(c) crown copyright
Catalogue Reference:CAB/23/40
Image Reference:0011
Reprinted
for the Imperial
War Cabinet.
November
1917.
SECRET.
IMPERIAL
Minutes
W A R CABINET,
11.
of a Meeting of the Imperial
War Cabinet, held in London at 10,
Street, S.W., on Tuesday, April 24, 1917, at 11-30 A.M.
Downing
Present :
THE
The R i g h t
P R I M E M I N I S T E R OE T H E U N I T E D K I N G D O M (in the
The R i g h t H o n . S I R R O B E R T L . B O R D E N ,
G.C.M.G.,
K . C . , P r i m e M i n i s t e r of
Canada. -
Hon. the E A R L
KEDLESTON,
CURZON OF
G.C.S.I.,
G.C.I.E.
KG.,
Chair).
L o r d P r e s i d e n t of t h e Council.
The
The R i g h t Hon. VISCOUNT M I L N E R , G . C . B . ,
G.C.M.G.
H.
PERLEY,
K . C . M . G . , M i n i s t e r of t h e
Militarj'- F o r c e s of Canada.
Hon.
SIR
GEORGE
Overseas
The R i g h t H o n . W . F . M A S S E Y , P r i m e
Minister of N e w Zealand.
The R i g h t Hon. A. H E N D E R S O N , M.P.
The R i g h t
H o n . S I R J . G. W A R D . B t . ,
K . C . M G . , M i n i s t e r of F i n a n c e a n d P o s t s ,
New Zealand.
The R i g h t Hon. W . LONG, M.P., Secretary
of S t a t e for t h e Colonies.
the
Right
Hon.
Lieutenant-General
J . C. S M U T S , K . C . , Minister for Defence,
U n i o n of S o u t h Africa.
The Right Hon. S I R E. P . MORRI3,
K.C.M.G., P r i m e Minister of N e w ­
foundlaud.
T h e R i g h t H o n . A. C H A M B E R L A I N , M . P .
S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for I n d i a .
T h e following were also p r e s e n t
The R i g h t Hon. LORD ROBERT CECIL, K.C.,
M.P., Minister of Blockade.
A d m i r a l S I R J . R . JELLTCOE, G . C . B . ,
First Sea Lord (for
O.M., G . C . V . 0
M i n u t e s 1 t o 8).
General S I R W . R. R O B E R T S O N , G.C.B.,
K . C . V . O . , D.S.O., Chief of t h e I m p e r i a l
Genei-al Staff (for M i n u t e s 1 t o 8).
The
Hon.
SIR J.
S.
Lieutenant-Governor
Provinces, India.
MESTON.
of
the
The
SINGH.
BAHADUR,
R.
R O G E R S . M i n i s t e r of
United,
The Right Hon.
Sir A. S T A N L E Y ,
G.C.I.E., A.D.C:, M a h a r a j a of B i k a n e r
(for M i n u t e s 1 t o 8).
Mr.
H.
C. M .
L A M B E R T , C . B . , Colonial
Office, S e c r e t a r y t o t h e I m p e r i a l W a r
Conference.
S I R S . P . S I N H A , M e m b e r - d e s i g n a t e of t h e
E x e c u t i v e Council of t h e Governor of
Bengal.
Mr. P H I L I P K E R R .
Lieutenant-Colonel S I R M . P . A . H A N K E Y , K . C . B . ,
Secretary.
C a p t a i n L . S . A M E R Y , Assistant
Mr. T H O M A S J O N E S , Assistant
M.P.,
P r e s i d e n t of t h e Board of Trade.
G.C.S.I.,
Major L . S T O R R , Assistant
Public
T h e H o n . J . D . H A Z E N , M i n i s t e r of M a r i n e
a n d Fisheries, a n d of t h e N a v a l Service,
Canada.
K.C.S.I.,
Colonel H i s H i g h n e s s t h e M a h a r a j a S I R
GANGA
Hon.
Works, Canada.
Secretary.
Secretary.
Secretary.
The Western
Front.
1. T h e Chief of t h e Imperial General Staff r e p o r t e d t h a t , a s
t h e result of t h e fighting on t h e previous d a y , t h e B r i t i s h forces h a d
succeeded at first in occupying all their objectives ; t h a t t h e e n e m y
h a d t h e n c o u n t e r - a t t a c k e d w i t h several r e s e r v e divisions a n d h a d
t e m p o r a r i l y recovered some of t h e s e positions, which, however, w e r e
e v e n t u a l l y regained a n d secured by our troops. T h e n u m b e r of
enemy prisoners w a s e s t i m a t e d at 1,800.
During the recent
operations t h e e n e m y h a d been compelled t o employ 31 of h i s
reserve divisions, 13 on t h e B r i t i s h a n d 18 on t h e French front,
leaving 16 divisions in reserve t h a t had n o t as y e t been engaged.
Russia:
The Baltic Fleet.
2. T h e Chief of t h e I m p e r i a l General Staff communicated t h e
contents of a t e l e g r a m from R u s s i a to t h e effect t h a t t h e condition
of t h e R u s s i a n F l e e t in t h e Baltic continued t o be m o s t unsatisfactory,
a n d t h a t i t could n o t be relied upon t o p r e v e n t a hostile l a n d i n g .
T h e telegram also embodied a request t h a t t h e British A d m i r a l t y
would a r r a n g e for a n a v a l d e m o n s t r a t i o n n e x t week, w h e n t h e
dangerous period would commence, owing t o t h e b r e a k i n g of t h e ice.
Coal for Italy.
The
received a
supply of
possibility
paralysed.
Mesopotamia.
4. T h e Chief of t h e I m p e r i a l General Staff r e a d a t e l e g r a m
from General M a u d e describing t h e severe fighting which h a d
r e s u l t e d in t h e successful capture of S a m a r r a .
General Maude
r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e 1 3 t h T u r k i s h Corps on h i s r i g h t w a s a d v a n c i n g
along t h e r i g h t b a n k of t h e S h a t t - e l - A d h a i m , a n d t h a t he proposed
t o e n g a g e i t a t once.
Submarines:
Harwich.
5. T h e F i r s t Sea L o r d s t a t e d t h a t our seaplanes had s i g h t e d
a n d a t t a c k e d a n e n e m y s u b m a r i n e off H a r w i c h on t h e previous d a y .
T h e submarine w h e n last seen h a d a heavy list.
The F i r s t Sea L o r d also reported an e n g a g e m e n t b e t w e e n t h e
sloop " Q . - 2 2 " a n d a n e n e m y submarine, as t h e result of w h i c h
t h e sloop h a d been d a m a g e d and t h e s u b m a r i n e h a d s u n k b o t t o m
upwards.
Palestine.
6. The F i r s t Sea L o r d s t a t e d t h a t t h r e e ships h a d r e n d e r e d
assistance d u r i n g t h e recent m i l i t a r y operations a g a i n s t Gaza.
The
F r e n c h coast-defence ship " R e q u i n " h a d been unsuccessfully
a t t a c k e d b y a n enemy submarine, which h a d been driven off b y
patrols. H e f u r t h e r s t a t e d t h a t t h e l a n d i n g of stores on t h e o p e n
beach was proceeding.
German Output.
7. T h e F i r s t S e a Lord r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e A d m i r a l t y had received.
reliable information t o t h e effect t h a t t h e average monthly o u t p u t of
G e r m a n submarines since S e p t e m b e r 1916 a m o u n t e d t o 13, of which
10 were m i n e - l a y i n g vessels a n d 3 oceanic submarines.
Naval Losses.
8. The F i r s t Sea L o r d r e p o r t e d t h e loss of one of our m i n e ­
sweeping t r a w l e r s .
3
Chief of t h e I m p e r i a l General Staff said t h a t h e h a d
t e l e g r a m from G e n e r a l Oadorna pressing for t h e e a r l y
more coal, in default of w h i c h t h e r e was a serious
of t h e railways a n d t h e o u t p u t of m u n i t i o n s b e i n g
Production, Trans­
portation, Control,
and Utilisation of
Food Supplies and
other Natural
Resources of the
Empire.
9. Sir R o b e r t Borden b r o u g h t before t h e I m p e r i a l W a r Cabinet
t h e following resolution :—
" H a v i n g r e g a r d to t h e experience obtained in t h e p r e s e n t war,
t h i s Conference records i t s opinion t h a t t h e safety of t h e
E m p i r e a n d t h e necessary development of its component
p a r t s r e q u i r e prompt a n d a t t e n t i v e consideration, as well a s
concerted action w i t h r e g a r d t o t h e following m a t t e r s :—­
" (1.) T h e production of an a d e q u a t e food supply a n d
a r r a n g e m e n t s for i t s t r a n s p o r t a t i o n . when a n d
where required, u n d e r a n y conditions t h a t may
reasonably b e anticipated.
" (2.) T h e control of n a t u r a l resources available w i t h i n
t h e E m p i r e , especially t h o s e t h a t are of a n
essential c h a r a c t e r for necessary national purposes,
w h e t h e r in peace or in war.
" (3.) The
economical utilisation
of
such n a t u r a l
resources t h r o u g h
processes of
manufacture
carried on w i t h i n t h e E m p i r e .
" The Conference commends to t h e consideration of t h e
G o v e r n m e n t s summoned t h e r e t o t h e e n a c t m e n t of such
legislation as m a y assist t h i s p u r p o s e . "
Sir R o b e r t B o r d e n s t a t e d t h a t t h e Dominion m e m b e r s were all
agreed on t h e resolution, a n d , as t h e r e was g e n e r a l a g r e e m e n t
a m o n g t h e m e m b e r s of t h e I m p e r i a l W a r C a b i n e t present, t h e
P r i m e Minister expressed t h e opinion t h a t a discussion was h a r d l y
required.
T h e I m p e r i a l W a r Cabinet a g r e e d u p o n t h e resolution.
Imperial Preference
and Emigration.
10. The following resolution w a s s u b m i t t e d b y Mr. Massey for
discussion b y t h e Imperial W a r Cabinet : ­
" T h a t t h e t i m e has a r r i v e d w h e n all possible encouragement
should b e given to t h e development of Imperial resources,
a n d (consistent with t h e resolutions of t h e P a r i s Conference)
especially to making- t h e E m p i r e i n d e p e n d e n t of o t h e r
countries for t h e food supplies of its population a n d r a w
m a t e r i a l for its manufactures.
W i t h t h e s e objects in view
t h i s Conference expresses itself in favour of:—
" ( 1 . ) A s y s t e m b y which each c o u n t r y of t h e E m p i r e
will give preference t h r o u g h its C u s t o m s to t h e
goods produced or m a n u f a c t u r e d in a n y o t h e r
British c o u n t r y ; a n d
" (2.) A n a r r a n g e m e n t b y which, in t h e case of i n t e n d i n g
e m i g r a n t s from t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m , i n d u c e m e n t s
m a y be offered t o such e m i g r a n t s t o settle in
countries u n d e r t h e B r i t i s h F l a g . "
Mr. Massey pointed o u t t h a t t h e question of I m p e r i a l
Preference h a d been considered on m a n y occasions, more par­
- ticularly a t previous I m p e r i a l Conferences, w h e r e it h a d been
twice agreed to w i t h o u t opposition, so far a s t h e Dominions
w e r e concerned. T h e difficulty h a d been due t o t h e views of t h e
electorate of the U n i t e d K i n g d o m . B u t in t h a t respect a v e r y
i m p o r t a n t change in public opinion h a d t a k e n place, a s t r i k i n g proof
of which w a s afforded by t h e recent report of L o r d Balfour of
Burleigh's sub-committee. T h e W a r h a d u n d o u b t e d l y m a d e people
realise t h e d a n g e r o u s e x t e n t t o w h i c h t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m h a d
been d e p e n d e n t on foreign countries.
This d e p e n d e n c e w a s u n ­
necessary, as t h e E m p i r e could produce all it required, so long as i t
r e t a i n e d control of t h e sea. The Dominions already h a d adopted
Preference as far as t h e y were concerned, and N e w Z e a l a n d was
p r e p a r e d to go f u r t h e r if necessary. H e did not t h i n k t h a t it was
fair or possible t o go back to t h e condition of t r a d e w i t h enemy
countries as it e x i s t e d before t h e W a r . Moreover, o w i n g to t h e g r e a t
additional b u r d e n of t a x a t i o n which t h e W a r would leave behind,
t h e r e were certain to be considerable increases in Customs D u t i e s ,
a n d these two factors would facilitate t h e establishment of Preference.
H e did not consider, in view of t h e productive capacities of t h e
E m p i r e , t h a t a n y measure of Preference in this c o u n t r y would a d d
t o t h e cost of living.
W i t h r e g a r d t o t h e second p a r t of his resolution, Mr. Massey
p o i n t e d out t h a t t h e r e w a s p l e n t y of room in t h e Dominions for
emigration. The population in t h e U n i t e d Kingdom was 370 to t h e
s q u a r e mile, w h e r e a s in N e w Zealand it -was 10, in Canada 2, a n d
i n A u s t r a l i a l^-. T h e S o u t h African W a r h a d been followed b y a
v e r y large wave of emigration, a n d t h a t experience a n d his own
conversations w i t h soldiers convinced him t h a t t h e r e would be a
l a r g e emigration after t h e W a r , which i t was very desirable t o guide
i n t o British channels. I n t h e Dominions t h e y would welcome n o t
only farmers, who w e r e t h e most useful t y p e of settlers, b u t immi­
g r a n t s of every suitable class. H e pointed o u t t h a t between t h e period
1 8 7 6 - 1 9 1 3 , of a t o t a l n e t emigration from t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m of
5,149,000, over 2,770,000 (i.e., 53 per cent, of t h e t o t a l ) h a d gone to
t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s a n d h a d been lost to t h e British E m p i r e . I t was
impossible for us to expect t h a t o t h e r countries should be content to
see t h e British E m p i r e possessing v a s t areas which i t w a s n o t
properly occupying. E m i g r a t i o n could not be forced to s t a y within
t h e E m p i r e ; w h a t w a s necessary w a s t o give inducements, a n d h e
urged t h a t t h e G o v e r n m e n t s of t h e E m p i r e should j o i n t o g e t h e r to
a r r a n g e a scheme of financial assistance.
Sir R o b e r t Borden s t a t e d t h a t t h e whole fiscal s y s t e m of
C a n a d a had been designed for national and Imperial purposes,
a n d it was largely owing to its fiscal system t h a t C a n a d a was now
a portion of t h e British Empire.
H e considered Preference a
v a l u a b l e and fundamental principle. H e also realised, however, t h a t
i t was not only a n I m p e r i a l , b u t also a domestic question. I n so
far as i t was t h e l a t t e r , he h a d always avoided interfering with it.
T h e Dominions would be resentful of interference in t h e i r own
i n t e r n a l affairs, a n d were n o t disposed t o interfere in controversies
w h i c h t h e United K i n g d o m h a d t o settle for itself. N o one in
C a n a d a would desire a Preference t h a t was felt t o be oppressive or
unjust b y the population of these islands. A n y such feeling would
injure t h e Imperial aspect of Preference. H e considered t h a t t h e
E m p i r e could produce all t h e food it required. A s r e g a r d s C a n a d a
m o r e particularly, whose chief exports were wheat, cheese, a n d
bacon, a Preference which did not deal with t h e question of food
supplies would be illusory a n d unsatisfactory. One of t h e difficulties
which h a d confronted C a n a d a in t h e past, a n d raised the g r e a t e s t
m e a s u r e of outcry from her farmers, h a d been t h e increased cost of
t r a n s p o r t a t i o n across t h e Atlantic, a n d h e suggested t h a t it m i g h t
be possible for t h e U n i t e d Kingdom a n d t h e Dominions t o g e t
t o g e t h e r in some g r e a t enterprise which would restrict t h e cost
of transportation w i t h i n t h e Rmpire. T r a n s p o r t a t i o n was q u i t e as
i m p o r t a n t to all t h e Dominions as C u s t o m s Preference.
W i t h r e g a r d to t h e second p a r t of Mr. Massey's resolution h e
e n t i r e l y agreed, t h o u g h he considered t h a t emigration t o t h e U n i t e d
S t a t e s , b o t h from t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m a.nd from Canada, h a d not
Jbeen wholly a loss in so far as it h a d affected t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s '
feeling t o w a r d s t h e B r i t i s h Esnpire. H e was p r e p a r e d t o s u p p o r t
a n y I m p e r i a l scheme of emigration.
T h e P r i m e Minister, speaking n o t in his official capacity, b u t as
one who h a d t a k e n a leading p a r t in discussions on t h i s question,
b e g a n b y declaring t h a t his general a t t i t u d e h a d been altered by
t h i n g s which h a d h a p p e n e d since t h e W a i \
The W a r h a d
u n d o u b t e d l y revealed certain f u n d a m e n t a l facts which i t was
necessary to t a k e cognisance of in our Imperial a n d domestic
a r r a n g e m e n t s . T h e r e w e r e industries essential t o defence which we
h a d been compelled t o build u p a t g r e a t cost in t h e middle of t h e
W a r , a n d which m i g h t n o t be able to hold their o w n unassisted a t
t h e end of t h e W a r .
[t would be g r e a t folly, in view of t h e
e x p e n d i t u r e we should still have to incur upon t h e A r m y a n d N a v y ,
if we neglected t o m a i n t a i n i n d u s t r i e s essential t o t h e efficiency of
t h o s e Forces.
A g a i n , t h e r e w a s t h e I m p e r i a l point of view. The value of
cohesion a n d co-operation between the nations of t h e B r i t i s h Com­
m o n w e a l t h h a d been revealed in an e x t r a o r d i n a r y w a y ; i t h a d been
t h e g r e a t surprise of t h e W a r t o our enemies a n d largely t o
ourselves, a n d h a d m a d e us t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t factor in t h e W a r .
Consequently, from t h e selfish p o i n t of view, of t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m
alone, t h e development of t h e E m p i r e would: be a n essential point in
B r i t i s h policy. T h e figures Mr. Massey h a d quoted showed t h a t if
m o r e trouble h a d b e e n t a k e n over t h e development of t h e E m p i r e in
t h e p a s t , t h e Dominions m i g h t possibly h a v e had double t h e i r p r e s e n t
population and proportionately increased t h e s t r e n g t h of t h e British
contribution to t h e p r e s e n t W a r .
These were f u n d a m e n t a l facts
w h i c h were bound to produce an essential change in t h e policy of
t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m w i t h r e g a r d t o t h e Dominions, a n d vice versa.
W i t h r e g a r d t o t h e methods t o be adopted, he wished t o point
o u t t h a t t h e w a r h a d revealed, more p a r t i c u l a r l y in t h e case of
R u s s i a , t h e peril which m i g h t arise from dear food. T h a t issue was
one w h i c h had somehow or o t h e r obsessed t h e minds of t h e w o r k i n g ­
classes in t h e U n i t e d Kingdom, ever since t h e Corn L a w s , a n d t h e
memories of t h e p r e s e n t w a r would revive t h a t dread. H e concurred
i n S i r R o b e r t B o r d e h s s t a t e s m a n l i k e view, t h a t i t would n o t do
for t h e prosperity of C a n a d a to be based on t h e w a n t of the work­
m e n of E n g l a n d .
H e wished t h e working-classes to r e g a r d t h e
E m p i r e as something t h a t m e a n t n o t only glory, b u t also m a t e r i a l
advantage.
H e was all for Preference, a n d would personally a s s e n t t o a n y
resolution laying d o w n t h e principle, b u t he asked Mr. Massey t o
leave out t h e t h r e e w o r d s " t h r o u g h its Customs," which specified a
p a r t i c u l a r method.
H e was inclined t o consider t h a t Sir R o b e r t
B o r d e h s m e t h o d of subsidised t r a n s i t t h r o u g h t h e E m p i r e would
give a more s u b s t a n t i a l Preference. H e w a s all for t h e old R o m a n
m e t h o d of binding a n E m p i r e t o g e t h e r by i t s r o a d s — i n our case by
shipping. A n o t h e r a r g u m e n t in favour of this p a r t i c u l a r m e t h o d
was t h a t t h e principal w h e a t - and meat-producing countries besides
t h e E m p i r e were n o t o u r p r e s e n t enemies, b u t our Allies, R u s s i a a n d
t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , a n d a declaration in favour of a C u s t o m s
P r e f e r e n c e m i g h t look as if we were a t t e m p t i n g t o do t h e m a n
injury. I t was q u i t e t r u e t h a t improved shipping would also t a k e
t r a d e a w a y from t h e m , but t h a t was a m a t t e r w h i c h could be
justified on g r o u n d s of Imperial defence, a n d w a s a recognised
m e t h o d of development employed b y t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , Russia, a n d
France.
H e did not r u l e o u t t h e remission of dues on t h e Suez Canal,
or t h e possibility of subsidy on t h e a c t u a l goods sent over, b u t
t r u s t e d t h a t for t h e m o m e n t t h e precise method should b e left open
for f u t u r e discussion. T h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m h a d g o t to consider t h e
question of its own i n d u s t r i e s after t h e W a r . This was n o t a m a t t e r
of F r e e T r a d e or Protection, b u t of s t e r n Imperial necessity for
defence.
Subject to this, h e would personally agree t o t h e
resolution.
L o r d R o b e r t Cecil a g r e e d w i t h t h e resolution as a m e n d e d by
t h e P r i m e Minister, b u t suggested t h a t , a s it would h a v e t o be
published in some form or a n o t h e r , a n d as t h e r e was a real feeling
(more particularlv in t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s ) t h a t we m i g h t m a k e use of
C
[1142-iij
'
1
our victory to injure A m e r i c a n t r a d e , it m i g h t be desirable to p u t in
some phrase such as " H a v i n g d u e r e g a r d to t h e l e g i t i m a t e i n t e r e s t s
of our Allies."
Mr. Massey said t h a t h e was p r e p a r e d t o accept t h i s
suggestion, a n d in t h a t case to o m i t t h e reference in his resolution
t o the P a r i s resolutions.
Mr. A u s t e n C h a m b e r l a i n s t a t e d t h a t I n d i a would certainly
endeavour t o conform t o a n y g e n e r a l s y s t e m of Preference a d o p t e d
t h r o u g h o u t t h e E m p i r e , t h o u g h t h e p a r t i c u l a r -methods would
h a v e to be m a t t e r s of special consideration.
W h i l e I n d i a would
u n d o u b t e d l y welcome low r a t e s of shipping freight, he wished t o
p o i n t out t h a t she h a d not t h e r e v e n u e which would provide large
subsidies.
S h e h a d also i m p o r t a n t m a r k e t s in foreign countries
which she could n o t afford to lose w i t h o u t securing fully e q u i v a l e n t
m a r k e t s elsewhere.
L o r d Milner wished to m a k e it clear t h a t Preference on C u s t o m s
D u t i e s was not excluded by t h e resolution as a m e n d e d . H e did not
absolutely accept Sir "Robert B o r d e n ' s contention t h a t Preference on .
foodstuffs would b e t h e only one of value t o t h e Dominions, for i t
certainly did n o t apply to all p a r t s of t h e E m p i r e , and h e doubted if
i t applied wholly even as r e g a r d s C a n a d a . H e r e g r e t t e d t h a t t h e
p a t h of Preference h a d been m a d e difficult by t h e a s s u m p t i o n t h a t
it w a s necessary t o put on d u t i e s which w e r e not required in
themselves in order to g r a n t Preference. All he h a d ever contended
for w a s t h a t , w h a t e v e r duties should be imposed in a n y p a r t of the
E m p i r e for its own interests, t h e r e s t of t h e E m p i r e should be
t r e a t e d differently in respect of those d u t i e s from foreign countries.
H e placed t h e principle of Preference as s o m e t h i n g much h i g h e r
t h a n either tariffs or shipping, i t was an absolutely vital m a t t e r :
Artieulus
stantis aut eadentis imperil.
H e could imagine a policy
of Preference w i t h o u t tariffs or w i t h o u t shipping subsidies, b u t h e
could not, in h i s conception of t h e E m p i r e , imagine a policy t h a t
h a d tariffs a n d g a v e no Preference on t h e s e tariffs.
T h e P r i m e Minister q u i t e accepted t h a t v i e w ; t h e only
stipulation he wished t o m a k e w a s t h a t it should be made clear,
w h e n t h e resolution was published, t h a t we h a d n o t actually
c o m m i t t e d ourselves to t a x e s on food.
The Secretary of S t a t e for t h e Colonies expressed his a g r e e m e n t
w i t h L o r d Milner.
H e was q u i t e c o n t e n t w i t h t h e a m e n d e d
resolution, as long as it did n o t preclude a n y of t h e m e t h o d s b y
which Preference could be g r a n t e d .
H e was continually being
pressed in this m a t t e r , n o t only b y t h e Dominions, b u t b y people in
t h i s c o u n t r y of v e r y ' v a r y i n g political views.
I t would create
profound dissatisfaction if it became k n o w n t h a t t h e utilisation of
tariff Preference w a s to be excluded from t h e Cabinet scheme
of Imperial Preference. W i t h r e g a r d t o C a n a d a , he felt sure t h a t
Sir R o b e r t Borden would agree w i t h h i m t h a t t h e e x p o r t s of C a n a d a
would in t h e n e a r future or a t no d i s t a n t d a t e include a g r e a t volume
of manufactures. All h e wished w a s to m a k e s u r e t h a t t h e door
r e m a i n e d open.
Mr. Henderson e n t i r e l y a g r e e d with t h e views expressed b y t h e
P r i m e Minister a n d Sir R o b e r t Borden. H i s o w n personal views
differed from t h o s e of some of t h e m e m b e r s of t h e Cabinet, b u t he
was p r e p a r e d to go t o t h e e x t e n t s u g g e s t e d b y t h e P r i m e Minister,
a n d considered t h a t t h e value of t h e resolution as a m e n d e d w a s t h a t
i t would secure a g r e e m e n t between t h o s e who differed as t o t h e
p a r t i c u l a r m e t h o d s of carrying it out.
Mr. C h a m b e r l a i n wished t o r e g i s t e r t h e fact t h a t he w a s still
a n u t t e r l y i m p e n i t e n t a d h e r e n t t o t h e policy of food duties, which
h e . b e l i e v e d - t o be t h e right one for t h e country. H e considered
t h a t t h e question of food supplies was now b e i n g t a k e n b y t h e
c o u n t r y far more seriously t h a n before t h e war.
Mr. Massey wished to m a k e i t clear t h a t he h a d b r o u g h t
forward t h i s m a t t e r n o t on behalf of N e w Z e a l a n d only, b u t in t h e
:
g e n e r a l i n t e r e s t of t h e E m p i r e , a n d t h a t , he c e r t a i n l y would n o t
h a v e b r o u g h t i t up if b e t h o u g h t t h a t i t . could possibly p u t t h e
w o r k i n g classes of t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m in a worse position.
T h e Imperial W a r C a b i n e t accepted t h e resolution in principle,
subject t o s e t t l e m e n t of its precise wording.
The S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for t h e Colonies was r e q u e s t e d to
convene a small S u b - C o m m i t t e e , consisting of-—
Lord Milner,
Sir R o b e r t B o r d e n ,
Mr. Massey,
Mr. H e n d e r s o n ,
L o r d R o b e r t Cecil,
Mr. A u s t e n C h a m b e r l a i n ,
t o settle upon t h e wording a n d b r i n g t h e m a t t e r u p before
t h e n e x t M e e t i n g of t h e Imperial W a r Cabinet.
The British Empire
3618
"
" "'
action" '
0l
0 r g a n i
t
1 1 . T h e Imperial W a r C a b i n e t had before t h e m a r e q u e s t by
British E m p i r e P r o d u c e r s ' O r g a n i s a t i o n to receive a d e p u t a t i o n
to explain t o t h e Imperial W a r Cabinet t h e objects a n d m e t h o d s of
the organisation.
n
e
The
S e c r e t a r y was i n s t r u c t e d to inform the s e c r e t a r y of
t h e B r i t i s h E m p i r e Producers' Organisation t h a t t h e i r
memorial w a s being circulated to t h e I m p e r i a l W a r
Cabinet, b u t t h a t it w a s impossible t o receive t h e
deputation.
(Initialled)
D. LI. G.
2, Whitehall Gardens,
S.W.,
April 24, 1 9 1 7 .
o