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(THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY S GOVERNME
f
SECRET.
COPY NO.
i) R E V I S E.
C A B I N E T
2 (36).
Meeting of the Cabinet to he held at No. 10, Downing
Street, S.W.I., on WEDNESDAY, 22nd JANUARY, 1936,
at 11 a.m.
A G E
1.
N
D A.
APPOINTMENT OF A COUNCIL OF STATE.
la.
The Lord President of the Council to report.
CONSIDERATION OF THE TERMS OF ADDRESS TO
THE KING AND MESSAGE TO QUEEN MARY.
To he raised by the Lord Chancellor and
the Home Secretary.
3
-
THE ITALO-ABYSSINIAN DISPUTE:
ITALIAN ARMY IN ABYSSINIA.
THE POSITION OF THE
(Reference Cabinet 1 (36) Conclusion 5 ) .
Memoranda by the Secretary of State for War.
C P . 9 (36) - circulated herewith.
C P . 10 (36) - already circulated.
4.
THE ATLANTIC AIR ROUTE.
(Reference Cabinet 56 (35) Conclusion 4 ) ,
Memorandum by the Secretary of State for Air,
covering Report of the United Kingdom Air Mission
to North America.
C P . 14 (36) - already circulated.
5.
PROPOSED INQUIRY INTO WORKING CLASS EXPENDITURE AND
REVISION OF THE BASIS OF THE OFFICIAL COST-OFLIVING INDEX NUMBERT""
Memorandum by the Minister of Labour.
C P . 11 (36) - already circulated.
(THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNME.
SECRET.
—
)R E V I S E.
COPY NO.!
C A B I N E T
2 (36).
Meeting of the Cabinet to he held at No. 10, Downing
Street, S.W.I., on WEDNESDAY, 22nd JANUARY, 1936,
at 11 a.m.
AGE
1*
N D A.
APPOINTMENT OF A COUNCIL OF STATE.
The Lord President of the Council to report.
2.
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
-
(if required).
3,
THE ITALQ-ABYSSINIAN DISPUTE:
ITALIAN ARMY IN ABYSSINIA.
THE POSITION OF THE
(Reference Cabinet 1 (36) Conclusion 5 ) .
Memoranda by the Secretary of State for War.
C P . 9 (36) - circulated herewith.
C P . 10 (36) - already circulated.
4.
THE ATLANTIC AIR ROUTE.
(Reference Cabinet 56 (35) Conclusion 4 ) .
Memorandum by the Secretary of State for Air,
covering Report of the United Kingdom Air Mission
to North America.
C P . 14 (36) - already circulated.
5.
PROPOSED INQUIRY INTO WORKING CLASS EXPENDITURE AND
REVISION OF THE BASIS OF THE OFFICIAL COST-OFLIVING INDEX NUMBER^
Memorandum by the Minister of Labour.
G,P. 11 (36) - already circulated.
6.
CONCLUSIONS OP HOME AFFAIRS COMMITTEE.
Draft 1st Conclusions (36) of Home Affairs
Committee - already circulated.
(1) Education Bill.
(Reference Cabinet 49 (35) Conclusion 11).
Memorandum by the President of the
Board of Education, covering draft Bill.
H.A. 1 (36) - already circulated.
(2) Education (Scotland) Bill.
(Reference Cabinet 49 (35) Conclusion 7 ) .
Memorandum by the Secretary of State
for Scotland, covering draft Bill.
H.A. 2 (36) - already circulated.
(3) British Shipping (Continuation of Subsidy)
Bill.
(Reference Cabinet 49 (35) Conclusion 9).
Memorandum by the President of the Board
of Trade, covering draft Bill.
H.A. 4 (36) - already circulated.
(4) Firearms (Amendment) Bill.
(Reference Cabinet 51 (35) Conclusion 4 ) .
Memorandum by the Home Secretary,
covering draft Bill.
H.A* 7 (36) - already circulated.
(5) Unemployment (Northern Ireland Agreement)
Bill,,
(Reference Cabinet 41 (35) Conclusion 5 ) ,
Memorandum by the Financial Secretary to
the Treasury, covering draft Bill.
H.A. 3 (36) - already circulated.
( ) Post Office (Sites) Bill.
6
(Reference Cabinet 51 (35) Conclusion 4 ) .
Memorandum by the Postmaster-General,
covering draft Bill.
H.A. 5 (36) - already circulated.
(Signed)
M.P.A. HANKEY
r
Secretary to the Cabinet.
Whitehall Gardens, S.V/.1.,
21st January, 1936.
-HIS -nOOtlMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY [ S GOVERNMENT).
COPY NO.
SECRET.
C A B I N E T
8 (36).
CONCLUSIONS of a Meeting of the Cabinet held at
10, Downing Street, S.W.I., on WEDNESDAY,
22nd JANUARY, 1936, at 11 a.m.
PRESENT:
The Right Hon. Stanley Baldwin, M.P.,
Prime Minister.
.'he Right Hon.
J. Ramsay MacDonald,
Lord President of the Council,
The Right Hon.
Neville Chamberlain, M.P. ,
Chancellor of the Exchequer*
he Right Hon.
The Viscount Hailsham,
Lord Chancellor.
The Right Hon.
Sir John Simon, G. C.S. I. ,K.C.V,0.
Q.B.E., K.C., MoP., Secretary
of State for Home Affairs.
?he Right Hon.
The Viscount Halifax, K.G. ,
G.C.S.I., G.C.I.E.,
Lord Privy Seal.
The Right Hon.
A. Duff Cooper, D.S.O., M.P.,
Secretary of State for War.
he Right Hon.
The Viscount Swinton, G.B.E.,
M. C , Secretary of State for
Air.
The Right Hon.
Sir Godfrey Collins, K.B.E.,
C.M.G., M.P., Secretary of State
for Scotland.
he Right Hon.
J.H. Thomas, M.P. ,
Secretary of State for the
Colonies.
The Right Hon.
Walter Runciman, M.P.,
President of the Board of Trade.
he Right Hon..
The Viscount Monsell, G.B.E.,
First Lord of the Admiralty.
The Right Hon.
Lord Eustace Percy, M.P..
Minister without Portfolio.
he Right Hon.
Walter Elliot, M.C., M.P.,
Minister of Agriculture and
Fisheries.
The Right Hon.
Oliver Stanley, M.C., M.P.,
President of the Board of
Education.
he Right Hon.
Sir Kingsley Wood, M.P.,
Minister of Health.
The Right Hon.
Ernest Brown, M.C., M.P.,
Minister of Labour.
The Right Hon.
W. Ormsby-Gore, M.P.,
First Commissioner of Works.
plonel Sir M.P.A. Hankey, G.C.B, , G.C.M. G. ,-'G.C.V.0. ,
In the Chair from Item 7 to end.
In the Chair till arrival of Prime Minister.
Secretary.
APPOINTMENT
OP .A COUNCIL
OF STATUE,
1*
T h e
Lnrd President of the Council began
by explaining that the Prime Minister, who had gone to
an Audience with the King, had asked him to take the
I
Chair at the Cabinet until his return.
After recalling
the discussions at the Cabinet last year with a view to
legislation to provide for the transaction of public
business during any illness of the King, he gave his
colleagues a brief account of the circumstances in
which the late King had been advised to appoint the
Council of State.
The Prime Minister and some of his
ascertained
colleagues had/on Sunday, January 19th from Lord Dawson
that the state of the King's illness enabled a meeting
of the Privy Council to be held for the appointment of
a
Council of State, if this was essential for the
transaction of "oublic business.
then
While there was greajs
uncertainty it/appeared possible that the King might
live for some time but be incapable of signing documents,
the accumulation of which might create a difficult
situation.
On Monday morning, January
20th, Lord
Dawson was still of opinion that the King.might ^liv-e for
some days.
held;
Consequently a meeting of the Council was
the King started to sign the warrant but could not
complete his signature; the Privy Councillors present
were satisfied that it was the intention of the King ta
sign and it was only the condition of his arms which
prevented him from giving a full signature, and signed a
Minute to this off* jt immediately after the Council.
As
a matter of fact the Council of State did operate that
very same evening when a number of documents were signed
before the King's death, after which it lapsed.
(Towards
the end of this item several Ministers entered the Cabinet
Room including the Lord Chancellor, the Home Secretary,
the Secretary of State for Air and the Secretary of
State for Scotland).
HIS MAJESTY'S
MESSAGE TO
PARLIAMENT.
2.
The Lord Chancellor informed the
Cabinet that the customary arrangement
on a new King coming to the Throne was
that both Houses of Parliament should move
THE PARLIAMENTARY
ADDRESS TO HIS
Addresses in response to a Message from
MAJESTY THE KING.
the King.
and the Home
Secretsry
had
been
looking He
at precedents
and
preparing
THE PARLIAMENTARY drafts.
MESSAGE TO HER
MAJESTY.
First the King had to be advised
as to the terms of his Message to Parlliament
and secondly drafts of the Address to His Majesty
and a Message to the Queen had to be prepared.
After discussion the Cabinet agreed:
The King s Message to Parliament.
(a) That the question of whether the Message
from the King to the House of Commons
should be prepared as in 1910 in the
third person or with a. view to striking
a more modern note, in the first person,
was so much a personal matter for the
King that the Home Secretary should,
submit the point to His Majesty himself,
giving him alternative drafts for his
message:
1
(b) That the draft prepared by the Home
Secretary should be examined immediately
after the meeting of the Cabinet by
the following Ministers, the Home Secretary,
the Lord Chancellor and the Chancellor
of the Exechequer, and that the draft or
drafts approved by them should be
submitted to the King:
The Address by the House of
Commons to the King.
^
(c)
That subject to the addition of the word
. "Divine" before "Providence" in the
penultimate line the following draft­
address prepared by the Lord Chancellor
should be approved for presentation to
the House of Commons:
"That a humble address be
presented to His Majesty to convey to
His Majesty the deep sympathy felt
by this House in the grievous
affliction which He has sustained by
the death of The Late King, His
Majesty's Father, of Blessed and
Glorious memory:
To assure His Majesty that the example
of unselfish public service which our Late
Sovereign displayed and His untiring
endeavours for the welfare of all His people,
will ever be held in affectionate and grateful
remembrance:
To express to His Majesty our loyal
devotion to His Royal Person and our firm
conviction that under the blessing of
Providence He will, throughout His Reign,
promote the happiness and protect the
liberties of all His people."
Message ,to Her... Ma. jesty.
(d) That the following draft resolution prepared by
the Lord Chancellor, should be approved for
presentation to the House of Commons:
"That a message of condolence be sent
to Her Majesty tendering to Her the deep
sympathy of this House in Her bereavement an$t
assuring Her that this House shares Her
sorrow in the irreparable loss which the
nation has sustained and that all its members
will ever hold in their hearts towards H.er
Majesty the deepest feelings of reverence and
affection."
3*
The Cabinet concurred with the Home
Secretary that in modern conditions amnesties
on the accession of the Sovereign to prisoners
undergoing sentence were an anachronism and that
the King should not he advised to grant them.
THL ITALOABYSSINIAN
DISPUTES THL
POblTION CP
THE ITALIAN
A.PFY IN'
ABYSSINIA,
'":"L1"
(previous
Reference s
Cabinet 1 (36),
Conclusion 5.)
f,R,
4. The cabinet took
papersj-
note - of the following
.
A Memorandum oy the secretary of "State
for V
( C P . 9 (56)) shoving that
operations on the Northern Abyssinian
Front are likely to be affected by
rainfall from A^ril onwards, and that
on the Soutnern Front the dry season
ends in March.
a r
A Memorandum by the Secretary of State
for Y/ar ( C P . 10 (36)) covering an
ap^reciation of the position on the
Northern and Southern Fronts, in which
the conclusion is reached that a long
and difficult task lies before the
Italian forces, if they are to achieve
their aims.
-ST
ATLANTIC
ROUTE.
5. The Cabinet had before them a Memorandum by the
Secretary of State for Air ( C P . 14 (36)), covering
the Report of the Mission which visited Canada and the
vious
erenee.
inet 56 (35)
elusion 4; .
United States in November and December, 1955.
The
Secretary of State assured the Cabinet, in the course
of his Memorandum, that the details of the provisional
agreement were in accordance with previous Cabinet
decisionsj
and he asked for authority, in conjunction
with the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, to
obtain the necessary agreement of the Dominion
Governments to the proposed plan.
The Cabinet agreed:
(a) To approve generally the proposals of the
Secretary of State for Air as set forth
in his Memorandum C P . 14 (36);
(b) To authorise the Secretary of State for Air
in conjunction with the Secretary of State
for Dominion Affairs to obtain the necessary
agreement with the Dominion Governments
to the proposed plan;
(c) That the Secretary of State for Air in
conjunction with the Secretary of State for
the Colonies should take any action that was
necessary to obtain the agreement of the
Government of Bermuda;
(d) That the Secretary of State for Air should
be invited to express the Cabinet's
appreciation of the services of the
representatives of His Majesty's Government
in the United Kingdom who had conducted these
difficult negotiations with so much skill and
success to a successful conclusion and to
add
the Cabinet's satisfaction with tfcu
good team-work displayed.
JT-OF-LIVING
)EX NUMBER,
jposed inquiry
;o working
j.ss expenditure
1 revision of
jis of.
6, The Cabinet had before them a Memorandum
by the Minister of Labour (CP. 11 (36)), recommend­
ing that an inquiry should be undertaken into
working class family budgets, and that, on the
completion of this inquiry, the basis of the official
cost-of-living index figure should be revised.
;rition
juiries.
Stress was laid also on the importance of such an
inquiry from the point of obtaining better information
Jvious
Terence:
Jinet 40
than is at present available on the subject of
(31)
lclusion 19).
nutrition and the expenditure thereon of working class
families.
Previous discussions with the Trades
Union Congress General Council and the National
Confederation of Employers' Organisations would be
desirable.
The Minister asked for authority to
proceed with the inquiry, subject to reconsideration
if the discussions mentioned should disclose reasons
of substance in favour of postponement.
In the course of discussion the suggestion
was made that this inquiry was likely to result in
a grep.t deal of agitation on the subject of wages.
The Chancellor of the Exechequer did not
oppose the new inquiry though he doubted whether the
cost would end at £20,000 to £25,000 mentioned in the
estimate as the fact of this inquiry was likely to
lead to a demand for inquiries in other directions.
He recalled that the whole matter had been investigated
by the Economic Advisory Council in 1930-31 and he
suggested that their report would be the right starting
point for the inquiry and that the proposed Advisory
Committee to co-operate with the Ministry of Labour
might not be necessary or desirable. The Economic
Advisory Committee had suggested that the inquiry
should be confined to men in full work and this Report
covered the whole ground very well.
As it had been
accepted by the Trades Union Congress General Council
it might avoid many difficulties to start on that
basis*
The Minister of Labour warned the Cabinet
that the question of how far the information required
for nutrition enquiries could be grafted on to the
Report of 1931 would need careful consideration.
After further discussion the Cabinet
agreed:
(a) That the Minister of Labour in
consultation with other Ministers
concerned, including the President of
the Board of Trade, should re-examine
the question in the light of the
Cabinet discussion and more particularly
of the proposal to start on the basis
of the Report of the Economic Advisory
Committee, and advise the Cabinet j
(b) That the Minister of Labour should
also circulate to the Cabinet the
Report of the Economic Advisory
Committee of 1931*
- 8 -*
T-HE EDUCATION
3IIL.
r
(pgjsvious
Rexerence.
abinet 49 (35),
Conclusion 11)
fg
3($tyl0.
7.
The Cabinet hac" under consideration a Memorandum
by the President of the Board of Education (H.A.-1 (36))
covering the draft Education Bill, the object of which
T-as to raise the school leaving age to fifteen, with
exemptions for beneficial employment, a*id to empower
Local Education Autnorities to make building grants to
voluntary schools, subject to certain conditions^
together with the following conclusion of the Committee
of Home Affairs thereon (1I.A.O. 1st Conclusions (36),
Minute 1)
"(1) To reserve for determination by
the Cabinet
(a) the question whether the
proviso (in square brackets)
to Sub-section 2 of Clause 2
should be included in the
Bill5 and
(b) the question whether in
England and Wales children
between 14 and 15 should
continue to be credited with
Unemployment Insurance
contributions from the age
of 14 as at present.
(2) Subject to (1) above to recommend
the Cabinet to authorise the printing
and publication of the Education Bill,
in the form of the draft annexed to
H.A. 1 (36), subject to any drafting
or other minor alterations that may be
found necessary or desirable."
The proviso to sub-section (2) of Clause 2,
the effect of which was that exemptions for beneficial
employment should operate only from the end of each
school term, was found to involve political -considera­
tions of some importance, and after a fairly full
discussion the Cabinet agreed:­
Policy
,
(a) That the Cabinet Committee on Educational/
should meet as soon as possible to
consider ­
x
(i) The points in the draft Education
Bill reserved by the Committee of
Home Affairs for determination
by the Cabinet, and any other
points of difficulty that might
be raised; and
(ii) Any points of difficulty in the
Scottish Education Bill which
might be raised by the Secretary
of State for Scotland.
(b) That a special meeting of the Cabinet
to consider the Report of the Cabinet
Committee on Educational Policy should
be held on Monday next, January 27th,
at a time to be announced later.
(During the early part of the discussion on
this point the Prime Minister had arrived
and assumed the Chair).
THE EDUCATION
(SCOTLAND) BILL.
^
(previous
Reference %
Cabinet 49 (35),
Conclusion 7.)
8.
The Cabinet had under consideration a Memorandum
by the Secretary of State for Scotland (H.A.-2 (36))
covering the draft Education (Scotland) Bill, the
principal object of which was to give effect in
Scotland to tne Government's proposals for raising the
school agej
3[3 J ­
b
10
together with the following conclusion
of the Committee of Home Affairs thereon (H.A.C. 1st
Conclusions (36), Minute 2 ) % ­
"(1) To reserve for determination by
tne cabinet
(a) the question whether the
proviso (in square brackets)
to Sub-section 1 of Clause 3
should be included in the
Bill? and
(b) the question whether any,
and if so what, alteration
should be made in the existing
law under which in Scotland
Unemployment Insurance contri­
butions only begin to be
credited when tne child has
attained the age of 15.
(2) Subject to (1) above, and to the
inclusion of any provision' relating
to medical treatment that the
Secretary of State might find
himself able to add, to recommend
the Cabinet to authorise the printing
and publication of the Education
(Scotland) Bill, in the form of the
draft annexed to H.A. 2 (36), subject
to any drafting or other minor
alterations that may be found
necessary or desirable."
The previous Conclusion on the Education
Bill applies to the Education (Scotland)
Bill also.
?HE BRITISH
ISHIPPING
JILL.
l(previous
I Reference %
j cabinet 49 (35),
I Conclusion 9.)
9. The Cabinet had under consideration a Memorandum
by the president of the Board of Trade (H.A.-4 (36))
covering the draft British Shipping (Continuation of
Subsidy) Bill, the object of which was to authorise a
subsidy to British tramp shipping in respect of the
year 1936j
together with the following recommendation
of the Committee of Home Affairs thereon (H.A.C. 1st
Conclusions (36), Minute 3)s­
"To authorise the introduction forthwith
in the House of Commons of the British
Shipping (Continuation of Subsidy) Bill,
in the form of the draft annexed to
H.A. 4 (36), subject to any drafting or
other minor alterations that may be
found necessary or desirable."
The Cabinet approved the recommendation
of the Committee of Home Affairs as
set forth above.
t
10.
The Cabinet had under consideration a Joint
Memorandum by the Home Secretary and the Secretary
of State for Scotland (H.A.-7 (36)) covering the
draft Firearms (Amendment) Bill, the object of which
was to carry out the recommendations of a Departmental
Committee regarding firearms and similar lethal
weapons and ammunition therefore
together with the
following recommendation of the Committee of Home
Affairs thereon (H.A.C. 1st Conclusions (36), llinute 4)
"To authorise the introduction forthwith
in the House of Lords of the firearms
(Amendment) Bill, in the form of the
draft annexed to H.A. 7 (S6), subject;
(a) to Caoinet approval of the
-principles both of t. e measure
as a whole, which had not been
before them at an earlier stage,
and of Clause 3, dealing with
the entry of places of business
on tne register of firearms
dealers .
(b) to any drafting or other minor
alterations that may be found
necessary or desirable."
The Cabinet agreed:
To authorise the introduction forthwith
in the House of Lords of the Firearms
(Amendment) Bill in the form of the draft
annexed to H*A. 7 (36) subject to ­
(a) The recognition of the possibility
that it might conceivably be
necessary to drop or amend
Clause 3 during the passage of
the Bill:
(b) Any drafting or minor
alterations that may be found
necessary or desirable.
9q
c5 4)
IHE UNEMPLOYMENT
NORTHERN IRELAND
JGRSLMENT) BILL.
11. The Cabinet had under consideration a Memorandum
by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury (H.A.-3 (36))
covering the draft Unemployment (Northern Ireland
fprevious
reference:
^fflfcbinet 41 (35) ,
inclusion 5.)
Agreement) Bill, the object of wnich was to confirm
and give effect to an agreement arrived at in July,
1935, with a view to assimilating the burdens on the
Exchequer of the United Kingdom and the Exchequer of
Northern Ireland in respect of unemployment3
together
with the following recommendation of the Committee of
Home Affairs thereon (H.A.C. 1st Conclusions (36),
Minute 5)s­
"To authorise the introduction forthwith
in the House of Commons of the Unemployment ­
(Northern Ireland Agreement) Bill, in the
form of the draft annexed to H.A. 3 (36),
subject to any drafting or other minor
alterations that may be found necessary or
desirable."
The Cabinet approved the recommen­
dation of the Committee of Home
Affairs as set forth above.
34
iiis rooT OFFICE
SlT^S) Bill..
MVeyious
Wfcrence %
Cabinet 3 (54),
Conclusion 11.)
12. The Cabinet had under consideration a Memorandum
by the Postmaster G-eneral (H.A.-5 (36)) covering the
draft Fost Office (sites) Bill, the object of which
was to obtain powers to acquire compulsorily cert £tin
sites in London, Manchester and Hereford^
together
with the following recommendation of the Committee
of Home Affairs thereon (H.A.C. 1st Conclusions (36),
Minute 6)j­
i(
To authorise the introduction
forthwith of the Post Office
(Cites) Bill, in tne form of
the draft annexed to II.a. 5 (36),
subject s­
(a) to Cabinet approval of
the measure in principlei
(b) to any drafting or other
minor alterations that
-nay be found necessary
or desirable.
The Bill was suitable for introduction
in the House of Lords, if that course
was thought desirable.
The Cabinet approved the Bill in
principle and adopted the recommen­
dation of the Home Affairs Committee
as set forth above.
BUSINESS AND
SOCIAL ARRANGEMENTS AFTER THE
ROYAL FUNERAL.
13.
Several Ministers mentioned that their
advice was "being asked about the postponement
or cancellation of business or social arrangements
^
9
that had been fixed to take place on dates
subsequent to the Royal funeral.
So far as
dinners and banquets were concerned, there was
no difficulty in giving advice for some time to
come, but more doubtful cases were mentioned such
as the holding of an Imperial Airways exhibition.
It was stated that after the death; of King
Edward VII, the late King had intimated that
although six months was the period of full mourning,
he did not expect his subjects to comply to the
full extent after the first few weeks.
The Cabinet agreed:
That the Prime Minister should take
such steps as he might deem appropriate
to consult with Buckingham Palace
on the subject.
2, Whitehall Gardens, 3.7.1.,
22nd January, 1936.
w