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^££DOCUMENT
IS
THE P R O P E R T Y
OP H I S
BRITANNIC
MAJESTY'3
GOVERNMENT.)
S E C R E T .
p.P.
152
COPY N O .
(5-3),o
C A B I N E T ,
REDUCTION AND L I M I T A T I O N
Policy
of
the
I
for
Conclusions
on F r i d a y ,
Conclusion
Kingdom D e l e g a t i o n
circulate
accompanying
.was h e l d
United
OF ARMAMENTSv
the
of
5 t h May,
information
the
in
meeting
accordance
Whitehall
9th
Gardens,
May,
of
1933.
S.W.l ,
0
Geneva
my
9
colleagues
Ministers
with
Cu
(Intdo)
2,
of
at
J.H0T0
the
which
Cabinet
35
(35),
( T H I S DOCUMENT
I S THE PROPERTY
OF H I S B R I T A N N I C M A J E S T Y ' S
S E C R E T .
GOVERNMENT.)
COPY N O ,
A B I
N S T
REDUCTION AND L I M I T A T I O N
of
CONCLUSIONS
at
a Meeting
10j Downing
OF ARMAMENTS.
of Ministers
Street,
S.W.1,
s
held .
on F r i d a y ,
5th May, 1936, a t 2 . 3 0 p . a.
The R i g h t H o n . J . H . T h o m a s , M . B . ,
S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e f o r Dominion
(in
Affairs
the Chair.)
0
he E i g h t H o n . V i s c o u n t H a i l s h a m ,
Secretary o f State f o r f a r ,
'
M
The R i g h t H o n . S i r John Simon,
G..C.S.I. , L C V . C . , OoB.Ec, K
M.P., Secretary of"state f o r
Poreign Affairs.
lie R i g h t H o n . S i r P . C u n l i f f e L i s t e r , G.B.E. , M . C . , M.P. ,
Secretary o f State f o r the Colonies.
The Most E o n . t h e Marquess o f .
L o n d o n d e r r y , K . G . , M.V.O,-,
Secretary; o f State f o r A i r .
The R i g h t Hon. S i r Henry B e t t e r t o n ,
B t , C.B.E., M.P.,
Minister of
0
Labouro
THE gOLLOV/IITG WERE ALSO
PRESENT:
Mr. Anthony Eden, M . C . M . P . ,
P a r l i a m e n t a r y Under S e c r e t a r y ,
Foreign
Office.
?
"wing Commander E . J . H o d so I I
0 0 0 0 . 0 . 0 0 0 0
Secretary.
THE COMMITTEE m e t
regard
to
the
continue
the
disarmament
position
at
initiated
at
had
consideration
under
Majesty's
-VRAGRAPH 2 ,
ALIBRE OP
DNS..
to
the
Cabinet
Consul,
this
dated
LORD HAILSHAM e x p l a i n e d
that
we
should
guns.
the
He
retain
suggested
reference
to
the
guns
of
April
that
sole
that, to
Geneva
morning,
telegram No.
Geneva,
discussion
make
the
which
in
199 L . N .
26th,
there
right
105 mm.
and,
to
was
particular,
from
His
'
1933.
was-no
intention
possess
position
calibre
in
4.5
inch
quite
should be
clear,
deleted.
CONCLUSION.
It
was a g r e e d
(i)
:­
t h a t , i n A r t i c l e 19 o f t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m
D r a f t C o n v e n t i o n , t h e r e f e r e n c e t o guns o f
1 0 5 mm. c a l i b r e s h o u l d b e d e l e t e d a n d t h e
f i g u r e 4 . 5 " only should be quoted.
The
A r t i c l e i n q u e s t i o n s h o u l d now r e a d a s f o l l o w s : ­
" T h e maximum l i m i t f o r t h e c a l i b r e
of
m o b i l e l a n d guns f o r t h e f u t u r e
shall
be 4.5".
E x i s t i n g m o b i l e l a n d guns up
t o 155 mm. may b e r e t a i n e d b u t
all
r e p l a c e m e n t o r new c o n s t r u c t i o n o f g u n s
s h a l l b e w i t h i n t h e maximum l i m i t o f 4 . 5 " .
T h e maximum l i m i t f o r t h e c a l i b r e
of
c o a s t d e f e n c e guns s h a l l b e 406 mm."
( i i )
T h a t an a l t e r a t i o n w i l l , a l s o , b e r e q u i r e d t o
A r t i c l e 2 2 , t h i r d p a r a g r a p h , w h i c h s h o u l d now
r e a d as f o l l o w s : ­
" A l l guns above 4 . 5 " s h a l l b e
soon as t h e y are r e p l a c e d by
o f or b e l o w 4 . 5 " . "
PARAGRAPH 3 ,
DESTRUCTION
OF M A T E R I A L .
MR.
of
the
EDEN
suggested
destruction
the
periods
the
transformation
bases,
or,
period
of
should
in
the
other
of
that,
material
correspond
of
in
Convention.
to
tne
p r e s c r i b e d by
to
Continental
words,
regard
destroyed
new g u n s
should
those
laid
armies
to
correspond
so
question
Article
down
for
militia
with
the
22,
CONCLUSION.
It
was
agreed
­
that the periods t o be prescribed for
the d e s t r u c t i o n o f m a t e r i a l under
A r t i c l e 22 s h o u l d c o r r e s p o n d w i t h t h e
p e r i o d o f the Convention which, at
p r e s e n t - i s assumed t o b e f i v e y e a r s .
RAGRAPH 4 ,
MR. EDEN e x p l a i n e d
to
the
Committee
the
position
MS.
in
regard
to
we
could not
appeared
to
Germany
have
that
it
suggest
of
the
Prime
a
to
he
small
by
principle
Minister
of
of
that
and
alternative
the
He w a r n e d
the
apart
was
would
not
also,
ourselves
tanks.
both
violation
the
more
agree
or
to
that
were
to
the
had,
going
whole
right
from
that
were
the
to
right
the
States
apply
Germany
He a d d e d ,
Prance
only
granting
Roosevelt
they
believed,
throughout
tanks,
and P r e s i d e n t
except
the
course,
giving
rearmament b y Germany.
abo-1 i s h
of
a s he
United
disarmament,
categorically...stated
countries
the
numbers
would,
number
then
figure.
likely
saw t o
if,
limitation,
a token
was
which
that,
a truce,
limitation
objection
possess
stating
numerical
to
Convention,
The
agree
to be
Committee
to
tanks,
all
less,
any
other
prepared
.
to
tanks.
LORD HAILSHAM
Office
policy
figure
for
Convention
actually
programme
in
tanks
was
regard
which
to tanks,and
we m i g h t
considerably
possessed,
to
described b r i e f l y
which
\
but
the
the
War
in
to
to
excess
Office
Committee the
intimated
have
figure
the
that
insert
of
the
the
number
represented
were
in
the
working.
the
He
we
War -
added
that,
term,
it
figure
the
might
t o he
definite
the
if
Convention
perhaps he
inserted,
safeguard by
situation
was
possible
provided
w h i c h we
the
thought
White
Paper
of
the
had
already
to
Germany
and
the
in
paragraph
could
the
was
a
expand
if
of
tanks.
the
following
of
principle,
to
Germany
possess
a limited
but
question
sufficient,
of
the
purposes
army.
if
depends
to
In
negotiation
advance
of
Germany
would take
numbers.
have
deny,
in
to
such
weapons,
would he
what
number
a
by
case , the
and not
at
so
will
consideration
served
any
5
appeared:­
this
upon
he
discussions
therefore,
to
so,
regard
On p a g e
right
of
whether
and,
he
for
number
he
treatment
to
the
in
words
equal
that,
1932,
question
impossible
the
suggested
admission
it
national
of
smaller
17th November,
w o u l d make
Germany
a
an
admission
in p r a c t i c e ,
for
for
made
(2)(a)
. "The
We h a d ,
short
demanded.
we
one
a
there
8IR P H I L I P -CUNLIPPS-LIST3R
in
for
for
Geneva
each
point
is
decision
in
in
which
part."
admitted,
tanks but
in
principle,
the
right
had r e s e r v e d
the
question
said
MR. EDEN a d d e d
that
that
to
if
it
of
token
there
was
figure
was
agreed
tanks,
for
that
in
LORD H A I L S H M l ,
reiterated
safeguard
then
it
number
total
of
at
SIR
the
which
attained
that
all
no
in
should have
there
for
in five
War
Convention
figure
by
a certain
to
but
number
insert
question
was
of
from
a clause
a
him
to
were
put
in
as he
war
a
would
scare,
fewer
could
aiming
Mr.Thomas
which
a definite
he
on
would
Lord
which
met Lord
see,
would
the
basis
and
at
concerned
that
that
that
once
Hailsham
Hailsham's
suggested
stages,
Germany
Germany,
the
not
be
years.
JOHN SIMON r e f e r r e d
thought
a
so f a r
Office
definitely
0
to
case
had
of
we o u g h t
Table
Normally,
the
Minister
re-armament
answer
be p o s s i b l e
Continuing,
a token
the
in
Prime
thought
provided
tanks.
draft
w h i c h he
she
position
might
completed
of
that,
his
be
then he
Germany
the
be
to
Article
88
derogations,
and
point.
Germany m i g h t
equality
we h a d n e v e r
conceded
be
given
was o n l y
to
made
promise
full
any
parity
in
respects.
CONCLUSION.
It
was a g r e e d
­
(a)
t h a t s i n c e i t was i m p o s s i b l e to a g r e e t o
a Tank T r u c e , t h e o n l y a l t e r n a t i v e was
t o a l l o w German;/ t o h a v e a t o k e n f i g u r e
w h i c h c o u l d p r o b a b l y b e s t b e d e c i d e d "by­
n e g o t i a t i o n s on t h e s o o t .
I t should be
made q u i t e c l e a r i n t h e c o u r s e o f t h e s e
n e g o t i a t i o n s t h a t the p r i n c i p l e had
a l w a y s b e e n a c c e p t e d t h a t Germany s h o u l d
r e a c h e q u a l i t y b y s t a g e s and n o t i n t h e
f o r m o f an o m n i b u s c o n c e s s i o n .
(b)
that the f i g u r e to be i n s e r t e d i n the
T a b l e s o f t h e number o f t a n k s t o be
a l l o w e d to the U n i t e d Kingdom might be
i n accordance w i t h the probable p r o g r e s s
o f t h e War O f f i c e c o n s t r u c t i o n p r o g r a m m e ,
t h e a c t u a l number b e i n g d e p e n d e n t o n t h e
d u r a t i o n o f t h e C o n v e n t i o n and t h e p r o v i s i o n
of a d e f i n i t e safeguard t h a t , i n time o f
e m e r g e n c y , i t w o u l d be p o s s i b l e to d e r o g a t e
from the f i g u r e s f i n a l l y
inserted.
be
MR,
said
EDEN a d d e d
that
if
it
of
token
there
was
figure
was
agreed
tanks,
for
that
to
that
in
LORD H A I L S H A M ,
reiterated
safeguard
then
it
number
total
of
at
SIR
the
his
which
token
attained
that
all
should
answer
in
7/ar
by
Germany:
to
hut
number
insert
a
for
a
question
was
of
from
a clause
which
a definite
him
to
so f a r
were
put
in
a s lie
war
a
would
scare,
fewer
could
aiming
Mr.Thomas,
see,
would
the
not
be
years.
he
on
would
Lord
which
met L o r d
the
oasis
and
at
concerned
that
that
that
once
H a i l sham t o
Hailsham's
suggested
stages,
Germany
to
case
Office
Convention
figure
definitely
a. c e r t a i n
we o u g h t
there
JOHN SIMON r e f e r r e d
thought
have
of
had
Table,
Normally,
the
Continuing,
a
in
possible
live
draft
which he
the
Minister
re-armament
thought
provided
tanks.
in
she
position
might be
completed
of
that,
Prime
"be no
then he
Germany
the
be
Article
derogations,
88
and
point.
Germany m i g h t
equality
we h a d n e v e r
conceded
be
given
was o n l y
to
made
promise
full
any
parity
in
respects,
CONCLUSION.
It
was
agreed
­
(a)
t h a t s i n c e i t was i m p o s s i b l e to a g r e e t o
a Tank T r u c e , t h e o n l y a l t e r n a t i v e was
t o a l l o w German;/ t o h a v e a t o k e n f i g u r e
which c o u l d p r o b a b l y b e s t be d e c i d e d by
n e g o t i a t i o n s on the sooto
I t should be
made q u i t e c l e a r i n t h e c o u r s e o f
these
n e g o t i a t i o n s t h a t the p r i n c i p l e had
. a l w a y s b e e n a c c e p t e d t h a t Germany s h o u l d
r e a c h e q u a l i t y b y s t a g e s and n o t i n t h e
f o r m o f an o m n i b u s c o n c e s s i o n .
(b)
t h a t the f i g u r e to b e i n s e r t e d i n the
T a b l e s o f t h e number o f t a n k s t o b e
a l l o w e d to t h e U n i t e d Kingdom m i g h t be
i n accordance w i t h the p r o b a b l e p r o g r e s s
o f t h e War O f f i c e c o n s t r u c t i o n p r o g r a m m e ,
t h e a c t u a l number b e i n g d e p e n d e n t o n t h e
d u r a t i o n o f t h e C o n v e n t i o n and t h e p r o v i s i o n
o f a d e f i n i t e safeguard t h a t , i n time o f
emergency, i t would be p o s s i b l e to d e r o g a t e
from the f i g u r e s f i n a l l y
insertedc
be
PARAGRAPH
5,
BOMBING I N
OUTLYING
REGIONSo
MR.
he
EDEN s a i d
could
have
if
police
operations
notj
what
them
to
be
areas
c o u l d we p u t
it
a precise
"by ' b o m b i n g , f o r
such
that
cult
to
ties
in outlying
confined
to
for
if
intended
regions'.
own t e r r i t o r y
and w h a t
exercising
THOMAS s a i d
make a
he
did
convincing
not
case
the
United
also 3 that
the
South A f r i c a n
support
in
which
us
no
this
other
therefore
were
o?,
justification
"police"
functions
country
we h a d
s
define
point
of
view
to
forecast
or
what
what
areas
the
areas,
areas
had
that
the
it
that
in
a
of
would
a great
in
for
was
it
He
strongly
commitments
thought,
our
reservation;,
impossible
from
geographical
a
was e q u a l l y
of
outlying
thought,
almost
be p e a c e f u l
state
diffi-
responsibili­
many
a n d he
particularly
would
definition
Committee
would be
of
Government
justification
said
would be
following
it
view
assumed,
and remarked
s
in
lie
0
had
every
outlying
think
Kingdom had u n d e r t a k e n .
matter
LORD LONDONDERRY
by
our
i n mind
him
what was
purposes
which
the
of
assist
0
MR.
to
greatly
indication
h a d we
forward
would
at
any
unrest,,
areas
impossible
one
He
for
time,
suggested
consideration
­
"Areas w h e r e , owing to i n a c c e s s i b i l i t y o r o t h e r
c a u s e s , c o n t r o l by the o r d i n a r y f o r c e s o f law
and o r d e r i s i m p r a c t i c a b l e o r
ineffectiveo
1 1
S I R JOHN SIMON
formula
which
which
said
that
he
had b e e n p r e p a r e d
was r a t h e r
more
elaborate
had
in
0
also
been
given
a
the
Foreign
Office,
This
formula
was
as
follows
"His
I
Majesty's
propose
to
retain
regions
of
British
under
British
Government
the
right
to
territories
protection
or
in
the
United
employ,
and
mandate,
in
Kingdom
outlying­
territories
air
action
for
police
once
the
purposes
the
only
most
their
of
large
ov
would
forces
mandated
of
risk
are
the
the
be
right
to
to
and
either
from
of
centres
of
a r e a s "which t h e y
northern
the middle
of
pacification
employ
British
ground
unnecessarily
and
east;
but
were
air
state
they
consider
under
Government
present
associate
if
in
territories.
been
action
the
action
have
air
have
unavailable
Government
that
heavy
frontier
Aden P r o t e c t o r a t e
to
to
disproportionately
in
remote
employ
relinquished
Majesty's
the
necessary
Government
The
By
conditions,
the
"His Majesty's
Iraqi
climatic
involve
means
similarly
owing
tise
territories
circumstances
remoteness
sides.
at
pacification.,
the
India,
prove
certain
require
mind
suitable
might
other
in
opinion,
mean u n d e v e l o p e d
or
to
on b o t h
principally
districts
and
their
areas where,
inaccessibility
casualties
other
and i n
they
inhabited
civilisation
in
system o f
regions"
operations
it
humane
effective
"outlying
sparsely
a s "being
5
within
asked by
Iraq
conditions,
that
cannot
and
themselves
the
His
with
this
view.
"In
the
employment
for
their
event
of
part,
Disarmament
the
action,
would
Commission
circumstances,
that
air
of
His
propose
with
and w o u l d
Conmiission m i g h t
necessity
Majesty's
to
welcome
the
report
any
for
the
Government,
furnish
a full
consider
arising
of
enquiry
necessary."
Permanent
the
-which
ME.
EDEN?
a number
of
seemed
retain
SIR
to
from
the
seemed
our
with
know w h a t
this
our A i r
of
him t h a t
was
it
in
force
was
with
LORD LONDONDERRY,
agreeing
to
protect
PHILIP
could,
if
we
in
be
attacked Turks
MR.
Humphry^
relying
its
in
on t h e
only
and had
unfettered
required
no
it
to
intention
violated
our
reserve
of
we
with
Mountains.
in
he
lieu.
us
to
surrender
time,
to
He w a n t e d
keep ­
to
questions
Philip
with
agreed,
on
we
asked
police
from
that
Mr.
for
answer
Sir
Francis
was
for
t h e maintenance
Eden*s
for
us
police
any o t h e r
defile.
Iraq
forces
to
difficulties,
say
that
purposes,
country
to
whether
purposes
Kurdish
possible
In
Iraq,
and
the
Cunliffe-
aggression.
for
air
bombing
-7- :
the
same
Sir
realised
territory.
prevented
should,
external
of
bombing
was
particular
Treaty
be
it
for
the
bombing
use
fact,
Kurdish
explained
might
of
that
a Despatch
He f u l l y
that
at
through
to
had
reservation
arise.
from
coming
w h i c h he
integrity.
suggested
our
called
THOMAS r e f e r r e d
our
particularly
infantry
to
CUNLIFFE-LISTER
fact,
this
country.
given
them
under
the
of
that
by
Government,
impossible
possibly
that
Afghan
removed,
might
emphasised
the
there
I r a q , ' and,
our T r e a t y
to
referring
through
large
tabled
in point
Force
bombing
rights
that
which
point
it
they
said
that
Afghanistan.
be
SIR
we
in
could
guaranteed
and
might
said
been
by
CUNLIFFE-LISTER,
Iraq,
questions,
already
answer
Lister,
of
bomb
a very
to
bombing
faith
had
invading'Iraq
want
various
that we
to
of
threat
"thought,
It
of
presence
Turks
assume
PHILIP
to
in p a r t i c u l a r ,
right
position
the
If
and,
to
the
answer
amendments
reservation,
who
in
unless
a question
from
Sir
J o h n Simon., -who
delete
the
suggested
reservation
Article
34,
alone,
Dominions
to g i v e u s t h e i r s u p n o r t ,
out
a very
and
that we
do
good
we m i g h t
we
could
and
moved
to
find
rely
more
away
greatly
with
the
MR.
Prance
CUNLIFPE-LI3TER
thought
case
our
could
humanitarian
and
that
somebody
on
the
particularly,
AfricaSIE P H I L I P
to
suggested
when
ourselves
South
he
to
that
say
our
of
our
that
if
presumably
probably
THOMAS
in
said
of
straight
present
numbers
would
MR.
view
and e c o n o m i c ,
EDEN s a i d
Italy
in
out
that
if
have
we
could
make
responsibilities,
we w e r e
which
should
were
to
forced
both
increase
very
troops.
we i n s i s t e d
ask a l s o
North
in
special
methods,
we
that
for
on
our
exception,
an e x c e p t i o n
in
Morocco,
Africa.
that
case
we
S I R JOHN SIMON s a i d
it
seemed
in
of
words
should
have
their
support.
case
and
which
that
Article
it
no
only
we t o o k
we w e r e
been
a
the
out
no
using
for
the
us
to
that
it
compromise
resist
any
him t h a t
there
towns
in
in
to
was
was
a
possible,
amendment
for
a great
point
we
the
but
purposes,
peace
relation
war.
to
by bombing,
police
outlying
what
administered,
and m a i n t a i n
was no
that
regions
he
an e x c e l l e n t
preserve
We c o u l d
operations
many l i v e s
Forces
was
reiterated
we h a d
w h i c h we
Air' Forces
to
Air
do
line,
years..
offensive
save
open
to
countries
to
our
for
GLiNLIPFE-LISTER
realistic
asking
doing
all
remained
or
him
to
34.
SIR P H I L I P
if
formula
to
the
All
had
fact
that
of
we h a d b e e n
It
t h e w a y we
bombing
in
carried
means
and q u i e t .
between
and
case.
we h a d
by
thought
of
enabled
seemed
used
We h a d u s e d
mandated
our
Air
Forces
territories,
for
and a s
far
Mandates Commission
had. a l w a y s
thought
that
country
methods
for
every
w h i c h we w e r e
category
ME.
EDEN s a i d
he
formulae
MR.
a
small
prepared
by
on
the
open
very
lines
and a s k e d
Committee
knew,
our
to
deal
the
well
of
either
or
were
the
if
of
this
He
the
in
an
warfare.
he
could
the
Foreign
Secretary
with
Leaguo
that
offensive
grateful
the
in
action.
exemption
Lord Londonderry
THOMAS a g r e e d ,
Drafting
from
w o u l d he
some g u i d a n c e
he
approved
claiming
different
given
as
purposes
knew p e r f e c t l y
entirely
be
police
to
Office.
arrange
point.
CONCLUSION.
It
was a g r e e d ; ­
(a)
t h a t i t w a s e s s e n t i a l f o r u s 'b6 r e t a i n
the r e s e r v a t i o n to A r t i c l e
34,\permitting
p o l i c e bombing in o u t l y i n g
regions^
(b)
t h a t in p u t t i n g forward our case f o r
the
maintenance o f the r e s e r v a t i o n to A r t i c l e 34,
i t c o u l d b e e x p l a i n e d t h a t we w e r e o n l y
asking to preserve the r i g h t of action
w h i c h we h a d b e e n t a k i n g f o r a g r e a t n u m b e r
o f y e a r s , i n some e s s e s u n d e r t h e a c t u a l
a e g i s of the League MandatesCommissionj
that
t h e r e was e v e r y d i f f e r e n c e i n t h e w o r l d b e t w e e n
o f f e n s i v e b o m b i n g i n a war and t h e t y p e o f
b o m b i n g we e m p l o y e d f o r t h e m a i n t e n a n c e o f
peace in o u t l y i n g r e g i o n s , which experience
had shewn was b o t h h u m a n i t a r i a n and e c o n o m i c .
I t might f u r t h e r be p o i n t e d out t h a t i f
this
r i g h t was no l o n g e r c o n c e d e d , i t m i g h t be
n e c e s s a r y f o r us v e r y g r e a t l y t o i n c r e a s e t h e
numbers o f our m i l i t a r y
effectives.
(c)
to instruct the Secretary, in consultation
with the Departments concerned, to prepare
a N o t e f o r t h e g u i d a n c e o f Mr. E d e n , on t h e "
l i n e s of those suggested by the Secretary
of
S t a t e f o r A i r and t h e F o r e i g n O f f i c e ^
-9­
s
The Note
drafting
195-3. i s
drawn U P and a g r e e d b y t h e
C o m m i t t e e on M o n d a y , M a y 8 t h ,
a t t a c h e d a s an A p p e n d i x . ­
rRENGTH OF
MINION A I R
RCES.
MR.
the
to
EDEN d r e w
fact
that
insert
their
when
various
very
air
large
in
somewhere
of
same
figure.
suggested
total
of
1400
three
times
had
like
to
fact
the
The
parity
was
number
United
at
have
sea
parity
on
for
the
Forces
the
Dominions
of
MR. THOMAS
position
that
in
they
the
should
the
to
30;
which
grand
to
any
which
the;/
they
of
case
include
other
since
respect
500,
125,
nearly
that
in
of
region
500,
American
of
United Kingdom,
aircraft.
was
had
the
would
in
been
Air
well.
suggested
that
Dominions,
it
claim
the
Commonwealth,
the
figure
size
fact,
suggested
that
as
of
in
intending
ahout
permitted
same b a s i s
the
suggested
was,
to
wanted
in
Kingdom,
the
that
wanted
had
the
only
the t o t a l
British
said
they
to
the
LORD LONDONDERRY
of
present
aircraft
States
with
at
which
of
apparently
apparently
United
reached,,
Commit t e e
and A u s t r a l i a
Added
the
the
respect
Zealand
200,
for
of
were
in
possessed
about
had b e e n
power.
Dominions
New
fact,
Canada
attention
figures
forces.
she,
the
the
such
in
view
seemed
large
of
the
financial
a little
figures
for
difficult
their
air
forces.
SIR P H I L I P
to
all
Canada,
the
uniform,
CUNLIFFE-LISTER,
said that
aircraft
the
although
in
were m i l i t a r y
tasks
on w h i c h
referring
point
and
of
were
they were
particularly
fact
flown
practically
by personnel
engaged
were
to
if
in
purely
civil.
MR.
the
THOMAS s a i d
Dominions
them,
into
he m i g h t
be
conference,
and e n d e a v o u r e d
to
get
able
explair
them
to
help
the
accept
he
position
some
called
to
reduction.
4
JT*
10
SIR
Lord
air
JOHN S I M O N
Londonderry,
position
different
ship
hut
he
Australia
It
thought
the
United
was
true
a question
that
the
States
that
from
naval
were
an
see
that
a squadron
of
aeroplanes
c o u l d be
used
in
THOMAS,
might
be
after
High
Commissioners
with
Mr.
a farther
better
in
Eden
to
this
have
same w a y
short
the
country,
on t h i s
entirely
Australian
the
the
and
two
of
it
touch
to
assistance
not
to
that
in
he
vis-a-vis
come
answer
the
did
MR.
said
things.
could
in
9
at
British
hattie­
Fleet,
from
all.
discussion,
Conference
and s a i d
he
agreed
with
the
would
keep
point.
CONCLUSION.
It
was
agreed;­
t h a t the S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e f o r D o m i n i o n A f f a i r s
should arrange f o r a Conference o f the
High Commissioners of the Dominions i n t h i s
c o u n t r y , i n o r d e r t o d i s c u s s w i t h them t h e
f i g u r e s they proposed to i n s e r t in the
t a b l e s i n t h e C o n v e n t i o n f o r t h e numbers o f
a i r c r a f t , w i t h a v i e w t o s e e i n g i f i t was
p o s s i b l e t o arrange f o r a reduction in the
f i g u r e s w h i c h i t was. u n d e r s t o o d ' t h e y a r e
at present
contemplating.
Whitehall
5 t h May,
Gardens,
193 3 .
S.W.1,
mAj^N^amfTTJFFg
INTER-DEPARTMENTAL
FORMULA REGARDING THE D E F I N I T I O N
BOMBING I N O U T L Y I N G . P L A C E S . ' '
Note
In
accordance
Ministers
with
Office,
of
Secretary,
Conclusion
on F r i d a y ,
May
the
and A i r
5th,
Foreign
Ministry,
5
(c)
1933,
of
Meeting
a m e e t i n g was
Office,
and
the
the
India
of
held
Office,
attached
formula
agreed.
Particular
in
the
with
representatives
Colonial
was
held
by
OF
connection
attention
with
this
is
drawn
to
the
following
points
formula:­
(a)
I n case the Afghan Government should be
i n c l i n e d t o r a i s e any q u e s t i o n s as t o
whether the formula contemplates the
p o s s i b i l i t y o f bombing i n Afghan
territory,
i t i s s u g g e s t e d t h a t Mr. Eden might
e x p l a i n p r i v a t e l y to the
representative
o f the Afghan Government t h a t such i s n o t
our i n t e n t i o n .
So f a r a s I n d i a i s
c o n c e r n e d t h e o u t l y i n g r e g i o n s which we
h a v e i n mind w o u l d be B r i t i s h
territories
o r t e r r i t o r i e s under B r i t i s h p r o t e c t i o n .
(b)
The f o r m u l a s u g g e s t e d i s made e n t i r e l y
a p p l i c a b l e to " o u t l y i n g r e g i o n s " .
This
may m e a n , so f a r a s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n a t
Geneva i s c o n c e r n e d , t h a t we a r e d e b a r r e d
from t a k i n g a i r a c t i o n i n the l a s t
resort
i n any p l a c e w h i c h c a n n o t p r o p e r l y b e
d e s c r i b e d as o u t l y i n g , e . g . i n d e f e n c e
of
a B r i t i s h cantonment i n I n d i a .
The A i r
M i n i s t r y are p a r t i c u l a r l y anxious t h a t
this possible implication i s
fully
appreciated.
(c)
The q u e s t i o n o f o u r p o s i t i o n v i s - a v i s the
S u l t a n o f M u s c a t and t h e A r a b S t a t e s o n t h e
P e r s i a n G u l f was c o n s i d e r e d .
I t was f e l t
t o b e d i f f i c u l t t o p u t i n any
specific
r e f e r e n c e which would, i n f a c t , cover the
p o s i t i o n i f we w e r e a s k e d b y a n y o f
these
l o c a l r u l e r s to a s s i s t them w i t h
air action.
Legally speaking,
these
S t a t e s a r e i n d e p e n d e n t and t h e y
are
n o t members o f t h e L e a g u e o f N a t i o n s .
I t i s assumed t h a t we s h o u l d be p e r f e c t l y
c o v e r e d i f we t o o k a n y a c t i o n a t t h e i r
r e q u e s t b u t a t t e n t i o n i s drawn t o t h i s
p o i n t i n case any q u e s t i o n s should a r i s e
in f u t u r e .
(d)
A p a r a g r a p h has been i n s e r t e d c o v e r i n g the
p o s i t i o n of the I r a q i Government.
A
t e l e g r a m has been despatched t o I r a q ,
s e e k i n g t h e s u p p o r t and a g r e e m e n t o f t h e
I r a q i Government in i n c l u d i n g t h i s p a r a ­
graph in the formula.
U n l e s s and u n t i l a
f a v o u r a b l e r e p l y has been r e c e i v e d from
the I r a q i Government,however,
obviously
t h i s p a r a g r a p h c a n n o t be u s e d .
(e)
N o m e n t i o n h a s b e e n made o f t h e q u e s t i o n
o f r e p o r t i n g any a c t i o n o f H i s M a j e s t y ' s
Government t o the League.
There is
p a r t i c u l a r o b j e c t i o n t o making any
s p e c i f i c p r o v i s i o n f o r such r e p o r t s from
t h e p o i n t of v i e w o f the Government of
India.
In recent years frequent
occasions
have a r i s e n f o r separate minor a i r
operations
and t h e G o v e r n m e n t o f I n d i a m i g h t b e put
in a very invidious position if,
as i s v e r y
p o s s i b l e , a i r action took place only in
I n d i a and w i t h c o n s i d e r a b l e f r e q u e n c y t h e r e
a n d t h e y w e r e f o r c e d t o make r e p o r t s t o
Geneva at c o m p a r a t i v e l y short i n t e r v a l s .
If
p r e s s e d on t h i s p o i n t , i t i s s u g g e s t e d t h a t Mr.
Eden s h o u l d r e f e r t o A r t i c l e 77 o f t h e
D r a f t C o n v e n t i o n and s h o u l d i n t i m a t e t h a t
m a c h i n e r y e x i s t s under t h i s A r t i c l e whereby
any c o m p l a i n t s can b e i n v e s t i g a t e d .
If ,
M r . E d e n s h o u l d b e f u r t h e r p r e s s e d on t h i s
p o i n t , i t i s r e q u e s t e d t h a t he should r e f e r
t h e m a t t e r back again t o H i s M a j e s t y ' s
G o v e r n m e n t , so t h a t t h e G o v e r n m e n t
of
I n d i a can be c o n s u l t e d .
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 does not f e e l a b l e to
a c c e p t any p r o p o s a l beyond the s u g g e s t e d
r e f e r e n c e t o A r t i c l e 77 u n d e r t h i s h e a d
u n l e s s the Government o f I n d i a have been
consulted.
. (Signed)
E.J.
HODSOLL.
Secretary.
8th May,
1953.
O U T L Y I N G
His
to
retain
British
or
Majesty's
the
police
right
and
in
purposes,
certain
system
to
their
civilisation
would
and
require
involve
or
the
the
Aden
Protectorate,
suitable
experience
humane
inhabited
climatic
of
of
or
it
areas
conditions,
they
Mandated
tracts
pacification
employ
of
India;
were
air
only
effective
they
where,
owing
from
centres
operations
large
forces
casualties
i n mind a r e
Territories
but
in
the
if
unavailable
action
in
for
in
ground
heavy
have
action
regions"
disproportionately
areas
of
protection
is
remoteness
unnecessarily
to
air
and t h e
"outlying
propose,
regions
areas?
sparsely
the
on
the
Middle
other
it
might
other
similarly
territories.
His Majesty's
Government
to
employ
action
present
most
Kingdom
under B r i t i s h
By
the
necessary
outlying
order.
frontier
of
United
frontier
their
the
use
Among
means
prove
remote
in
to
risk
sides.
and t h e
in
inaccessibility
or
the
territories
disturbed
both
East,
and
restoring
in
employ,
since
mean u n d e v e l o p e d
of
to
circumstances
of
either
Government
territories
mandate
P L A C E S ,
air
Government
state
that
they
consider
within
Iraq
cannot
conditions,
themselves
with
have been
this
and H i s
view.
Majesty's
asked by
that
be
the
the
right
relinquished
Government
Iraqi
to
under
associate