(c) crown copyright
Catalogue Reference:CAB/24/75
Image Reference:0080
interim
Prime
Note
v
Minister.
^Rehabilitation
Reference:-
of Trade
and P r o v i s i o n
M i n u t e s C o n f e r e n c e of
17th February, 1919.
of t h e
T h e y a r e "both b a d
early
a report
date.
of t h e
root
of
difficulties
It
should
of
them w i l l
however,
it
is
policies
in executive
appears
subscribe
acts
form
at
or
this
the
an
apparent
which a r e
that
mfc$y
their
finding
in recommendations
action
t o me e s s e n t i a l
to
recognised
that
all
for .
Ministers
a common p o l i c y a n d t h a t
should be i l l u m i n a t e d by
The f o u r m a i n l i n e s
of p o l i c y
all
it.
that
I
have
are:­
1.
The o r t h o d o x f i n a n c i a l
2.
The F e d e r a t i o n of B r i t i s h
t o 1914) t r a d e p o l i c y .
3.
The s o c i a l
4.
The I m p e r i a l
These
are
combinations
(better
most numerous
(gold
standard)
Industries
Britain)
subject
in varying
supporters
(back
policy.
to endless permutations
policy naturally
in the Treasury.
if
of t h e
Government were t o r e t u r n
to the
at
earliest
It
possible
and
fractions.
would u n d o u b t e d l y be a sound p o l i c y
of S t a t e
policy.
Policy.
The o r t h o d o x f i n a n c i a l
reduction
for
action.
executive
the
employment
b y w h i c h we a r e f a c e d h a v e
in inconsistent
executive
and
which I hope t o p r e s e n t
Already,
expression
trade
The r e a s o n s
t
a r e c o m p l e x a n d my a p p r e c i a t i o n
subject
Employment.
Ministers
I have begun the examination
situations.
of
date.
expenditure
to
the
.
finds
its
It
one
gold
involves
the lowest
ambition
standard
immediate
possible
level
of
w i t h a view t o payment
the
currency
and a r e t u r n
p u r c h a s i n g po //er o f m o n e y ­
of
the
the
State
to
the debt,
to
the
This
T
policy for
of
adopt
deflation
1914 s t a n d a r d
is
a most
I n view of
the huge
it
incurred
a t war
values.
The
1914" t r a d e
policy
aims
at the
pre-war
the
a n d m a k i n g goo& a l l
carrying
resulting
several
a l l burdens
from t h e w a r .
This policy
(See e s p e c i a l l y
incompatible with the
and i m p e r i a l
programme
trade,
losses
Indicated
policy
inspires
the Government,
of
education,
communications.
sums o f
indirect
It
the
undeveloped u n i t
of t h e U n i t e d
of
future
It
States
that
the
and ways
State
shall
the
and
freely
give
and i n t h e meantime
compares
empire as
ago,
and
to
this
the
to-day with
question
that
demands
are
scale.
inspired
of
of
the
confronted:.
a meeting
fundamental
works.
and p r o p o r t i o n s ,
In face
to
an
co-ordination
essential
b y w h i c h r,e a r e
that
degrees
secure that
a c t i o n which i s
May I - u r g e
and D e p a r t m e n t s
invest
an
seeks
on S t a t e
our p o s i t i o n
70 o r 80 y e a r s
in varying
attempt
difficulties
discussed?
the
p o p u l a t i o n w i t h i n t h e e m p i r e on a g r e a t
by these p o l i c i e s
and t h a t
social
health
of w h i c h t h e U n i t e d Kingdom forms
So l o n g a s M i n i s t e r s
Government
is with the
announced
v a s t numbers of p e r s o n s
nucleus.
to
It
British
as
t h e Housing scheme,
The " I m p e r i a l " p o l i c y r e g a r d s
hopeless
quite
in improvements which w i l l
In the
employment f o r
migration
as
land settlement
requires
capital
return
industrial
and i s
of
In
policieso
of
development
G,To6847)
financial
The s o c i a l p o l i c y
find
clearly
of
comraunlcations r e c e i v e d from t h e F e d e r a t i o n
Industries
large
speediest
conditions
is
­
volume
possible return to the precise
State
the
doubtful
indebtedness
"back t o
in
of M i n i s t e r s b e
of p o l i c y b e
held
fully
it
is
It
appears
to the h i l t
to
This c a r r i e s
fourth,
large
sums o f
with I t
financial
urgent
incompatible
policy.
It
is
of
trade
of
those
the
scale
the necessity
of
for
a
the
our
consideration
in the
light
necessity.
early
o n e t h i n g I am q u i t e
certain.
on p o l i c y makes i t
the four
continue the present
of
pull
and s t i c k
of
t o hope
to
pull baker
decisive
by
i t may,
I would sooner
devil,
D e p a r t m e n t s w h i c h 1B p r e v e n t i n g
as
lack
quite useless
policies
quite
is
The p r e s e n t
to
Government
l i n e s "required
Be t h i s
a c t i o n i n any d i r e c t i o n .
competition.
s e e m t o me
T h e y a p p e a r t o me t o b e
policy.
must
industries
country
along the
if
maturing
country
is
of t h e
with action
the
obvious t h a t
policy
orthodox financial
t h e w o r s t of
"social"
s h i e l d e d w i l l be crushed by f o r e i g n
election pledges.
speedy
the
of p r o t e c t i o n f o r
not
agreement
for
and e m i g r a t i o n on a l a r g e
The g e n e r a l
the
the
pledged
a r e t o b e l o c k e d up I n slow
(e.g. housing.)
institution
require
third,
Is
by i m p l i c a t i o n a l a r g e p a r t
capital
also carries
which if
the
t h e Government
"Imperial" policy,
investments
It
support
with i t
the
be reduced
t o me t h a t
it
of
real
for
adopt
than
between
action
in
any
taken
and
d i r e c t icii.
I attach
subjects
schedules
awaiting report
rehabilitation
of t r a d e
showing d e c i s i o n s ,
In connection with
and t h e p r o v i s i o n
of
the
employment.
A . C . GEDDKS. Attached.
Schedule
I.
Decisions.
Schedule
II.
Subjects
awaiting
report.
Subject.
Raw Materials *
Government Stocks
Decision-
Date of Meeting.
First Meeting.
18/2/19,
(i)
That detailed questions relating to the supply of raw
material for the United Kingdom should no longer be
dealt with by the Ra^ Materials Board, but by the Board
of Trade, and that if it is necessary for the Raw
Materials Board to continue in existence its functions
should be confined to substantial questions of Imperial
policy regarding raw materials and to questions concerning
raw materials so far as the Dominions and Colonies are
concerned.; otherwise the Board should be dissolved.
Second Meeting.
19/2/19.
(ii)
That the general policy to be followed by the Departments
which hold or control stocks of raw material is:
(a) to endeavour to force down the price of each raw
material to a level not higher than the anticipated
normal post-war price of the material.
(b) as a safeguard while prices fall to retain suf­
ficient reserve of each material to enable the
Government to defeat any attempt at a hold-up
by merchants.
(c) in the case of any commodity the price of which
falls to a level below the anticipated post-war
price as the stock in hand dwindles to raise the
price gradually from the point to which It has
been forced to the level of a fair post-war price.
(d) where agreements permit, Departments disposing of
stocks of raw material to discriminate If possible
in favour of British users.
The amount and nature
of the discrimination to be determined by Ministers
responsible.
(US
FIRST
Subiect
SCHEDULE
2.
(COKTD.)
Decision.
Date of Meeting.
(iii)
That if in any case the general policy cannot be
closely adopted because of conditions attaching to
the holding or disposal of stocks the underlying
Intention to provide British Industry with cheap raw
material to be accepted as the guide In all Depart­
mental action.
Office Accommodation
for Oversees Trade
Department.
Third Meeting.
20/2/19.
That it was essential that the Overseas Trade Depart­
ment should have adequate office accommodation, and
that subject to the result of the enquiry to be made
of Sir. A. Stanley as to the prospective position of
the Overseas Trade Department, the location of the
Department should be in the vicinity of the Foreign
Office and the Board of Trade.
General.
Third Meeting.
20/2/19.
That It is Inexpedient to adopt the policy of
subsidising private persons or interests out of
State Funds.
CA5
CJ7
Subj ects awaiting report *
Subject
Date of Meeting,
Referred to:
Reference *
Restrictions on
Exports.
First Meeting.
18/2/19.
Sub-Committee consisting
of;Lord Emmott.
Lord Inchcape.
Sir James Stevenson.
Sir Arthur Goldfinch.
Mr. Chapman.
To revise drastically the regulations
governing the restrictions on exports and
to report their recommendations as early
as possible.
A rrangemen t s f or
Travellers pro­
ceeding Overseas,
Second Meeting,
19/2/19.
Sub-Committee consisting
of:Slr A. Steel-Maltland.
Lord Inverforth.
Sir Percy Bates,
Mr. Foley.
To investigate the arrangements that,can
be made for accommodation in available
shipping commercial travellers end those
who had come to this Country voluntarily
to enlist and who were waiting to be
repatriated^, and to report as soon as
possible.
Second Meeting
19/2/19*
Sub-Committee consisting
of: *
Mr. Pease.
Mr. Manville.
Mr. Martin.
Capt. Hotham.
To investigate the whole machinery for the
issue of passports and permits and to
make suggestions with a view to facilltat­
ing the procedure in future
Mr. Butler (subse­
quently added).
(Subsequently added)
To consider the desirability and/or
necessity of establishing en Information
Bureau for affording general guidance
and information with regard to Overseas
Trade to British Traders, as suggested by
Sir. A. Steel-Maitland, either at the
Head Office or In the Provinces­
Passports and
Permits *
Third Meeting
20/2/19.
Reference.
Date of Meeting.
Referred to:-
Prospective Position
of Overseas Trade
Department.
Third Meeting,
20/2/19.
Mr. Bridgeman.
Public Works,
excluding:Housing, Land
Settlement, Land
Reclamation, Drainage.
Afforestation and
Roads.
Third Meeting,
20/2/19.
Dr. Addison.
(1)
Local government Board to prepare for
the Conference analyses of the Public
Works contemplated in terms of their
potential values from the point of view
of labour absorption and relative cost
(Including differentiation between Local
Authorities who might be in a position
to borrow and those who might not be in
such a position).
Sir A. Mond,
(2)
Sir A. Mond to arrange for a Schedule
to be prepared for the Conference showing
the classes of work in contemplation
and the amount of labour these classes
of work would absorb.
Subject
To enquire from the President of the
Board of Trade as to the prospective
position of the Overseas Trade Depart­
ment.
Mr.Illingivorth. (3a) To arrange for ficures to be supplied to
the Conference indicating how much of
the Post Office Engineering estimate of
8 millions would be absorbed in wages
and how much in material.
Post Office and (3b) To arrange forthwith that the post
Ministry of
Office should obtain the necessary
Munitions.
supplies of raw material without delay.
Date
Subject.
of
Meeting.
deferred
to:-
P u b l i c Works
(aontd).
Third Meeting.
20/2/12.
Mr . 0 h a p i a a n ,
Land
Third Meeting­
20/2/13.
M r . C Ih^sdb
Government
Housing Scheme.
Third Meeting.
20/2/19.
M i n i s t r y of
Munitions.
Restrictions
Imports.
Second Meeting.
19/2/19.
Settlement.
on
Lord-
e rla
Reference.
(5c) T o m a k e e n q u i i ^ i e s a s t o w h e t h e r t h e
d i f f i c u l t y i n o b t a i n i n g raw m a t e r i a l
f o r r a i l w a y rexolaeements was a n a l o g o u s
t o t h a t whi".h, e x i s t e d i n t h e c a s e o f
the post
Office.
To c o n f e r
in.
and r e p o r t
the
result.
Ernie.
Mr. Br idgeman .
To s u b m i t a s t a t e m e n t t o t h e
Conference as soon as p o s s i b l e giving
the whole p o s i t i o n with regard to the
materials available for
constructing
,and e q u i p p i n g houses', and making
suggestions as to the steps necessary
for st5.mulating and maintaining
supplies.
(1)
To c o n s i d e r w i t h t h e F o r e i g n
Office
tlie p o s s i b i l i t y of l i m i t i n g t h e import
of p u l p from Soandivania i n t h e l i g h t
of the d i s c u s s i o n t h a t took p l a c e a t
t h e M e e t i n g so t h a t t h e Board of
T r a d e m i g h t b e a b l e t o come t o a
decision a t an early d a t e .
(2)
To d i s c u s s t h e w h o l e s u b j e c t o f
r e s t r i c t i o n s on i m p o r t s w i t h S i r
Albert S t a n l e y as soon as p o s s i b l e i n
the general sense of the discussion
t h a t tooic p l a c e w i t h a v i e w t o S i r
A l b e r t c o n s u l t i n g L o r d Biximott a n d
subsequently having a meeting with the
M i n i s t e r s c o n c e r n e d when a d e f i n i t e
d e c i s i o n can be a r r i v e d a t .
GA3
oo