(c) crown copyright
Catalogue Reference:CAB/23/12
Image Reference:0017
Printed
for the War Cabinet..
October 19.19.
SECRET.
-119
WAR
Conclusions
CABINET
632.
of a Meeting of the War Cabinet, held at 10, Downing
Monday, October 20, 1919, at 4 3 0 P.M.
Street, S.W., on
Present:
T h e P R I M E M I N I S T E R (in the
The Right Hon. A. CHAMBERLAIN, M . P .
I
Chair).
T h e R i g h t H o n . A. B O N A R L A W , M . P .
T h e R i g h t Hon. Sir E . G E D D E S , G . C . B . , G . B . E . , M . P .
T h e following were also p r e s e n t :
T h e R i g h t H o n . t h e Viscount M I L N E R ,
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 Right Hon. W . LONG, M.P., First
L o r d of t h e A d m i r a l t y .
T h e R i g h t H o n . E . S. S H O R T T , K G , M . P . ,
Secretary of S t a t e for H o m e Affairs.
The Right Hon. the Lord BIRKENHEAD,
L o r d Chancellor.
The R i g h t
Secretary of S t a t e for W a r .
T h e R i g h t H o n . S i r R . S. H O R N E , K . B . E . ,
T h e R i g h t H o n . C. A D D I S O N , M . D . , M . P . ,
K G , M . P . , Minister of Labour.
T h e R i g h t Hon. t h e L o r d L E E OE F A R E HAM, G.B.E., K . C . B . , P r e s i d e n t , Board
of Agriculture a n d Fisheries.
Hon. H . A . L. FISHER, LL.D.,
M . P . , P r e s i d e n t of t h e Board of E d u c a tion.
T h e R i g h t H o n . W . S. C H U R C H I L L , M . P . ,
Minister of H e a l t h .
The
Right
Hon.
G. H . R O B E R T S , M . P . ,
Food Controller.
L i e u t e n a n t - C o l o n e l S i r M. P . A . H A N K E Y , G . C . B . ,
C a p t a i n L . F . B U R G I 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
M r . T. S t . Q. H I L L , Assistant
Secretary.
Mr. PEMBROKE WICKS,.Assistant
[1195]
Secretary.
Secretary.
Secretary.
Bates Advisory
Committee.
Mr. F. GoreBrowne.
Agricultural Policy,
Forthcoming
Statement by the
Prime Minister.
Guaranteed
Minimum Price.
1. T h e L o r d Chancellor a s k e d t h e W a r C a b i n e t to t a k e n o t e
of t h e f a c t t h a t M r . F . G o r e - B r o w n e , K . C . , h a d , to h i s o w n k n o w ­
ledge, m a d e a considerable p e r s o n a l sacrifice i n a c c e p t i n g t h e p o s t
of C h a i r m a n of t h e R a t e s A d v i s o r y C o m m i t t e e of t h e M i n i s t r y of
Transport.
2. The m e e t i n g w a s called t o e n a b l e t h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r to
consult h i s colleagues as to t h e m a i n lines of a n i m p o r t a n t s t a t e ­
m e n t on a g r i c u l t u r e , to be m a d e by h i m t o a d e p u t a t i o n on t h e
following a f t e r n o o n .
3. The W a r C a b i n e t w e r e i n f o r m e d t h a t t h e a r e a of arable­
c u l t i v a t i o n i n t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m — w h i c h h a d been e x t e n d e d
d u r i n g t h e w a r by some 1-J million acres b u t w a s s t i l l a b o u t
2f million a c r e s less t h a n t h e c o r r e s p o n d i n g a r e a for t h e y e a r
1871—was t e n d i n g t o fall. T h i s w a s d u e to t h e a p p r e h e n s i o n s of
f a r m e r s t h a t t h e p r i c e of c o r n w a s likely to d r o p . These a p p r e ­
hensions were, i n t h e o p i n i o n of t h e W a r Cabinet, ill-founded, a s ,
o w i n g to t h e r i s e i n t h e cost of coal, t r a n s p o r t a n d l a b o u r i n
foreign c o u n t r i e s , t h e r e w a s s m a l l p r o s p e c t of a fall i n p r i c e s .
These a p p r e h e n s i o n s , however, existed, a n d c o n s t i t u t e d a r e a l
i m p e d i m e n t t o m o r e exf.ended a r a b l e c u l t i v a t i o n .
The W a r Cabinet authorised—
The P r i m e Minister to m a k e a statement in general terms to
t h e effect t h a t t h e policy of t h e G o v e r n m e n t w a s to e x t e n d
t h e g u a r a n t e e for such p e r i o d a s m i g h t be n e c e s s a r y ; b u t
t h e G o v e r n m e n t could n o t be definitely c o m m i t t e d , e i t h e r
as t o t h e price t o be fixed or t o the n u m b e r of y e a r s to
w h i c h t h e g u a r a n t e e w o u l d e x t e n d p e n d i n g the r e p o r t of
t h e R o y a l Commission w h i c h i s now e n q u i r i n g i n t o t h e
m a t t e r . T h e f a r m e r s , however, should be e n c o u r a g e d -to
. e x t e n d t h e a r e a s a t p r e s e n t u n d e r c u l t i v a t i o n , a n d should
be given sufficient a s s u r a n c e t o i n d u c e t h e m to do t h i s .
Capricious
Evictions.
' 4 . I n view of t h e f e a r s of t h e f a r m i n g c o m m u n i t y — s u b s t a n ­
t i a t e d , as t h e y were, by i n s t a n c e s of losses a c t u a l l y i n c u r r e d — t h a t
t h e i r f a r m s m i g h t be sold over t h e i r h e a d s a n d themselves
e v i c t e d — a n a p p r e h e n s i o n w h i c h led f a r m e r s t o e x t r a c t t h e u t m o s t
o u t of t h e i r l a n d s , while i t d i s c o u r a g e d t h e m from i n c u r r i n g a n y
e x p e n d i t u r e of money on t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of the s a i d l a n d s — t h e
W a r Cabinet decided t h a t —
T h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r s h o u l d be a u t h o r i s e d t o s t a t e t o t h e
d e p u t a t i o n t h a t t h e policy of t h e G o v e r n m e n t w o u l d be
to s a f e g u a r d t e n a n t f a r m e r s from c a p r i c i o u s eviction i n
t h e event of sale o r notice for r a i s i n g r e n t s . I n case of
d i s p u t e as to t h e l a t t e r , t h e m a t t e r to be s e t t l e d by
arbitration.
Scientific Research.
State Aid.
5. The W a r C a b i n e t took n o t e of t h e s t a t e m e n t t h a t t h e
a m o u n t s p r o p o s e d 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
a n d F i s h e r i e s for e x p e n d i t u r e on scientific r e s e a r c h do n o t involve
a n y d e m a n d s for money n o t a l r e a d y a u t h o r i s e d . T h e c o n t i n u a t i o n
of t h o s e g r a n t s , w h i c h a r e less t h a n / t h o s e o f a n y f o r e i g n c o u n t r y ,
w a s g e n e r a l l y s u p p o r t e d , 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 a n d F i s h e r i e s w a s r e q u e s t e d t o see t h a t g r a n t s w e r e n o t
given t o u n i v e r s i t i e s w i t h o u t p r e v i o u s c o n s u l t a t i o n of t h e P r e s i ­
d e n t of t h e B o a r d of E d u c a t i o n .
3
Tenants' Eight of
Appeal.
WO 632
6. H a v i n g r e g a r d t o t h e f a c t t h a t successive C o m m i s s i o n s on
agriculture, had uniformly reported that landlords h a d done their
d u t y t o t h e best of t h e i r a b i l i t y in r e p a i r i n g t e n a n t s ' b u i l d i n g s —
T h e W a r C a b i n e t d i d n o t consider i t necessary t o a n n o u n c e
t h a t p r o v i s i o n should be m a d e for a p p e a l b y t h e t e n a n t
a g a i n s t r e f u s a l by a l a n d l o r d t o c a r r y o u t r e p a i r s .
T h e q u e s t i o n of g i v i n g compulsory p o w e r s to t h e C o u n t y
C o m m i t t e e s i n e x t r e m e l y b a d cases w a s left for f u r t h e r
consideration.
Credit Facilities
for Agriculture.
7. T h e W a r C a b i n e t decided t h a t —
I n view of t h e h e a v y c a p i t a l c o m m i t m e n t s of t h e G o v e r n m e n t
e n t a i l e d by t h e h o u s i n g , t r a n s p o r t , a n d o t h e r r e c o n s t r u c ­
t i o n schemes, t h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r should n o t a n n o u n c e
a n y scheme of G o v e r n m e n t r e s p o n s i b i l i t y for g i v i n g
c r e d i t facilities to f a r m e r s or l a n d l o r d s . I t w a s con­
s i d e r e d sufficient for t h e P r i m e "Minister, on t h e
following day, to a n n o u n c e t h a t a g r i c u l t u r e w o u l d n e e d
more credit owing to new conditions; t h a t farmers
should use f a r m b a n k s as in o t h e r c o u n t r i e s ; b u t t h a t t h e
G o v e r n m e n t should n o t be c o m m i t t e d t o f u r t h e r e x p e n d i ­
t u r e unless o t h e r resources a r e f o u n d i n a d e q u a t e .
Eailway Bates.
8. I t w a s p o i n t e d o u t t h a t , a s a h i n t h a d been g i v e n to t h e
R a t e s A d v i s o r y C o m m i t t e e t h a t i t w a s t h e i n t e n t i o n of t h e G o v e r n ­
m e n t t o differentiate r a i l w a y r a t e s i n favour of a g r i c u l t u r e , t h e
P r i m e M i n i s t e r s h o u l d i n c l u d e t h i s i n h i s s t a t e m e n t of policy,
since, o t h e r w i s e , i t would be assumed t h a t t h e p r o p o s a l h a d been
a d o p t e d i n d e p e n d e n t l y by t h e A d v i s o r y Committee, a n d t h e
G o v e r n m e n t would g e t no c r e d i t for i t .
The W a r Cabinet approved the suggestion.
Compulsory Bowers
over Cultivation ofj
Band.
9. Some discussion took p l a c e as to t h e e x p e d i e n c y of con­
t i n u i n g , i n t i m e of p e a c e , . t h e p o w e r s a c q u i r e d u n d e r t h e C o r n
P r o d u c t i o n A c t for e x e r c i s i n g compulsion i n r e g a r d t o t h e c u l t i v a ­
t i o n of l a n d .
I t w a s held, on t h e one h a n d , t h a t t h e exercise of c o m p u l s o r y
p o w e r s u n d e r t h e Defence of t h e R e a l m A c t h a d led to a g r e a t
deal of foolish a n d v e x a t i o u s a c t i o n by t h e A g r i c u l t u r a l C o u n t y
Committees, a n d t h a t i t w o u l d be v e r y difficult to m a i n t a i n , i n
t i m e of peace, t h e p o w e r t o i n t e r f e r e w i t h t h e free e x e r c i s e of a
f a r m e r ' s j u d g m e n t i n t h e c u l t i v a t i o n of h i s land, i n h i s o w n
interest, a t t h e d i c t a t i o n of a C o m m i t t e e of h i s n e i g h b o u r s .
O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , i t w a s p o i n t e d o u t t h a t , as the G o v e r n m e n t
w e r e g o i n g t o g u a r a n t e e prices, t h e y were e n t i t l e d t o secure t h e
n a t i o n a g a i n s t b a d h u s b a n d r y ; t h a t t h e compulsory p o w e r s h a d
been m o s t effective i n c h e c k i n g b a d f a r m i n g ; t h a t a n a r b i t r a r y a n d
u n f a i r exercise of t h e m w o u l d be p r e v e n t e d by t h e p o w e r of a p p e a l
contained in the new proposals, which h a d not existed u n d e r the
Defence of t h e R e a l m R e g u l a t i o n s ; a n d t h a t t h e N a t i o n a l
F a r m e r s ' U n i o n desired t h a t the compulsory powers should be
r e t a i n e d , i n t h e i n t e r e s t of good f a r m i n g .
The W a r Cabinet decided t h a t —
T h e compulsory p o w e r s over t h e c u l t i v a t i o n of l a n d should b e
retained.
Bread. Subsidy.
10. Reference was m a d e t o t h e p r o p o s a l t o d i s c o n t i n u e t h e
b r e a d subsidy, but, i n view of t h e f a c t t h a t f u r t h e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n
w a s r e q u i r e d before a definite p r o p o s a l could be l a i d down, i t w a s
a g r e e d t h a t n o mention should be m a d e of t h e b r e a d subsidy i n
the P r i m e Minister's statement.
Appeal to
Agricultural
Labourers.
11. The W a r Cabinet concurred in a proposal t h a t a strong
a p p e a l should be m a d e t o a g r i c u l t u r a l l a b o u r e r s t o p u t f o r w a r d
t h e i r best efforts, a n d t h a t i t s h o u l d be m a d e clear t h a t t h e con­
t i n u a n c e of t h e e x i s t i n g h i g h level of a g r i c u l t u r a l w a g e s m u s t
d e p e n d u p o n a n a d e q u a t e r e t u r n for t h e w a g e s p a i d .
Certain general
advantages of the
Agricultural Policy.
12. T h e W a r C a b i n e t s u g g e s t e d t h a t t h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r , i n
t h e course of his s t a t e m e n t , s h o u l d lay s t r e s s on t h e following
p o i n t s , w h i c h were of i m p o r t a n c e t o t h e c o m m u n i t y a s a whole
r a t h e r t h a n to t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l i n t e r e s t : —
(a.) T h e p r i c e of food o u g h t t o be lessened by t h e i n c r e a s e d
home production.
(&.) T h e e x c h a n g e difficulties of t h e c o u n t r y w o u l d be
alleviated.
1 3 . T h e W a r C a b i n e t g e n e r a l l y a p p r o v e d t h e l i n e s of t h e
P r i m e M i n i s t e r s s t a t e m e n t , s u b j e c t t o t h e conclusions above
recorded.
2, Whitehall
Gardens,
October 20, 1919,
S.W.I.
o