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tjgjTOniMICNT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY' S GOVERNMENT)
C R E T.
COPY NO.
C A B I N E T
47
(55).
M e e t i n g of t h e C a b i n e t to be h e l d a t No. 1 0 , Downing
S t r e e t , S . W . I . , on.WEDNESDAY, 16th OCTOBER, 1935,
a t 1 1 . 0 a.in.
A G E N D A .
1.
THE ITALO-ABYSSINIAN DISPUTE.
(Reference
2.
C a b i n e t 45 ( 3 5 ) C o n c l u s i o n
THE ATLANTIC AIR ROUTE
(Reference
-
(if
l).
ready).
C a b i n e t 44 ( 3 5 ) C o n c l u s i o n 2 ) .
Memoranda by t h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e f o r A i r .
C P . 164 ( 3 5 )
already circulated.
C P . 182 ( 3 5 )
already circulated.
Memorandum by t h e L o r d P r i v y S e a l .
C P . 184 ( 3 5 )
already circulated.
3.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ACT, 1955;
BILL TO REPRINT AS
TWO SEPARATE ACTS, ONE RELATING TO INDIA AND THE
OTHER TO BURMA.
(Reference
C a b i n e t 43 ( 3 5 )
Conclusion 3 ) .
Memorandum by the S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e f o r
covering draft B i l l .
C P . 191 ( 3 5 )
t o be c i r c u l a t e d .
4.
India,
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT ALLOWANCES FOR CHILDREN.
Memorandum by t h e M i n i s t e r o f L a b o u r .
C P . 190 ( 3 5 )
t o be c i r c u l a t e d .
5.
FUMIGATIONS WITH HYDROGEN CYANIDE.
Memorandum by the Home S e c r e t a r y .
C P . 189 ( 3 5 )
already circulated.
(Signed)
M.P.A.
Secretary
2
* Whitehall Gardens,
12th O c t o b e r ,
S.W.I.,
1935.
HANKEY,
t o the
Cabinet.
j^TR DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OT? H T
ggj^R
S
BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT).
E T.
COPY NO.
C A B I N
E T
47 ( 5 5 ) .
CONCLUSIONS o f a M e e t i n g o f the C a b i n e t h e l d a t
10, Downing S t r e e t , S.W. 1 . , on WEDNESDAY,
16th OCTOBER, 1935, a t 1 1 . 0 a.m.
PRESENT:
The R i g h t Hon. S t a n l e y B a l d w i n , M . P . ,
Prime M i n i s t e r .
( I n the C h a i r ) .
lie Right Hon.
N e v i l l e C h a m b e r l a i n , M.P. ,
Chancellor of the E x c h e q u e r .
The R i g h t Hon.
The V i s c o u n t H a i l s h a m ,
Lord Chancellor.
m Eight Hon.
Sir John Simon, C C S . I . ,
K.C.V.O., O . B . E . , K . C . , M . P . ,
Secretary o f S t a t e f o r Home
The R i g h t Hon.
S i r Samuel H o a r e , B t . , G . C . S . I .
G.B.E. , C . M . G . , M.P. , S e c r e t a r y
of State f o r Foreign A f f a i r s .
-Affairs.
He Most Hon.
The Marquess o f L o n d o n d e r r y ,
K.G. , M.V.O. , L o r d P r i v y S e a l .
p Eight Hon.
lj.H. Thomas, M.P. ,
Secretary o f S t a t e f o r
Affairs.
Dominion
if Most Hon.
The Marquess o f Z e t l a n d ,
&.C.S.T., G . C . I . E . , S e c r e t a r y
[of S t a t e f o r I n d i a .
The R i g h t Hon.
The V i s c o u n t H a l i f a x , K.G. ,
G . C . S . I . , G . C I . E . , Secretary
o f S t a t e f o r War.
The R i g h t Hon.
Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister,
G.B.E., M.C., M.P., Secretary
of S t a t e f o r A i r .
The R i g h t Hon.
S i r Godfrey C o l l i n s , K.B.E. , C.M.G., M.P., S e c r e t a r y o f
State f o r Scotland.
If Eight Hon.
I Malcolm MacDonald, M.P. ,
. Secretary o f S t a t e f o r t h e
I "Colonies.
The R i g h t Hon.
W a l t e r Runicman, M . P . ,
P r e s i d e n t o f t h e Board o f
( I Right Hon.
\ Sir Bolton E y r e s M o n s e l l ,
G.B.E., M.P. , F i r s t L o r d o f
Admiralty.
The R i g h t Hon.
Lord Eustace Percy,
Minister without P o r t f o l i o .
f
;
the
Trade
p R i g h t Hon.
Walter E l l i o t , M . C . , M.P. ,
Minister f o r A g r i c u l t u r e and
- Fisheries.
The R i g h t Hon.
O l i v e r Stanley, M.C., M.P.,
P r e s i d e n t o f t h e Board o f
Education.
IlRight Hon.
hfir K i n g s l e y Wood, M.P. ,
Hfinister of Health.
The R i g h t Hon.
E r n e s t Brown, M . C . ,
M i n i s t e r o f Labour.
l e
l S i r M.P.A.
Hanicey, G.C.B. , G . C M . G . ,
G.CV.C
.
M.P.,
Secretary.
- jrpftioiSPtFP'*
1 . The S e c r e t a r y
of S t a t e f o r Foreign
Affairs
s a i d t h a t a t t h e l a s t week-end he had. f e l t
l ' ions
th France.
perturbed at
pevious
eference:
3,'tinet 4-5
35), Con­
lusion 1.)
Affairs
the a t t i t u d e
Of t h e P r e s s
impression that the Minister
for
in giving
League o f
a t Geneva was making a l l
sanctions,
Nations
the proposals
o f t h e B r i t i s h Government:
for
a l s o t h a t we
and t h e French w e r e c o n s t a n t l y w r a n g l i n g
to
Be had a c c o r d i n g l y
the M i n i s t e r
as t h e r e s u l t
on t h e
addressed a t e l e g r a m
f o r League o f N a t i o n s A f f a i r s ,
had had s e v e r a l
c o n v e r s a t i o n s w i t h him by
o f which i t was q u i t e
Press
reports were i n a c c u r a t e .
being
carried
and
telephone,
c l e a r that
the
Most o f t h e work was
on i n Committees and Sub-Committees,
meeting l a r g e l y
in private,
and t h e r e c e n t
reports
had p r o b a b l y been put about by r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s
other n a t i o n s .
For example, t h e ...
certain
t o I t a l y had been proposed
French.
exports
The M i n i s t e r
h a d taken towards
undertaking t o
it
for
part
the
Affairs
out t h a t
^he same was t r u e i n
there
other
who was Chairman
Su.b-0ommittee, had t a k e n a l e a d i n g
in financial
sanctions.
difficulties
Even a f t e r h i s
p o i n t , however,
by
League of N a t i o n s
The Greek F i n a n c e M i n i s t e r ,
particular
embargo on
c o n s i d e r i t but p o i n t i n g
of the Financial
of
t h e same l i n e as t h e C a b i n e t ,
w e r e some d i f f i c u l t i e s ,
cases.
the
and even t h a t some w e r e b e i n g made w i t h o u t
the approval
question.
somewhat
1
T h e r e had. b e e n no
w i t h t h e French a t
Geneva.
doubts had been removed on t h i s
the Secretary
o f S t a t e had
felt
d i s t u r b e d t h a t no c l e a r r e s o l u t i o n had been a c c e p t ­
ed
t h a t , i f we w e r e a t t a c k e d as t h e - r e s u l t
sanctions,
o t h e r n a t i o n s would
At h i s r e q u e s t ,
Affairs
the Minister
come t o o u r
f o r League o f
had o b t a i n e d a r e s o l u t i o n from b o t h
Committees
concerned t o t h e e f f e c t
-1­
that a l l
of
assistance.
Nations
the
the
nations
would carry out -Article XVI, paragraph. 3.
That was
satisfactory so far as it went, but left in doubt what
was meant "by "co-operation", particularly in the case
of France.
At that moment there had appeared in the
French, paper "Gringoire" a most offensive article
signed by the
u w - i n - l a w of M. Chiappe, the Presi­
dent of the Municipal Council of Paris . his had. been
m
disquieting, especial].y in connection with the doubts
as to what French co-operation meant, so he had
decided to clear the question up with. M. Laval, and
had sent a. telegram on Monday to the British Ambassador
in Paris.
M. Laval's reply (Paris elegram No.303, of
m
October 15th) was to the effect that France fully
subscribed to the undertaking in paragraph 3 of
Article XVI of the Covenant, that
"The Members of the League will, mutually
support one another in resisting any
special measures aimed at one of
their Members by the Covenant-breaking
State",
but had made a reservation that to justify this
solidarity it is necessary that the attack which
brings it into play shall not be caused by a fact
outside the application of Article XVI.
M. Laval
had stated that ­
"In the actual situation as presented
by the British Government, the e ire tan­
stances are such that they oblige the
French Government to make a reservation
as to the presence in the Mediterranean
of British, naval forces much in excess
of the effectives normally stationed in
that Sea. h e Covenant-breaking State,
actually Italy, could in effect allege
that it was justified, in seeing in this
. concentration a step ( hnesure' ) going
beyond the application of the step
actually agreed upon at Geneva for
the execution of ArtioIe XVI*.
m
Added to this, the French Admiralty had refused, to
discuss the question of co-operation with the British
Naval Attache.
would carry out Article XVI, paragraph 3 .
That was
sat is fact cry so far as it went, but left in doubt what
was meant by "co-operation", particularly in the case
of France.
At that moment there had appeared in the
French paper "Oringoire" a most offensive article
signed by the
a w - i n - l a w of M. Ohiappe, the Presi­
dent of the Municipal Council of Paris.' h i s had been
m
disquieting, especial].y in connection with the doubts
as to what French co-operation meant, so he had
decided to clear the guestion up with M. Laval, and
had .sent a telegram on Monday to the British Ambassador
in Paris.
M. Laval,'e reply (Paris Telegram wo.203, of
October 15th) was to the effect that France fully
subscribed, to the undertaking in paragraph 3 of
Article XVI of the Covenant, that
"The Members of the League will mutually
support one another in resisting any
special measures aimed at one of
their Members bv the Covenant-breaking
State",
but had made a reservation that to justify this
solidarity it is necessary that the attack which
brings it into play shall not be caused by a fact
outside the application of Article XVI.. M. Laval
had stated that ­
"In the actual situation as presented
by the British Government, the eircum­
stances are such that they oblige the
French Government to make a reservation
as to the presence i n the Mediterranean
of British naval forces much in excess
of the effectives normally stationed in
that Sea. h e Covenant-breaking State,
actually Italy, could in effect allege­
that it was justified, in seeing in this
concentration a step ( hmesure') going
beyond the application of the step
actually agreed upon at Geneva for
the execution of Article XVI".
m
Added to this, the French Admiralty had refused to
discuss the question of co-operation with the British.
Naval Attache.
The S e c r e t a r y o f
S t a t e r e c a l l e d how, e a r l y
September, he had t o l d M. L a v a l o f
t o the M e d i t e r r a n e a n ,
expressing
— all
surprise
our
in
reinforcements
i n w h i c h M- L a v a l had c o n c u r r e d ,
that
they had n o t been s e n t
o f which was on r e c o r d .
earlier
Signor Mussolini
had
s a i d much the same t h i n g , a n d t h a t i n our p l a c e he
would have done the same h i m s e l f .
M. L a v a l ' s
In t h e s e
circumstances
r e s e r v a t i o n was q u i t e u n j u s t i f i a b l e
a deplorable
constantly
impression.
Moreover,
and made
he seemed t o be
i n t r i g u i n g b e h i n d the back o f
t h e League
of
N a t i o n s and o u r s e l v e s w i t h a v i e w t o some accommodation
with Signor Mussolini.
His a d v i c e
therefore,
q u e s t i o n s h o u l d be c l e a r e d up;
was t h a t t h i s
t o the
Cabinet,
t h a t he s h o u l d be a u t h o r i s e d t o s e n d a t e l e g r a m
recalling
the circumstances
of
our
and t h e p r e v i o u s c o n v e r s a t i o n s
describing
tion of
the n a t u r e o f
i n r e g a r d t o them;
as a c o n d i ­
and making c l e a r
we were s a t i s f i e d as t o t h e French a t t i t u d e
be no q u e s t i o n o f w i t h d r a w i n g any o f
p r o p o s e d t o add t h a t
of naval
if
confident
the
reinforcements
availability
aggression
t o the M e d i t ­
t h e e q u i v o c a l French
he was n o t p r e p a r e d t o a d v i s e
r i s k s by w i t h d r a w a l s from
attitude
t h a t we s h o u l d t a k e any
the M e d i t e r r a n e a n .
French answer was s a t i s f a c t o r y ,
proposals
could
e a r l i e r we had f e l t
i n t h e e v e n t o f an I t a l i a n
In view of
there
unless
He a l s o
we s h o u l d have s e n t f e w e r
erranean.
that
them.
c o - o p e r a t i o n by France and o f
o f French p o r t s
M.Laval
reinforcements
the r e i n f o r c e m e n t s
elementary s a f e t y ;
to
If
the
we c o u l d c o n s i d e r
any
t h a t S i g n o r G-randi m i g h t make on S i g n o r
Mussolini's
behalf,
but he f e l t
c o n s i d e r them u n t i l a f t e r
t h a t we c o u l d n o t
he had c l e a r e d m a t t e r s
up w i t h M. L a v a l and. d i s c u s s e d t h e q u e s t i o n w i t h
F i r s t Lord, o f
the
Admiralty.
the
The F i r s t
profoundly
recalled
Lord o f t h e A d m i r a l t y s a i d t h a t h e was
d i s q u i e t e d "by what had h a p p e n e d .
t h a t t h e Sub-Gcmmittee on. D e f e n c e
and Requirements had adopted v a r i o u s
safeguard
our p o s i t i o n
For example,
i n t h e event
Fe
Policy
precautions
of
to
sanctions.
on t h e 5th September they had agreed.
"(b)
That, in order t o provide a safeguard
a g a i n s t t h e r i s k o f such an a t t a c k "
( i . e , , an a t t a c k by I t a l y ) " t h e a d o p ­
t i o n o f s a n c t i o n s must be made
c o n d i t i o n a l on a, c l e a r u n d e r s t a n d i n g
t h a t i f I t a l y , as a c o n s e q u e n c e ,
s h o u l d a t t a c k any o f t h e n a t i o n s
concerned, a l l the p a r t i c i p a t i n g
n a t i o n s w i l l d e c l a r e war on I t a l y . . . .
-(c)
T h a t i n p a r t i c u l a r , as a c o n d i t i o n o f
t h e a c c e p t a n c e o f s a n c t i o n s , we must
h a v e a c l e a r u n d e r s t a n d i n g w i t h France
as t o t h e a c t i o n she w i l l t a k e i n t h e
e v e n t ' o f an I t a l i a n a t t a c k on t h e
i n t e r e s t s o f t h e u n i t e d Kingdom:
also,
i f p o s s i b l e , w i t h Y u g o s l a v i a and G r e e c e " .
He a l s o r e c a l l e d
roents
—
t h a t t h e D e f e n c e P o l i c y and R e q u i r e ­
Committee had examined t h e s i t u a t i o n on t h e
assumption t h a t
France would g i v e us w h o l e - h e a r t e d
c o - o p e r a t i o n and would play
Western M e d i t e r r a n e a n
the p r i n c i p a l
however,
except the G i b r a l t a r a r e a ,
role
a contingent
co-operate:
principal
air
t h e p r i n c i p a l r.ol.e i n
in Northern I t a l y ,
the
and
'
in which,
o f t h e B r i t i s h . A i r F o r c e would
t h e U n i t e d Kingdom was t o p l a y
the
r o l e i n t h e P a s t e r n M e d i t e r r a n e a n —- a l l
of
w h i c h , t o g e t h e r w i t h a good d e a l m o r e , had b e e n
r e p o r t e d t o the Cabinet
i n 0 .P.-176
(65)
and t a k e n
n o t e o f by them on September 24th ( C a b i n e t 43 ( 3 5 ) ,
Conclusion 2 ( a ) ) .
those previous
Policy
He f u r t h e r r e c a l l e d , t h a t
discussions
and Requirements
c o n s i d e r i n g the Reports
i n w h i c h t h e dangers
for
the F l e e t
during
t h e C a b i n e t and t h e
Defence
Sub-Committee had been
from t h e D e f e n c e
Services,
o f M a l t a and t h e a b s e n c e o f
i n t h e M e d i t e r r a n e a n had been
bases
emphasised.
F o r some t i m e p a s t now h e had f e l t
d i s q u i e t e d at t h e a t t i t u d e
why he had t e e n p r e s s i n g
In Paris
o f F r a n c e , and t h a t was
to
c l e a r the matter up.
our N a v a l A t t a c h e ' ' s
rebuffed.
profoundly
o v e r t u r e s had been
From t h e B r i t i s h Ambassador's
telegram
N o . 203 we now knew where we w e r e , and t h a t M. L a v a l
a l l e g e d t h a t by s t r e n g t h e n i n g t h e M e d i t e r r a n e a n
we w e r e c a u s i n g a p r o v o c a t i o n t o I t a l y .
p o i n t o f view
o f t h e Navy t h i s was a
unsatisfactory
position,
c a t e g o r i c a l assurances
co-operation.
Secretary
of
From t h e
terribly
and we ought t o ask
t o t h e remark
of
Foreign Affairs
c o n s i d e r i n g any I t a l i a n p r o p o s a l s
the
that
before
f o r mutual w i t h ­
draws. 1 i n t h e M e d i t e r r a n e a n h e would l i k e
to
t h e A d m i r a l t y , he s a i d t h e o n l y p o s s i b i l i t y
withdrawal of
the B a t t l e Cruisers
from
good e f f e c t
and had r e s u l t e d
t h e I t a l i a n main f o r c e s ,
Cruisers,
including
consult
was
produced
in bringing
their
back
larger
i n t o the Western b a s i n of the Mediterranean
The A d m i r a l t y w o u l d , h o w e v e r , b e w i l l i n g
the withdrawal
of t h e s e B a t t l e Cruisers
t.p. c o n s i d e r
if
the
French would p r o v i d e a s u b s t i t u t e and d e c l a r e
willingness
to
fulfil
their
g i v e us t h e use o f b a s e s .
nearer getting
responsibilities
League o f N a t i o n s
lead at.Geneva, a l l
From t h e A d m i r a l t y ' s
a t Geneva i t s e l f ,
of view
as r e p o r t e d
the suggestion that
was not
t h e w o r l d thought
N o . 210 L . N . , was not v e r y
and
were
Even t h o u g h / t h e
Affairs
point
their
At p r e s e n t we w e r e no
our b a s e s , though s a n c t i o n s
making p r o g r e s s a t 0 e n e v a *
for
the
Gibraltar.
'Fhe d e s p a t c h o f t h e s e B a t t l e C r u i s e r s had
a very
for
from M , L a v a l as t o h i s
Referring
State for
Fleet
taking
the
that he was.
even t h e
i n Geneva
situation
telegram
satisfactory.
our a n x i e t i e s w e r e
Minister
n
For
example
s u r e l y met by
t h e terms o f A r t i c l e XVI i t s e l f , w h i c h i s ,
of
course.
b i n d i n g on e v e r y Member o f t h e League and under
which we a r e a t p r e s e n t w o r k i n g " -was n o t
convincing,
especially
in the l i g h t
very
o f M.
Laval's
attitu.de.
I n t h e course o f t h e d i s c u s s i o n M.
p o s i t i o n was i n t e r p r e t e d
t o mean t h a t
Laval's
even i f
a t t a c k e d us i n consequence o f t h e i m p o s i t i o n
sanctions
under t h e a e g i s
P r a n c e might r e f u s e
t h e movements
of
o f t h e League o f
co-operation
Nations,
o b t a i n an e x p l i c i t
reservation,
o f such w i t h d r a w a l
and t h a t
that
provocative.
I t was urged t h a t t h e B r i t i s h Ambassador i n
o f M. L a v a l ' s
of
on t h e ground
our F l e e t had b e e n
s h o u l d be i n s t r u c t e d t o
Italy
Paris
withdrawal
in the absence
i t would be i m p o s s i b l e t o
prevent
i t s becoming known t h a t t h e w h o l e scheme o f
sanctions
had broken down owing t o t h e French, a t t i t u d e .
One f e a t u r e which made t h e s i t u a t i o n
s e r i o u s was t h a t
of
I t a l y was almost
t h e French a t t i t u d e .
was n e c e s s a r y
if
learn
was s u g g e s t e d t h a t
to let
the
r e a s o n t h e Locarno T r e a t y would, a l s o b r e a k
i t -was a r g u a b l e t h a t
no e f f e c t i v e
our r e i n f o r c e m e n t ,
obligations
of
M e d i t e r r a n e a n F l e e t was so p r o v o c a t i v e as t o
Italy
it
t h e Covenant w e r e t o b r e a k down
down and t h e r e would b e l e f t
If
certain to
i n t h e s e circumstances
French know t h a t
for this
It
especially
the
enable
t o a t t a c k us w i t h o u t b r i n g i n g p a r a g r a p h 3 o f
A r t i c l e XVI i n t o
operation,
i t m i g h t be argued
that
i n t h e e v e n t o f a German a t t a c k , on F r a n c e t h e French,
fortifications
and o t h e r d e f e n s i v e p r e p a r a t i o n s
were
equ.a 1 l y p r o v o c a t i v e t o a German a t t a c k .
The Prime M i n i s t e r reminded t h e C a b i n e t
we must b e
careful
w i t h France as - e l l
not t o be drawn i n t o a
as w i t h I t a l y
what was happening a t
Geneva.
that
quarrel
as t h e r e s u l t
of
Some doubts w e r e e x p r e s s e d as t o w h e t h e r ,
even
M. L a v a l g a v e t h e assurances we a s k e d , we could
if
rely
on him i n v i e w
his equivocal a t t i t u d e throughout.
w i t h d r a w a l from
t h e French /
Ohanak was r e c a l l e d .
I t was u r g e d ,
however,
that
we d e s i r e d ,
if
M. L a v a l should g i v e t h e
conversations
assurances
should t a k e p l a c e
immediately
between, t h e B r i t i s h -Attache and t h e French M i n i s t r y
Marine.
If
Italy
could he made t o B e l i e v e t h a t
would s t a n d b e h i n d us i n t h e event
would b e a s u f f i c i e n t
The F i r s t
must b e v e r y
of a t t a c k ,
I f we w e r e t o w i t h d r a w ' t h e
France must p u b l i c l y
announce
s h e would t a k e o v e r our r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s
some c o n c r e t e a c t i o n t o make t h i s
preparations
clear:
The F i r s t
to
a t war s t r e n g t h ,
for
ports.
the
and t h e
Levant
Malta.
Lord r e p o r t e d t h a t ,
h e was i n g r e a t
that
take
as,
as t o how l o n g
could, remain i n A l e x a n d r i a
without returning
and
in the Mediterranean
The q u e s t i o n was r a i s e d
two C a p i t a l
that
deterrent.
explicit.
British Fleet
France
L o r d o f t h e A d m i r a l t y urged, t h a t we
Battle Cruisers,
example,
difficulties
a p a r t from
in maintaining
this,
the
Fleet
and was h a v i n g t o c o n s i d e r - p a y i n g
this
s i t u a t i o n was
c l e a r e d up we must go s l o w a t Geneva
the matter
sanctions.
of
The S e c r e t a r y
of State f o r
Foreign Affairs
we w e r e a b l e t o o b t a i n c o m p l e t e l y
assurances
off
Ships .
T h e r e was g e n e r a l agreement t h a t u n t i l
that i f
of
from t h e French Government,
in
said
satisfactory
t h e b e s t way
o f announcing t h a n t o t h e jworld would, p r o b a b l y be by
ry r o t h c0untr3.es
means o f
p u b l i c s t a t e m e n t at Geneva.
T h a t would
b e w o r t h a good d e a l ,
even i f
we might f e e l
m i s g i v i n g s i n regard t o whether in the l a s t
t h e " a s s u r a n e e s could, be r e l i e d o n .
-7­
some
resort
I n t h e c o u r s e o f t h e d i s c u s s i o n t h e Cabinet
were
reminded t h a t t h e p o l i c y had been t o p l a y t h e Geneva
hand t o
the f u l l ,
but t h e q u e s t i o n was r a i s e d as
whether
i t had not been played, as f a r
But t h e v i e w o f t h e S e c r e t a r y
Affairs
was s t r o n g l y
not y e t
come f o r
however,
of S t a t e f o r
safe.
Foreign
s u p p o r t e d t h a t t h e moment had
a change i n p o l i c y .
that u n t i l
as was
I t was u r g e d ,
t h e s i t u a t i o n w i t h France was
c l e a r e d up we shotild n o t a p p l y any new s a n c t i o n s
from t h e maintenance o f t h e arms embargo t o
which i n v o l v e d no new a c t i o n on our p a r t ,
the existing
embargo i n t h e c a s e o f
T h e Cabinet a g r e e d
fa)
apart
Italy,
since
t h e agreement r e a c h e d a t Geneva had o n l y been
lift
to
to
Abyssinia.
—
That t h e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e f o r F o r e i g n
A f f a i r s should send i n s t r u c t i o n s t o t h e
B r i t i s h Ambassador i n P a r i s t o i n s i s t
on a c a t e g o r i c a l ana e x p l i c i t w i t h d r a w a l
by M, L a v a l o f h i s r e s e r v a t i o n t o h i s
acknowledgment o f t h e French o b l i g a t i o n
under A r t i c l e X V I , p a r a g r a p h 3, o f t h e
Covenant.
F i s t e l e g r a m t o t h e Ambassador
should, b e drawn up in. t h e l i g h t o f t h e
Cabinet d i s c u s s i o n and should s e t out
f o r v. L a v a l ' s i n f o r m a t i o n what w e r e
l i k e l y t o be t h e consequences and
r e a c t i o n s of adherence t o h i s present
a t t i t u d e on t h e s a n c t i t y o f i n t e r ­
n a t i o n a l engagements:
ft.) That g r e a t c a u t i o n must be e x e r c i s e d
i n t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f s a n c t i o n s , and
t h a t i t would b e w e l l t o p o s t p o n e
t h e a p p l i c a t i o n ' o f any new s a n c t i o n s
u n t i l " t h e p o s i t i o n w i t h t h e French
Government had been c l e a r e d up, and
t h a t u n t i l t h a t t i m e i t would be
d e s i r a b l e not t o p r e s s s a n c t i o n s
t o o a c t i v e l y at G eneva.
ITALO­
ftBYSSlNIAW
DISPUTE.
rriR
Sanctions.
*
jrbe A t t i t u d e
f Non-Member
States .
0
2.
of S t a t e f o r F o r e i g n
Affairs
r a i s e d t h e q u e s t i o n o f t h e a t t i t u d e t o b e adopted, in
the matter
of s a n c t i o n s ,
towards S t a t e s
Members o f t h e l e a g u e o f N a t i o n s .
that were
Tn t h e c a s e
not
of
America h e had taken t h e l i n e t h a t t h e i n i t i a t i v e
better
11 p-p ev i ou s
I Referencet
I Cabinet 45
( 3 5 ) , Oon­
i clus i o n 1.)
The S e c r e t a r y
regards
come from t h e U n i t e d s t a t e s " o v e r n m e n t .
o t h e r n a t i o n s he thought
N a t i o n s should r e a c h i t s
t h a t t h e League
of
v
them.
t h a t w e r e t a k e n i n which non-Member
S t a t e s v.-ere concerned s h o u l d b e p r o v i s i o n a l
their
As
o- n c o n c l u s i o n s as t o what
s a n c t i o n s were t o be a p p l i e d b e f o r e approaching
Any r e s o l u t i o n s
had
co-operation.
fhe Cabinet agreed t o the
proposals ,
above
pending
1TAI.0­
ySSTNTAN
,PU^F.
Treaty
Financial
sistance.
e
3. The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
reported, a suggestion that had reached him that the
unratified Treaty of Financial Assistance might be
invoked at Geneva.
Any assistance that could be
rendered to Abyssinia In that way would be in the
devious
eference:
binet 29
SO), Con­
us ion 2.)
nature "of a gift, owing to that country'a lack of
resources.
The propose,! was not being pressed..
^he Cabinet agreed
—
That the Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs should inform the
Ti/irlnister for league of Nations
Affairs that it would be prefer­
able that the unratifled treaty
of Financial Assistance should
not be raised at the present time.
i
IP ITALOfgySSlNIAN
igSEUTE.
4.
The S e c r e t a r y
said that
of State f o r
in the e a r l i e r
Foreign
Affairs
d i s c u s s i o n s a t Geneva
q u e s t i o n had been r a i s e d o f s o m e t h i n g i n the
the
nature
Unctions.
fssistance
to States
Idversely
,ff ec t e d .
o f compensation f o r S t a t e s t h a t would be a d v e r s e l y
a f f e c t e d by the r e a c t i o n s o f t h e i m p o s i t i o n o f
sanctions.
Those p r o p o s a l s had now been m o d i f i e d and
what seemed now t o be c o n t e m p l a t e d was t h a t i f
difficulties
later
actually
a r o s e t h e y s h o u l d be
on t h e i r m e r i t s .
considered
A f o r m u l a was under
between the F o r e i g n O f f i c e ,
Treasury
the
discussion
and Board o f
Trade.
The P r e s i d e n t o f the Board o f Trade e n t e r e d a
c a v e a t t h a t the Board o f T r a d e was a l r e a d y r e c e i v i n g
protests,
t h r o u g h Chambers o f Commerce, from merchants
vrtio e x p e c t e d t o be a d v e r s e l y
and t h a t a g o o d d e a l o f
a f f e c t e d by
c a u t i o n was
The C a b i n e t a g r e e d
sanctions,
necessary.
—
To l e a v e the r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r
p r e p a r i n g an a p p r o p r i a t e formula
f o r use a t Geneva t o The S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e f o r F o r e i g n
Affairs,
The C h a n c e l l o r o f the E x c h e q u e r ,
The p r e s i d e n t o f t h e Board o f T r a d e .
if HE ITALOAETSSTNIAN
DISPUTE.
Continuance
of I m p e r i a l
Airways.
(Previous
Reference:
Cabinet 45
( 3 5 ) , Con­
clue i o n 5 . )
5 . The S e c r e t a r y
attention
of
of State for
the Cabinet
State
the
of
for
in
t o p a r a g r a p h 3 , as
Egypt,
follows:­
" I do not t h i n k i t i s n e c e s s a r y t o
h o l d t h a t laws o f n e u t r a l i t y
n e c e s s i t a t e t h a t passage of c i v i l
a i r c r a f t o f b e l l i g e r e n t s c a r r y i n g on
o r d i n a r y p e a c e f u l s e r v i c e unconnected
w i t h war s h o u l d b e f o r b i d d e n .
Italy
has no t r e a t y r i g h t a p p l i c a b l e i n
p r e s e n t c i r c u m s t a n c e s f o r any c i v i l
a i r c r a f t t o f l y o v e r Fgypt or t h e
Sudan. . . . . . . . However, i t i s u n l i k e l y
i n t h e p r e s e n t c a s e t h a t any I t a l i a n
c i v i l a i r c r a f t which have nothing t o
do w i t h t h e war w i l l b e f l y i n g o v e r
Egypt and t h e Sudan. T h e r e f o r e i t
i s n o t c o n s i d e r e d n e c e s s a r y or
d e s i r a b l e f o r Egypt o r t h e Sudan
t o d e c l a r e that they w i l l never
permit during present h o s t i l i t i e s
any f l y i n g o v e r t h e i r t e r r i t o r y by
I t a l i a n c i v i l a i r c r a f t , though t h i s
can b e r e c o n s i d e r e d i f League
recommends any measures w i t h r e g a r d
to Italian civil aircraft.
Egypt
and Wudan should., h o w e v e r , make
s u r e i n connexion w i t h any a p p l i e a ­
t i o n f o r any I t a l i a n c i v i l a i r c r a f t
t o f l y over t h e i r t e r r i t o r y that the
f l i g h t has n o t h i n g t o do w i t h t h e w a r " .
that at
the meeting r e f e r r e d
m a r g i n h e had mentioned, t h a t
by t h e I t a l i a n s
it
to E r i t r e a .
in
a l a r g e m a i l was
spur l i n e which
I t would n o t be r i g h t
t h i s m a i l was not
the
shipped
own c o l o n y .
carried
t o assume t h a t
connected w i t h the w a r .
I t a l i a n s had t h e r i g h t
their
to
by I m p e r i a l A i r w a y s ' t o Khartoum,
where t h e r e was an I t a l i a n
t o run t h i s
The
spur l i n e
To s t o p i t would b e most
t i v e and would p r o b a b l y r e s u l t
i n immediate
into
provoca­
retalia­
tion against
I m p e r i a l A-irways, who always had two
flying-boats
at B r i n d i s i ,
t h e s e i z u r e or
detention
o f which would c o m p l e t e l y
dislocate their
service.
He h o p e d , t h e r e f o r e ,
that
t h e n a t t e r might be
considered,
i n any- event a w a r n i n g
and t h a t
b e sent t o S i r Miles
I
of
t o t h e " i g h Commissioner
and more p a r t i c u l a r l y
Re r e c a l l e d
i3
drew
t o ^ e l e g r a r o N o . 370,
October 1 5 t h , from t h e S e c r e t a r y
Foreign A f f a i r s
Air
Khartoum f o r
further
should
Lamps on t o t a k e no a c t i o n a t
t h e moment.
-12­
T h e
Cabinet agreed
—
( a ) That the Secretary of S t a t e f o r
F o r e i g n A f f a i r s should, send, an
immediate w a r n i n g t o S i r M i l e s
lamps on t o t a k e s t e p s t o a v o i d any
a c t i o n on t h e t e l e g r a m a f f e c t i n g
t h e I t a l i a n , a i r l i n e from Khartoum
to Eritrea:
fb)
That t h e q u e s t i o n should b e r e m i t t e d
t o the Secretary of State f o r Foreign
A f f a i r s and. t h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e
f o r A i r , who should r e p o r t t o t h e
C a b i n e t i f and when t h e y s h o u l d
t h i n k any change o f p o l i c y t o be
required.
mpE TTAXO-
6. The S e c r e t a r y
DISPUTE.
in reply
Broadcasting.
refused
PA
of
State for Foreign
t o a- q u e s t i o n as t o why Baron A l o i s i had been
facilities
f o r b r o a d c a s t i n g t o America, on a
recent
occasion,
before
t h e b r o a d c a s t was
explained
consulted, on t h e m a t t e r .
taken p l a c e that very
day.
that
only h a l f
The b r e a k a t Geneva had
Be had f e l t - t h a t
t h e b r o a d c a s t was t o t a k e p l a c e i t
both s i d e s
felt,
For
seemed
should h a v e t h e same f a c i l i t i e s .
therefore,
that
i n t h e cireurastanr-es
d e c i s i o n h e c o u l d t a k e was t o v e t o
the
example,
that
He had
the
facilities,
h e C a b i n e t approved t h e a c t i o n
o f t h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e f o r
Foreign A f f a i r s .
m
an hour
t o ' t a k e p l a c e he had been
n o t i c e g i v e n t o him was much t o o s h o r t *
if
Affairs,
only
flirp! ATLANTIC
ATR ROUTR.
7.
The C a b i n e t
documents
(previous
tjg-e pr-ance:
a g a i n had b e f o r e
on t h e s u b j e c t
them t h e
of the A t l a n t i c A i r
following
Route:­
Memoranda
r y oCf. P S
e
or A i r ( Cby
. P . -t1h6e4 S (e3c5r )e t aand
. -t1a8tS
Cabinet 4 4
(35)):
(35)
Gon­
elusion ?,.)
A Memorandum bv t h e Lord P r i v v
(C.P.-184 ( 3 5 ) ) .
T h e s e Papers had been c o n s i d e r e d
the Meeting r e f e r r e d
agreed that
State for
to
a t some l e n g t h
i n t h e m a r g i n , when i t
the Prime M i n i s t e r ,
of
the s i t e
an e a r l y
The S e c r e t a r y
should s e e
the
of
including
t h e proposed
State for
of
the
had been e x p l a i n e d to
of
base
the
Air
reported
Trans-Atlantic
international
aspects,
uhe Prime M i n i s t e r
of
N o r t h e r n I r e l a n d who had been most r e a s o n a b l e
helpful,
taking
the l i n e
that His
He had u r g e d , h o w e v e r ,
State,
it
the
that
if
aerodrome
the d e c i s i o n
i n the
on p o l i t i c a l
The n e x t s t e p was t o c a r r y out
Irish
should
Free
He h i m s e l f
Irish
if
survey
Free
p r o p o s e d to keep i n touch w i t h
C r a i g a v o n who had s u g g e s t e d t h a t
taken
grounds.
a technical
i n b o t h N o r t h e r n I r e l a n d and the
to
right.
s h o u l d be announced as h a v i n g been
on t e c h n i c a l and not
i t was
State.
Lord
decided
e s t a b l i s h t h e aerodrome i n t h e I r i s h F r e e
i t m i g h t be u s e f u l
in Northern
t o have an
and
Majesty's
Government must t a k e w h a t e v e r a c t i o n was
be t o e s t a b l i s h
with
date.
t h a t the w h o l e p o s i t i o n
A i r Route,
of
o f Wort-hern I r e l a n d and d i s c u s s
him t h e q u e s t i o n
i n I r e l a n d at
at
was
the Secretary
A i r and o t h e r M i n i s t e r s
Prime M i n i s t e r
Seal
State,
alternative
Ireland.
The L o r d P r i v y S e a l , w h i l e
a c c e p t i n g what
-
had been a r r a n g e d ,
demurred t o
-15­
the
suggestion
t h a t t h e r e were a d v a n t a g e s
I r i s h Free S t a t e .
If
in a landing place
in
the
t h e h e s t "base t e c h n i c a l l y was
i n Galway he had n o t h i n g t o s a y , hut he was n o t
c o n v i n c e d by the argument
situated
t h a t the aerodrome must be
i n the I r i s h F r e e S t a t e because
otherwise
the Government t h e r e w o u l d n e g o t i a t e w i t h France and .
Germany.
The S e c r e t a r y
of S t a t e f o r A i r
the C a b i n e t t h a t he had e v i d e n c e
assured
t h a t France
especially
was a n x i o u s t o e s t a b l i s h a s e a p l a n e s e r v i c e f o r w h i c h
use o f an. I r i s h F r e e S t a t e base would be v e r y
The C a b i n e t
the
valuable.
agreed:
(a)
That the S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e f o r A i r
should arrange f o r a t e c l i n i c a l survey
o f a l t e r n a t i v e b a s e s f o r aerodromes o f
the w e s t e r n terminus o f the A t l a n t i c
A i r Route t o be c a r r i e d out a t once
i n t h e I r i s h F r e e S t a t e and N o r t h e r n
Ireland respectively.
(b)
That t h e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e
for Air
s h o u l d keep i n c l o s e touch
v/ith t h e Prime M i n i s t e r o f N o r t h e r n
Ireland.
(c)
That t h e I r i s h Free S t a t e Government
s h o u l d be i n f o r m e d t h a t the s u r v e y
was t a k i n g p l a c e i n b o t h t e r r i t o r i e s .
loV?HNMBNT 0?
0 . I n pursuance o f t h e C o n c l u s i o n m e n t i o n e d i n
[*JBIA ACT, 1 9 3 5 .
—
t h e m a r g i n , t h e C a b i n e t had b e f o r e them a Memorandum
11 t o R e p r i n t
t?.'0 s e p a r a t e by t h e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e f o r I n d i a ( C . P . - I 9 1 (-35))
jets, one r e l a t Lag t o I n d i a and c o v e r i n g a f o r m a ] - R i l l f o r t h e purpose o f r e o r i n t i n g
ln
' e other to
[Burma
t h e Government o f India. A c t , 1935, as t w o - s e p a r a t e
A c t s , one r e l a t i n g t o I n d i a and t h e o t h e r t o Burma.
(previous
I n o r d e r t o s a v e t i m e t h e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e sought
[Reference,
[cabihet 43
[ ( 3 5 ) , Cona u t h o r i t y t o p r o c e e d w i t h t h e B i l l i n t h e form t o be
[elusion 3 . )
a p p r o v e d by t h e Committee o f Home A f f a i r s w i t h o u t
further
s a n c t i o n , from t h e
Cabinet.
The C a b i n e t a p p r o v e d t h e p r o p o s a l
o f the S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e f o r
I n d i a as s e t f o r t h a b o v e .
9.
tfWEPIT A110W­
flOFS FOR
HILDREN.
previous
Reference:
Cabinet 60 ( 3 3 )
Conclusion 3 ) .
The C a b i n e t had b e f o r e them a N o t e by
Minister
o f Labour ( C P . - 1 9 0
by t h e Unemployment
Insurance Statutory
ances
for
Committee
dependant c h i l d r e n should b e
allow­
increased
-from S / - t o 3 / - a we eh, t o be met out o f a d i s p o s a b l e
o f about £ l j m i l l i o n s
o f t h e Unemployment Fund.
\io.
c o v e r i n g a Report
c o n t a i n i n g a recommendation t h a t t h e b e n e f i t -
surplus
dud­
(55))
the
his
a y e a r i n the
The M i n i s t e r
c o l l e a g u e s would a g r e e t h a t t h e
assumed t h a t
Committee's
recommendation s h o u l d b e a d o p t e d , b u t ,
reactions
possession
owing t o
on t h e Unemployment A s s i s t a n c e Scheme, h e
suggested that the actual
operation
of the
increase
should b e p o s t p o n e d f o r a fe*? weeks by h o l d i n g back
t h e House o f Commons R e s o l u t i o n n e c e s s a r y f o r
t h e Order i n t o e f f e c t .
m
h e Report
further
putting
recommended
t h a t t h e r e should b e a maximum, o f 4 1 / - t o t h e w e e k l y
amount o f b e n e f i t
Labour asked, h i s
this
point
of
i n any c a s e , but t h e M i n i s t e r
colleagues
t o aiithori.se him t o
d e t a i l with the Chancellor
of
the
Exchequer.
A short discussion revealed
difficulties
Cabinet
of a p o l i t i c a l
considerable
character,
and the
agreed:
(a)
That t h e q u e s t i o n s h o u l d be r e f e r r e d
t o the C a b i n e t Committee on the
R e g u l a t i o n s o f t h e Unemployment
A s s i s t a n c e Board w h i c h would d i s c u s s
i t i n a p r e l i m i n a r y way t h e same
afternoon.
(b)
That i f the m a t t e r was n o t s e t t l e d
t h a t a f t e r n o o n , the Committee s h o u l d
i f p o s s i b l e hold a f u r t h e r meeting
a t w h i c h the L o r d P r e s i d e n t o f t h e
C o u n c i l (who was a b s e n t on p u b l i c
b u s i n e s s ) c o u l d be p r e s e n t .
of
settle­
HYDROGEN
CYANIDE.
proposed
B i l l to
c o n t r o l Use
of
for
Puroos es o f
Fumigation,
10.
The C a b i n e t had b e f o r e them a Memorandum by
,
.
,
t h e Home S e c r e t a r y ( C P . - 1 8 9 ( 3 5 ) ) a s k i n g a u t h o r i t y
s
t o submit t o t h e Committee o f Feme A f f a i r s
Bill
to
confer
a
power upon him t o make, i n
draft
consultation
with the Secretary
of State for
Minister
of Health
( a n d , where a p p r o p r i a t e ,
any
Minister
specially
interested),
governing
t h e u s e o f hydrogen
fumigation
ingly
and v e r m i n :
likely
t o human b e i n g s
its
control
over
t o b r i n g w i t h i n t h e s c o p e of
dangerous
exceed­
insects
appeared
and t h e d e s i r a b i l i t y
t i m e been under e x a m i n a t i o n .
other
as w e l l as t o
i t s u s e had. f o r
I t was a l s o
the B i l l
other
of
T h i s gas was
use i n d w e l l i n g - h o u s e s
t o become common:
some measure o f
regulations
c y a n i d e f o r t h e purpose
in enclosed spaces,
lethal
S c o t l a n d and t h e
of
some
proposed
one or two
gases w h i c h m i g h t b e put t o
us e .
The C a b i n e t a g r e e d t o the above
proposal.
similar
CABINET
COMMITTEE ON
GOVERNMENT
POLICY.
11.
The C a b i n e t
agreed:
That a C a b i n e t Committee composed as
follows:
Mr. N e v i l l e Chamberlain
( i n the C h a i r ) ,
S i r John Simon,
Mr. J . H . Thomas,
Mr. Malcolm MacDonald,
Viscount Hailsham,
S i r K i n g s l e y v/ood,
Mr. E r n e s t Brown,
Mr. W a l t e r E l l i o t ,
L o r d Eustace P e r c y ,
s h o u l d make recommendations as t o i t e m s
t o be i n c l u d e d i n t h e G o v e r n m e n t s
e l e c t i o n programme.
2, W h i t e h a l l G a r d e n s ,
16th O c t o b e r ,
S.W.I.,
1935.