
to
tei'
tftpitlah w a r a b l p a
to
Ho
fitmldw
i x s s s i f e l l i t y o f s a n d i n g s e t a e B r i t i s h s h i p s t o $m&cm,
Mm l a i d e l e o n t l c t t f v h c t b t r U*o kmmrimm
O r g a n i e a t l e o w o u l d * * e f 8 t %$m m t v ^ m
killing
bad
ib*
t o M e l t s end Cypru**
r e q u e & t e o t h a t t h e B o a r d o f T r * 4 * toe s s M
fead b e e s r e e e l w S
art t h e
ThsPMiiPdi o f Q$*mk ­
a r r a n g e m e n t s h a d %SX*B ?nago f m '
avfunaetian of B r i t i s h etibjeotft
rmtvsgmm?
that
i t woo p o e e i t & o t h a t t h e £ w & i s h Awsgr
were p o u r i n g Soto t h * e l i y *
a r r i v e d a t f*$riw
so
* e t i m e wcmM. fee s w i a p W ­
i n c a p a b l e o f b r l z s g l s g wmmuve
i n ?5ua*ope.
m%h
impossible *&mnas to tbo Greeks, out
nouXA s e t fee o f g r e a t O O H S * W B C * ,
i s clearing m
mmx*mm%%
"Use
to
vm&m
rel*ei\
In
Hafsrt^
t h a t t h e 8reekB l a t h e i r t*e t r e a t Had e e e o j
t h e T o r k l e f e p e p u l a t i e i ) , &n& tie toed w ? M t tbfe O r e e l t
aowrsswaut of
tfee s e r f o a s o^^equvtMMNi o f sweh-
ttseaeeiMU
m a s t be a w a e a i f c e r o a t h a t t h e p r o m i s e s o f S m i r o i t baft a
lttrge
Clraol: p o ^ l a t i o n ^ one: w i t l i a * ? w 3 c i e t i A*sqr f l m t l ^ i with
t h e i r - p o s i t i o n e e t i l o . bo o n e o f g r e e t
flwe^gfe**
i n A s i a Mmm*
N a t i o n s would p r o o e b l y a s k t h a t
t h e means t o e n a b l e them t o u n d e r t a k e
yietegy
S e feed r s q w e s t i N S
t h e L e a g u e o f - H f t i i o n a t o t a k e *ap %h& q u e s t i o n o f
protection to the minorities
Ttm
ftfttMiqg
'lmgm
of
m i g & t too p r o v i d e d
tot
It
-
with,
reepo-neibility,
and
we a-Bd o u r A l l i e s w w & 8 h a a p p e a l e d t o t o p r o v i d e £ b * n e e $ & * e * y
means.
^heee m t t e r a
the
e&*
w e r e , h o w e w r , o x i l y 00 t h e t r i a g e
l a r g e ' q u e a t i cms o f p o l i c y w i t h w f e i e i i we w e r e s o w
t&e q u e s t i o n s a s w h e t h e r e w s e m t i o a s o f A s i a
b y t h e S r e o & a l a v e X w e d t h e mmxt&mxmnt
part
of o o r p o l i o s
of
Kwaustism- of A m t o l i a
ooftfrost­
Minor
"gprogfs^B
was
of
not
lm%
wmp&u
Tfm- %^&&&m
n$s&*t off tteKfc
&tp&m?mi%
tfoe ritofli& o f t & i A s i a t i c c f e o ^ o,t & b tm^m&ilmi
f tarts *
£ * e t * m t i a a i f ttMt dg&ligM&i P e n i m t f i a
n i l i t s s r y ooeup A l o f t o f t & t S&$iM
tmi$*ng
tisa of opinion
f o r 3btsi a & ^ r s a ^ ^ s A o f o i s * paltry
"^opp, but
ncfc **c*ss& u^cai $toi f ^ i s p ! $ a & $$$$$$(Ml
usep a t pp&mx% ^mn&mi c m&%m^tm0l^
fwmm
to
n&b- % $ h i
gbo^xa
ifo&3U& o f i h £ f m i t s
mm
British
Haasy f c ^ s ^ s t w A s i g m c l t b $ -
v i t a X i ^ £ f t & n w i t M l to t t t e f & t $ o f t & e £ $ p a s t a .
fewsts
were
He? p ^ o p o s e &
e s w ^ i M W $ s o i d f t * j r t o tshafc.
0f
t M a s t o Oil S a B s a a *3ittss*
felon vrsptXc) b e tltf*aim msrnf^
lmm $$&
:
novam
of StSi ^ p t ^ i ^ W ,
nmwm
m*mo
&t
a n a f p s a !^.!5^3ritln0k
. h o hacl *?u043ef?4f^ I n
Paris
'
S e w e s $ p o o t y -*nA t h e &fcgmtoHU*$ o£' Wm% I V e a t y
-
eoald
to the
&n U f f e Q l ^ msl
ppenofe aricf X f c a X t a m s s 3 t o $ *
1?s*$.aty
-of
onft t$s$
6Gm*tMSt$nc$3A tur
b y Vm Ftsmp&m
i n fclio
va%mt£aa
$roots o e v g r e t & i t y o w r ' ^ t u m f S ^ s ^ i
0
to
^^ptm^hm
mi&
o f Gtto
Kiie eollee^i^s t o rml"o a
- demarche in regard to an armistice which the French Govem­
ment had opposed.
It was necessary for us to await the
result of that demarche * As to Constantinople, there was
a fear that the Kemalist Army might advance and threaten
the Isfflid Peninsula and Constantinople.
He was doubtful,
however, if Xemal would venture to threaten Constantinople.
The difficulties of conveying a force across the bosphorous
were considerable *
Constantinople was now he 3d hy French,
Italian and British troops, and the last thing that the
French would agree to would be to our being left alone in
Constantinople.
£here was, therefore, no likelihood of
the French and Italian troops being withdrawn from Constanti­
nople at present.
On the other hand, the Kemalist troops
will not readily be brought into opposition to the French
and Italian, troops.
He therefore considered that the danger
of Constantinople from a political point of view was not
serious.
It was possible that there might be a rising of
the Turks in Constantinople;
but General Harington believed
that he could suppress such a movement with the support of
the French and Italian troops *
It must also be remembered
that there were 400,000 Greeks in Constantinople and that
when they had withdrawn their troops from Asia, Minor they
would, be stronger in Europe.
SIE ALFRED MOID suggested that the Turks would not
agree to an armistice except on outrageous terms, and,
if these terms were not accepted, they would -proceed to
destroy the whole Greek Army.
He enquired what course we
should take then.
ME. GHUKCHILL was of opinion that we ought not to
bind ourselves to any bargain with, the Turks to ensure the
safety of the Greek Army which would in any way compromise
our European policy.
The Asiatic arrangements should be
kept/
mp%
separate.
mmmt&ag
f&& line- of deap
from Europe *as a line of great slgntf ioatt^ a*fd *e must
mute? that line p e w e by every aseaoa within 8 W p*l*ra
If
Ifee -grocko take the aalllpoli ??eninsul* end Constantinople,
s?e shall beve lost the $hole fro its of our victory, mmt
another Selkaii
*euld ho inevitable.
possibility of mMrtB
8* su^geatod tho
Bt*l&fc*ift pley * part in the arrange
$90&t sbould he eonsidered*
Mtthm^
'.
Bulgaria had been,
bostile to us In the war, she had. been brought In fti&iait
her will by the treacherous intrigues of um
King,, the
Minister and the census nder*in*C3?ief * Tbe Bulgarian^­
w s
the beet fighting peepla is the mVk&rm
f
tm$. m
should
endeavour to brim: then? In as a footer in the situation.
T8B RB 1MB gXVXSTSR stated that he fejLt seise eonsidetf­
able doubt about the whole ^tjrkish attssSr.
He suspsete&
that defeat had been engineered by Constantino, nhe bad ftircadt
himself In e poo ttion in- eh&eb he vaa unable either to
or to retreat-
He
therefore *soved two 41 vis torn
jrrottftalaiiner to fferaee and feed replaeed the Cemmander-inChief by a courtier who was reputed to bo mentally defeat$ve.
He wai doubtful if the Greek Araiy bad suffered a eemplete
debacle^
The Turka bad claimed to have captured only 10,000
prisoners *
He entirely agreed that wo should -stand by tbo
European part of the raris agreement.
In no circumstances
could we allow the Qallipoii fenimula to bo bold by tbo
Turks,
it was the most Important etrstegie position in
tbe *erld and the closing of tbe Straits bad prolonged the 'm.w
fey two year a *
It - aas ineeneelsafeXe that m
should allow tbo
furka to gain possession of tbe oallipoli Peninsula and. wo
should fight to prevent their doing so. fhs Peninsula was
easily defended.a goloot/
^
(**
against a great Sea Power like ourselves ana if it were in
the occupation of a groat sea Power it would be impregnable.
He considered that the suggestion"of the secretary of State
for the Colonies as regards Bulgaria to be a valuable one,
hot an insuperable difficulty in the way was that the
Roumanians and Yugc-Blaviana are bitterly -hostile to the
Bulgarians.
He considered that it was possible the Crooks
under the new caamander-in-Ohief may fight and improve the
situation.
LCPD LBS stated that, during M s recent visit to
Constantinople, he had formed the opinion that our prestige
there was far higher than that of the French or the
Italians.
The "forks say that, while the French constantly
give them information as regards the action of their
Allies, they never, received from as information as to our
Allies. We had only 1,000 men in the Ismid Peninsula
and it is probable that they would be withdrawn to help
in maintaining order in Constantinople.
He believed that
our"fleet at Constantinople would be sufficient to deter
Kernel from attempting to take Constantinople,
The Gallipoli
Peninsula wee occupied by French and Italian troops. '
There were no British troops there, although we had a
small detachment of troops at Chanak on the southern shore.
He considered it desirable that there should be some
British troops in the Gallipoli Peninsula, as it was
possible that the French might surrender the "Peninsula
to the Turks.
tfR. CHUHCHILL suggested that the Chief of the
Imperial General Staff should bo asked to furnish a report
as to the military consequence of the evacuation of the
Ismid Peninsula.
THE PRIMS alBISTSB stated that, if the Kerneliats
ma&e an attempt on Constantinople, the British Fleet should
certainly fire on them, just as we had informed the Greeks that
the British Troops would oppose them if they attempted to. advance
on Constantinople,
matter.
We should he strictly impartial in the
He considered that the danger that the French might
surrender the Gallipoli Peninsula to the Turks should he met
by strengthening our naval forces by a patrolling flotilla,.
The Cabinet agreed s­
(1) That while using every effort to bring hostilities
between Turks and Greeks to a speedy end the
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs should
continue to base his Near East Policy,on the
Agreement concluded by the Allies in Paris in
March last.
(2) That the maintenance of the control of the deep sea
water separating Asia and Europe was a cardinal
British Interest, and any attempt by the Kemalists
to occupy the Gallipoli Peninsula should be resisted
by force:
(3) That the naval
^
;j y^c^f-^A
-f
*
erellu38ia^
forces in that region should be In­
with the object of preventing Kemalists gaining
access to the Gallipoli Peninsulat
(4) That some British troop^^shoUjld occupy the Gallipoli
Peninsula along with the/troops now stationed there,
and the Secretary of State for War should concert
the necessary arrangements with the Commander-inChief, Constantinople, by transferring British
troops from Chanak, or a battalionfrom Malta, or
otherwise;
(5) That in the event of the Kemalist forces making an
attack on the Ismid lines, which are at the present
moment held exclusively by British troops, the
Commander-in-Chief should be at liberty to withdraw
the latter to Constantinople, but that any attempt
on the part of Kemal to cross the Bosphorus and attack
Constantinople should be resisted with the full etrergfti
of the British forces by sea and lands
(6) That a joint report should be prepared by the War
Office, Admiralty and Air Ministry on the policy to
be followed in the event of Constantinople and the
Ismid Peninsula being menaced by the Semalists; 0
(7) That the President of the Board of Trade should con­
si der the diversion of British ships to Smyrna to take
away refugees, other than the British subjects who are
being removed by the Admiralty.
0 NOTES...
'he Acting Secretary has since been informed that a plan for the
defence of Constantinople has already been prepared by the
General Staff in consultation with the Admiralty and Air Ministry.
A
*
T
m
:
-
.
10
I
djpSR-ALLIED
'%xS AMD'
IPARATION.
2,
With reference to Cabinet 46 (22), Minute 1, the
,
Cabinet had under consideration a Note from M. Poincare
(CP.4182) in reply to Lord Balfour*s Note of August 1st
on the question of Inter-Allied Debts and Reparation.
The Cabinet were informed that In the view of Sir
John Bradbury, M. Poincare's Note was intended to divert
public attention from the real issues. " The Cabinet
were impressed with the offensive tone of the second part
of the French Note in which undue emphasis was laid upon
Various accounting matters between the French and British
Governments including a suggestion that France had been
overcharged by the British Government for consignments of
foodstuffs and materials supplied during the war by the
addition of overhead charges and export duties.
It
was suggested on the one hand that it would be more in
conformity with the dignity of the British Government to
pass over the allegations in silence, but on the other
hand It was held that to do so would cause the United
States, of America to think that the allegations were
founded on substance.
It was also suggested that the
reply to M. Poincare should consist of two documents:
the first, a general reply on the question of Reparation
and Inter-Allied Indebtedness 5
the second, a detailed
examination of the accounting questions raised in M,
Poincare's Note.
In relation to the allegation that
overhead, charges and ex-port duties were included, it was
stated that possibly 1 per cent had been charged in
certain eases as out-of-pocket expenses, and that the sane
course had been followed by the United States of America.
No duties of any kind had been included.
It was believed
to be the fact that the accounts had already been agreed
with the French Authorities and it was pointed out that if
this were the case the reply to M. Poincare would be
I
much simplified.
The attention/
The attention of the Cabinet was drawn to the
necessity for exercising great care in the preparation
of a reply in order to ensure that the statements in it
were incontestable, and oould not form the basis of
controversy.
It was pointed out that if the reply
were to be accompanied by an accounting'statement oon­
siderable delay would be incurred.
If an accounting
draft had to be prepared some 15 Departments would have
to "be consulted,, which would take at least a month *
She Cabinet agreed ­
(l)
"That before coming to a decision
on the question of principle as
to the form, if any, which the'
reply to M. Poinoard s Mote should
take, a draft should be submitted,
of the kind of reply which it was
proposed to send;
1
(2)
That the Treasury should submit to
the Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs a draft of a reply based on
the facts as ascertained, and that
the Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs should circulate the draft
reply to the Cabinet for early
consideration.
CONTROL OP SALES
OF ARMS AND
AMMUNITION.
3.
With reference to Cabinet 40(22) Conclusion 7,
the Cabinet had under consideration a memorandum by
the Secretary of State for War (CP.4180) on the
question of the control and sale of arms and
ammunition in which the Secretary of State for War
asked the Cabinet to allow responsibility for giving
effect to the policy of the Cabinet in the matter of
sales of warlike stores to rest upon the Departments
concerned who will exercise their discretion in
referring the more important questions concerning
the sale of arms to the Cabinet..
It appeared that it would be impossible to
carry out certain bona fide negotiations for the sale
of munitions of war to the Japanese, Dutch and Serbian
Governments if the Cabinet decision above referred to
was strictly adhered to.
The Cabinet agreed;-
, ^ , - .
tkt. ^- ^ k /
u
W w
That the responsibility for giving effect
to thefeepolicy/in the matter of sale of
warlike stores should rest upon the
Departments concerned who should be
authorised to carry out negotiations for
the sale of such stores to foreign powers
in. proper eases as suggested in the
memorandum from the Secretary of State
for War - and that Departments should
exercise their discretion in referring
the more Important questions" concerning
the sale of arms to the Cabinet.
2, Whitehall Gardens, S.TC.1.
7th September, 1922.
(4)
-Wk&
Cabinet took note ot
tix&
s;ollo^iagj*
l&) Conference of Mtniafcera held OS
SGth July lMfc. at
p*m*
l'he Bagae conference..
(b) Conference of Ministers hold en
Slot July 19S8 at 1*20 p. a.
1, 3&£e^i&rding of Indue tries Aefc*
X &brie Gloves?.
£oineere" 8 proposed visit.
g.*
3* Ireland* 0o&pensat1on for damage.
?
Co) iU&*0. ISOth Concilia! one. Meeting
held on July Z6ih IVS£ afc 4* lb p.ia*
2.
Bo
S.
4.
Whitehall Gardens, 0*W*1
September 7 th 19
i'erliajaentary Jhaainess.
Mental Sre&tjsent; M i l .
Omaelty to Anlmale.
S^moiary Jnriediction (Separation &
isalrfenenee 1 Bill
IS
DOCUMENT IS TI-P P R O P E R T Y OJ' HIS 3RITAITI7IC MAJ^Tff S "fOVVllll-flKT) .
1
CONCLUSIONS OP A C0N3ER3NCE OP MINISTERS
HELD AT 10-D0WT3T3 STREET, LONDON, S.V..
01: 20th JULY, 1922 at 1.15 p*m*
PRESENT :The Rt. Hon. D. Lloyd George, O.M., M.P.,
prime Minister.
The Rt. Hon. Sir Robert H o m e , G.3.E., K.C., M.P.,
Chancellor of the Exchequer.
The Rt. Hon. Sir L. Worthington Evans, Bart.,
GoB-vSo, M*P,, Secretary of
State for War.
Lto-Colonel Sir M.P.A. Hankey, G.C.B., . . Secretary.
Mr. R.B. Ho worth
Assistant Secretary.
The Cabinet will he asked to take note of the
following conclusions reached at a Conference of
Ministers immediately after the meeting of the Cabinet
on July 20th.
(Sgdo)
M.P-A,
HA11S3Y,
Secretary.
AGUE
With reference to Cabinet 30 (22), Conclusion 1,
the Conference had under Consideration the most recent
developments at the Hague Conference, and agreed
(a) That the Prime Minister, in consultation
with the Chancellor of the Exchequer and
the secretary of State for "War, should
examine the situation with a View to
formulating the policy of the Government.
(b) That steps should he taken to summon to
London the two British Delegates at The
Hague (The Director of Overseas Trade
and the Financial Secretary to the
Treasury) for the purpose of immediate
consultation with the prime-Minister
and his colleagues.
UOTS
The two British Delegates were
requested by cable to come to
London at once, in accordance
with the above decision.
2 Whitehall Gardens, S.v .
r
20th July, 1922.
(This Document JLs the,/Property of JHig Britannic
Ma.;jestyle, government.,)
S P. 0 R E
CONCLUSIONS OP A CONFERENCE OP
MINISTERS, HELD AT 10, DCWN:i NO STREET,
S.W.1, on MONDAY, JULY 51, 1922, at
1-20 p.m.
PRESENT:The Prime Minister
(in the Chair).
The Right Hon. A. Chamberlain, M.P.,
Lord Privy Seal.
The Right Hon. The Earl of Balfour,
K.G.,0.M., Lord President of the
Council, and Acting Secretary of
State for Foreign Affairs,
The Right Hon. W.S. Churchill, M.P.,
Secretary of State/ for the Colonies.
The Right Hon. Lord lire of Fareham, G.B E.,
K.C.B., First Lord of the Admiralty.
U
The Right Eon. Sir Laming Worthington Evans,Bart.
G.B.^..,M.P., Secretary of State for War.
'
$
. The Right Hon. Stanley Baldwin, M.P.",
President of the"Board of Trade.
Sir M.P.A. Kankey, G.C.B., Secretary, Cabinet.
Mr Stanley Baldwin arrived towards the end of
the-discussion on the Safeguarding of Industryes
Act,
After the Meeting of the Committee of
Imperial Defence, the- Prime Minister
asked his Ministerial colleagues to
remain behind to discuss one or two'
questions of immediate urgency.
APE-GUARDING(l) In view of the Debate the same afternoon on the
p INDUSTRIES
3T.
Safeguarding of Industries Act (Fabric Gloves), the Con­
abric Gloves.ference had a short discussion on the present position.
The Prime Minister read letters which he had received
on the subject from Sir William Edge and' a Unionist Member
for a Lancashire constituency.
The Prime Minister summed
u p the discussion by stating that the Government would
stand firm on its present position, though it might be
desirable to consider afterwards whether it was worth while
to include in the list of articles to which the Act was
applied, manufactures of small intrinsic importance.
The President of the Board of Trade stated that in
regard to certain articles this had already been dealt with.
The Prime Minister undertook to see .
Sir William Edge in regard to his
letter . *
-
-JL poiNCARR*S
PROPOSED
jJJIjtSIT. -
(2) The Acting Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
(Lord Balfour) raised the question of what COEiimihication
was to he made to M. Poincare' in regard to his proposed
vis it,
The Chancellor of the Exchequer pointed out that
there were two finaa cial questions
(i) The German demand for a moratorium
in regard to the Reparations payments
due on August 15th:
R
(ii) The German request that there should­
also be a moratorium in regard to
three-quarters of the £2,000^,000
due to the Allied clearing-house
for private debts *
had
He said that M. Poincareyproposed to see the Prime
Minister in regard to the first question. M. Poincare had.
treated the second question as though it were entirely s
separate subject.
After the Allied representatives on the
clearing-house had been assembled in Paris, M
v
Poincare had
written a separate reply to the Germans stating that if
. the payment was not made sanctions would be applied by the
French Government.
Lord Dal four pointed cut that it was very desirable...
for the Prime Minister to sec M. Poincare before August
15th, when the next German reparations payment was due.
We had always protested against independent action by theFrench.
If, however, Germany defaulted on August 15th
and we had refused M. Poincard's proposal for a consulta-­
tion, our case for protesting against independent action
would vanish.
In these circumstances he thought Monday,
August 7th was the latest date at.which the meeting ought
to he hold.
He mentioned that ho himself would be leaving
London on Friday next.
The Conference .agreed
—
(a) That the Acting Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs should tell the French
Ambassador that the Prime Minister agreed
that there ought to be a discussion with
M, PoincarO before August 15th; that the
British Government had always attached
importance to the presence of representatives
of the Italian Government, -though.-they
could not yet tell whether Italian
representatives could-attend the meet­
ing before August 15th; and that in
these circumstances the Prime - Minister
wotild propose a meeting in London on
August 7th:
r
(b) That the Belgian Government should be
ashed to send a representative to this
meeting:
(c) That the Japanese Ambassador should be
warned that the meeting was to take
place.
IRELAND.
(S)
The Secretary of State for the Colonies informed
Compensation the Conference that he had received a:somewhat insolent
for Damage.
......
reply from the Irish Free State Government to the letter
he had addressed to' them in,regard to compensation for
damages to property.
IS, Whitehall Gardens, S.W.1,
July 31, 1922.
''-
' '
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majestys GoVe
Printed
for the Cabinet.
August
1922.
SECRET.
*Ts(D
(H.A.C 120th Conclusions.)
on
CABINET.
COMMITTEE
OF HOME
A F F A I R S . 120.
Conclusions
of a Meeting of the above Committee held in the Ministers'
Conference
Room, House of Commons, S.W., on Wednesday,
July 2Q, 1922, at 4'15 P.M.
Present :
The Right Hon. H. A. L. FISHER, M.P., President of the Board of Education
(in the Chair).
The Right Hon. E. SHORTT, K.C., M.P.,
Secretary of State for Home Affairs.
The Right Hon. Sir ALFRED MOND, Bart.,
M.P., Minister of Health.
The Right Hon. F. G. KELLAWAY, M.P.,
Postmaster-General.
The
Right
Hon.
The
Right
Hon.
S.
BALDWIN,
President of the Board of Trade.
Sir
A.
M.P.,
GRIEFITH-
BOSCAWEN, M.P., Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.
Sir LESLIE SOOTT, K.C., M.P., Solicitor­
General
The following were also present :
The Right Hon. Lieutenant-Colonel LESLIE
0 . WILSON, C.M.G., JD.S.O., M.P., Joint
Parliamentary Secretary, Treasury.
Mr. P. J . ROSE, Assistant Under-Secretary
for Scotland.
Sir D. J . SHACKLETON, K.C.B., Chief
Labour Adviser, Ministry of Labour.
Sir
AUBREY
SYMONDS,
K.C. B.,
Secretary, Ministry of Health.
Second
Mr. M. L. GWYER, C.B.. Legal Adviser,
Ministry of Health.
Mr. THOMAS JONES, Principal
Mr. PEMBROKE WICKS, Secretary
Sir J O H N BAIRD, Bart., C.M.G., D.S.O.,
M.P., Parliamentary Under-Secretary,
Home Office.
Mr. A. NEAL, M.P., Parliamentary Secre­
tary, Ministry of Transport. (For Con­
clusion 1.)
Sir
FREDERICK LIDDELL, K.C.B.,
First
Mr.
'W. M.
C.B.,
Mr.
W.
Parliamentary Counsel. "
GRAHAM-HARRISON,
Second Parliamentary Counsel.
D.
Treasury.
Assistant
to the
WILKINSON, D.S.O., M.C.,
(For Conclusion 1.)
Secretary,
Committee.
Cabinet.
Parliamentary
Business.
1. With reference to H.A.C. Conclusions 115 (1) and 117 (1),
the Committee proceeded to consider, in accordance with the
request of the Cabinet, the list of Bills to be taken up in the
forthcoming Autumn Session, and had before them a Note by
the Secretary to the Committee containing tbe Bills submitted to
them by the Cabinet, and a further list of Bills which tbe Depart­
ments had prepared for presentation to Parliament in the Autumn.
The Committee were requested by the Cabinet to report how best
the list could be diminished so as to secure that the Autumn Session
should have a very small programme of legislation.
The Chairman
read a letter i r o m the Lord Privy Seal, in
which he asked the Home Affairs Committee not to countenance the
introduction oi any further Bills daring the Session now ending, in
view of the pledge that he had given in the House of Commons on
the 5th J u l y that the War Charges Validity Bill was the only Bill
remaining to be introduced before the Recess.
(1.) The Committee then proceeded to consider the list of Bills
remitted to it by the Cabinet (Memorandum C.P.-4099 (1) of the
12th J u l y ) : -
Title of Bill.
Auxiliary Air Force
Department Responsible.
... Air Ministry
Criminal Procedure (Northern j Colonial Office
Ireland)
Economy (Miscellaneous Pro-I Treasury
visions)
Oxford and Cambridge Royal
Commission
Board of Education ...
Rent Restrictions
.. Ministry of Health ..
Merchandise Marks ..
.. Board of Trade
Agricultural Holdings ( l u g - j Ministry of Agriculture
land)
Agricultural Holdings (Scot­ Scottish Office
land)
Clinical Thermometers
Board of Trade
Coal Mines (Temporary Pro­ Board of Trade
visions as to Safety Lamps)
Observations and Decisions.
Decision postponed, periling the discussions
on air policy in the Committee of Imperial
Defence.
The Secretary reported that the Colonial
Office had dropped this Bill.
To proceed in the autumn, subject to con­
sideration at a later date whether the Bill
could be lightened by dropping sofne of the
less important provisions.
Understood to be non-controversiallo
proceed in the autumn on the chan.ce that
sufficient time will be available.
Postponed till 3 923.
Now in Committee in the House of Commons.
To proceed in the autumn.
Both of these are Consolidation Bills,
proceed in the autumn.
To
Will meet with very little opposition.
T
proceed in the autumn.
The President of the Board of Trade stated
that by the autumn it would be cle*
whether this would be controversial or n
agreed measure.
It was decided that ' if
agreement w"ere obtained the Bill shou W
proceed in the autumn, but not otherwise.
Postponed till 1923.
Q
ar
a
Scottish
Fishery ' Board Scottish Office
(Tenure of Office of Chair­
man)
Board of Trade
Sale of Bread...
Fraud and Falsification
Lord Chancellor
Rabbits
Ministry of Agriculture
The President of the Board of Trade statecl
that this Bill was submitted in fulfilment of
a pledge given in Parliament, but con- ­
siderable opposition had developed. It was'
decided that if agreement could not be
reached with the Opposition, the question
should be referred to the Prime Minister
whether, in view of the pledge which' had
been given, the Bill should go on or not.
Parliamentary Counsel stated that there was
no chance of this measure being ready for
the. autumn. Agreed to postpone till 1923.
The Minister of Agriculture undertook to drop
the Bill should serious opposition develop.
On this understanding it was agreed that t he
Bill should proceed in the autumn.
Observations and Decisions.
Title of Bill.
Salmon and
Fisheries
Fresh
W a t e r Ministry of Agriculture
Places of Worship Enfran­ Attorney-General
chisement
Dangerous Drugs
Home Office ...
It was agreed that the Minister of Agriculture
should summon a conference with the op­
posers in the House of Commons, and that
if the opposition were such that the passage
of the Bill would require considerable Par­
lianipntary time, it should not be proceeded
with.
It was stated that this Bill had been dropped.
The Home Secretary stated that this was an
agreed Bill. To proceed in the autumn.
(-.) The Committee then proceeded to consider List 2 : " Bills
which the Home Affairs Committee, at their meeting on the
22nd June (H.A.C. 115), had decided either to postpone to the
autumn or to refer back to the Department concerned for further
consideration " :—
Observations and Decisions.
Title of Bill.
Lights on Vehicles
J Ministry of Transport
Alderney Breakwater
rp
. treasury
Indemnity (Ireland)
W a r Office
Carriage of Goods by Sea
Board of Trade
Royal Naval Reserve
Admiralty
Administration
Justice
Administration
(Civil)
of
of
Criminal
...
Lord Chancellor
Justice Lord Chancellor
Supreme Court of Judicature Lord Chancellor
(Consolidation;
Petroleum
Prevention of Crime ...
Forestry
Measuring Instruments
Industrial Assurance...
Explosives
Extradition
Offenders
and
Home Office ...
Home Office ...
Forestry Commission
Board of Trade
! Home Office ...
Fugitive Home Office ...
The Committee decided that this Bill should
be postponed till 1923.
It was stated that this related to a breakwater
which had been handed over to the Office of
Woods by the Admiralty. The former Depart­
ment were now maintaining it, and it was
necessary to legalise the position. To proceed
in the autumn.
The Secretary reported that the War Office did
not desire to press this Bill, but Parliamentary
Counsel stated that the Prime Minister had
given a definite pledge that it should be
passed. If it were not passed, numerous
actions would be started against the Crown
in Ireland for commandeering property, in­
volving the assessment of damages against the
Crown by Irish juries. It was agreed provi­
sionally that this Bill should proceed in the
autumn.
To proceed in the autumn if it proves to be an
agreed measure, but not otherwise.
The Secretary reported that the Admiralty did
not desire to press this Bill if no time were
available. Postponed till 1923.
Postponed till 1923.
The Solicitor-General and Parliamentary Counsel
stated that, this was an urgent measure con­
taining a clause dealing with the right to trial
by jury in civil cases. Great exception was
taken by the Judges to the provision in the
Administration of Justice Act, 1920, and an
amending measure was urgently required. It
was agreed that the Bill should be introduced
in the House of Lords in the autumn, its
further course to depend upon the amount of
opposition which developed.
Passage to be postponed till 1923, but to be
introduced in the autumn and read a first time
for the purpose of inviting criticism.
To be postponed till 1923.
To be postponed sine die.
To be postponed till 1923.
To be postponed till 1923.
The Home Secretary stated that, after a great
deal of negotiation, he had brought the parties
to this Bill to a fair measure of agreement.
To proceed in the autumn, but to be dropped'
if opposition developed.
Postponed till 1923.
Postponed till 1923.
Title of Bill.
Legitimation ...
Department Responsible.
Home Office ...
Board of Education
University of London
Workmen's Compensation .. Home Office ...
*Expiring Laws Conlintiance
Mental Treatment
Ministry of Health .
Summary Jurisdiction (Sepa- Home Office ...
ration and Maintenance)
Land Settlement (Scotland) Scottish Office
Amendment
Game, Heather-burning and Scottish Office
Deer Forests
Registers (Scotland)
Scottish Office
W a r Charges Validity
Board.of Trade
Export Credits
Board of Trade
Smoke Abatement
Ministry of Health ...
Observations and Decisions.
To proceed in the autumn, in view of the definite
pledge given in Parliament.
Postponed till 1923.
Postponed till 1923.
To proceed.
To be introduced in the autumn under the ten
minutes rule and read a first time for the
purpose of inviting discussion.
To be introduced in the autumn.
Further
stages to depend upon time being available.
The representative of the Scottish Office stated
that part of this Bill was essential in order to
legalise certain expenditure. To proceed in
the autumn.
To be postponed till 1923.
It was stated that copies of this Bill had not yet
been circulated to the Committee. The Com­
mittee postponed their decision.
To proceed. Bill to be introduced before ad­
journment, but no further stages till the
autumn.
Parliamentary Cotinse! stated that this had now
been put into the Expiring Laws Continuance
Bill, but there would probably be opposition
t'i that course.
The Committee postponed their decision.
* Note.—It lias since been found possible to draft the Bill before Parliament so as to cover laws expiring­
before the end of the year, and not merely those expiring before the 1st September, thereby avoiding the
necessity for a second Expiring Laws Continuance Bill in the autumn session.
The Committee took note of the Lord Privy, Seal's direction
that no further Bills should be introduced before the recess, with
the exception of the War Charges Validity Bill.
Mental Treatment
Bill.
2. The Committee had under consideration a Memorandum by
the Minister of Health ( C P . 4104) covering a draft of a Bill to
amend the Lunacy Acts and the Mental Deficiency Acts by making
provision for the treatment of persons suffering from mental
disorder, although not certified to be lunatics.
The Minister of Health stated that while there would be oppo­
sition from certain groups, the Bill had the support of the Medical
Committee in the House of Commons, l i e only desired to obtain
the approval of the Committee to its introduction in Parliament for
the purpose of inviting discussion.
The Committee agreed—
To approve the introduction of the Mental Treatment Bill by
the Minister of Health in the House of Commons in the
autumn under the ten minutes' rule, for the purpose of
inviting discussion on it.
Animal
t 0
3. With reference to H.A.C. 119th Meeting, Conclusion 3, the
Committee had under consideration a Memorandum by the SolicitorGeneral ( C P . 4123) on the subject of Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals. The Solicitor-General proposed that legislation should be
prepared—
(1.) To make compulsory the existing Slaughter-house bye-laws.
of the Ministry of Health, including Regulation 9 (6)
which enforces the use of the humane killer.
(2.) To punish by imprisonment without the option of a fine
where cruelty Tvas found by the Court to be wilful and
deliberate.
9 9
The Solieitor-General
stated that in regard to the second of his
proposals, he did not press to make it obligatory on Magistrates to
inflict punishment by imprisonment, but would only ask to give them
discretionary power.
The Committee agreed—
That the following Sub-Committee should meet after the
Parliamentary Recess to consider the Solicitor-General's
proposals.
The Minister of Health (in the Chair).
The Home Secretary.
The Minister of Agriculture.
The Solicitor-General.
Mr. Pembroke Wicks
(Secretary).
Summary Jurisdic­
tion (Separation
and Maintenance)
^ffk
4. The Committee had under consideration a Memorandum b y
the Home Secretary ( C P . 4122) covering the draft of a Bill to amend
the Married Women (Maintenance) Acts.
The Bill was proposed by the Home Secretary as a Government
measure in place of a private Member's Bill, the provisions of which
were impracticable. The promoters had agreed that they would not
proceed with their Bill if the Government would introduce a Bill to
make such amendments of the law as were generally recognised to
be desirable. The principal provision of the Bill was to enable a
wife to apply for an crder for separation and maintenance, although
still living with her husband, on the ground that a large number of
women were uuable to leave their offending husbands because they
had no place to go to. Clause 3 of the Bill provides that habitual
drug taking shall be ground for a separation order.
The Home Secretary stated that the Bill would be non-contro­
versial, and added that he had given a definite pledge to introduce
the Bill, and desired to do so before the Parliamentary Recess.
The Committee agreed—
To approve the draft Bill, and authorised the Home Secretary
to introduce it in Parliament after the Recess, further
stages of the Bill being dependent upon time being avail­
able for its passage.
The Committee further agreed—
That, should the Home Secretary desire to introduce the Bill
before the Recess, he should obtain the sanction of the
Cabinet.
2, Whitehall Gardens, S. IF'. 1,
June 26, 1922.
o