(c) crown copyright
Catalogue Reference:CAB/23/4
Image Reference:0026
[This Document is the Property of Hia Brifaainicjjg^^
Printed
for the War Cabinet.
October 10.1 7.
SECRET.
WAR CABINET, 252.
Minutes of a Meeting of the War Cabinet h"dd at 1 0 , Downing Street, S. W., on
Thursday, October 1 8 , 1 9 1 7 , a t 1 1 3 0 A..M.
Present:
T h e - P R I M E MINISTER (in the Chair) (for Minutes 1 to 9 ) .
T h e Right Hon. t h e E A R L
CURZON OF
KEDLESTON, K . G . , G . C . S . I . , G . C . I . E .
The
Right
H o n . t h e VISCOUNT M I L N E R ,
G.C.B., G.C.M.G.
T h e Right Hon. A. BONAR L A W , M.P.
Lieutenant-General t h e R i g h t Hon. J . C .
SMUTS, K.G.
The
T h e Right Hon. G . N . B A R N E S , M . P .
Right Hon. Sir E . CARSON, K . C . ,
M.P.
T h e following were also present :T h e Right Hon. A. J . BALFOUR.. O . M . ,
M.P., Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs (for Minutes 7 to 9 ) .
T h e R i g h t Hon. t h e E A R L O F D E R B Y , K.G.,
G.C.V.O., C.B., Secretary of State for
W a r (for Minutes 4 to 10*).
General Sir W. R . ROBERTSON, G.C.B.,
K . C . V O . , D.S.O., Chief of t h e Imperial
General Staff (for Minutes 7 t o 9 ) .
Tiie Right Hon. S I R E . G E D D E S , G . B . E . ,
K . C . B . , M.P., F i r s t Lord of t h e A d ­
miralty (for Minutes 7 a n d 8,1.
Ad rairal
Sir J . R. JELLTCOE, G.C.B.
O.M., G.C.V.O., First Sea Lord a n d
Chief of t h e Naval Staff (for Minutes 7
and S).
T h e R i g h t Hon. T. J . MACNAMARA, L L D.,
ALP., Parliamentary Secretary, Admiralty
(for Minute 6).
T h e Right H o n . G. H. ROBERTS, M.P.,
Minister of Labour (for Minutes 4 to 6
and 1 0 ) .
S I R T . L. H E A T H , K.C.B.,
Treasury (for Minute 6).
K.C.V.O.,
S I R D . J . SHACKLETON, K.C.B., Secretary,
Ministry of Labour (for Minutes 4 to 6
and 1 0 ) .
T h e R i g h t H o n . A. H ILLINGWORTH, M.P.,
S I R W . COLLINS, Chairman, Conciliation
and Arbitration Board (for Minute 6).
Admiralty Shipyard Labour D e p a r t m e n t
(for Minute 4).
Mr. F G. K E L L A W A Y , M.P., P a r l i a m e n t a r y
Secretary, Ministry of Munitions (for
Minutes 4 to 6).
S I B A. C . G E D D E S , K.C.B., Miuist r of
National Service (for Minutes 2, 4 t o 6
and 1 0 ) .
Postmaster-General (for Minute 6 ; .
SIR
LYNDEN
MACASSEY,
K.C.,
NORMAN HrLL, Port a n d T r a n s i t
. Executive Committee (for Minute 1 0 ) .
SIR
Air. J O H N ANDERSON, Secretary, M i n i s t r y
of S h i p p i n g (for Minute 1 0 ) .
Mr. J O S E P H D A V I E S (for Minute 10).
Lieutenant-Colonel Sir M . P . A. H A N K E Y , K.C.B.,
Captain C L E M E N T J O N E S , Assistant
Secretary.
Secretary.
Captain t h e Hon. W . ORMSBY-GORE, M.P., Assistant
Mr. THOMAS J O N E S , Assistant
K.B.E.,
Secretary.
Secretary.
W a g e s of Skilled
W o r k e r s in
Engineering and
F o u n d r y Trades.
1. W I T H reference to W a r Cabinet 248. M i n u t e 12. t h e W a r
Cabinet took note of t h e following decision by L o r d M i l n e r a n d
M r . B a r n e s in r e g a r d t o t h e w a g e s of skilled w o r k e r s in t h e
engineering and foundry t r a d e s ( P a p e r G.T.-2282) :—
" T h a t fully qualified skilled t i m e - w o r k e r s in t h e
engineering a n d foundry t r a d e s should be g r a n t e d a n increase
of 12J per cent, u p o n t h e i r weekly earnings, provided t h a t
their wages equalled or exceeded the district t i m e - r a t e p a y a b l e
t o fitters a n d t u r n e r s . Such increase to commence'in t h e first
full week after t h e 14th October, 1917. This increase shall
n o t a p p l y to m e n w i t h u p s t a n d i n g w a g e or salary covering
overtime."
Situation among
South Wales
Miners.
2 . Sir E d w a r d C a r s o n s t a t e d t h a t he h a d received a message
from Sir George R i d d e l l t o the effect t h a t t h e s i t u a t i o n in the South
W a l e s coalfield was very serious, o w i n g to' the organised resistance
of a n t i - w a r elements a g a i n s t a n y combing-out for m i l i t a r y service
of m e n engaged in t h e i n d u s t r y .
A ballot w a s shortly t o be held
as to w h e t h e r a s t r i k e should be called as a protest a g a i n s t the
combing-out of fit m e n of m i l i t a r y age who h a d entered the coal­
m i n i n g i n d u s t r y for t h e first time since the o u t b r e a k of w a r .
Sir A u c k l a n d Geddes enforced t h e above s t a t e m e n t , a n d s t a t e d
t h a t t h e situation r e q u i r e d the m o s t delicate h a n d l i n g . T h e mines
r e p r e s e n t e d the last r e m a i n i n g big pool upon which he could d r a w
both for r e c r u i t i n g for t h e A r m y a n d for transferable labour.
I t w a s rjointed o u t t h a t , in view of t h e p a r a m o u n t i m p o r t a n c e
of t h i s issue a n d the s t r e n g t h of t h e G o v e r n m e n t s case in r e g a r d to
it, t h e desirability of facing a s t r i k e , if it could be confined to one
locality, such as S o u t h W a l e s , should be considered, the e x a m p l e of
the defeat of the G l a s g o w s t r i k e r s in 1915 being instanced a s in
some waj^s a parallel case.
T h e W a r C a b i n e t u n d e r s t o o d t h a t a request w a s being p u t
f o r w a r d by p a t r i o t i c leaders in South W a l e s t h a t General S m u t s
should a d d r e s s a w a r aims m e e t i n g somewhere in t h e coalfield,
with a view to his e n c o u r a g i n g those m i n e r s who r e m a i n e d
p a t r i o t i c a n d were doing t h e i r best to resist syndicalist a n d pacifist
influence.
G e n e r a l S m u t s expressed his willingness to a d d r e s s a meeting
a t M o u n t a i n Ash a t a n early d a t e .
T h e W a r Cabinet decided t h a t —
T h e M i n i s t e r of N a t i o n a l Service should m a k e
of the. A d m i r a l t y w i t h r e g a r d to their p r e s e n t reserve
coal, in order t h a t an e s t i m a t e m i g h t be formed as to
it would be possible for t h e c o u n t r y to s t a n d a strike
Wales without incurring danger.
Observance, of a
D a y of P r a y e r .
enquiries
of Welsh
how long
in South
3 T h e W a r Cabinet h a d u n d e r consideration a letter
addressed to t h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r by t h e A r c h b i s h o p of C a n t e r b u r y
( P a p e r G.T.-2272).
T h e W a r Cabinet decided t h a t —
W h i l e it w o u l d be unwise for the Government to a p p o i n t
a d a y of " h u m i l i a t i o n a n d p r a y e r , " as h a d been suggested
a t a n earlier s t a g e , t h e A r c h b i s b o p ' s n e w p r o p o s a l , for t h e
s e t t i n g aside of a day for invoking t h e Divine blessing upon
t h e deliberations a n d a r m s of the Allied Forces, w a s prefer­
able, a n d suggested t h a t t h e first S u n d a y in 1918 should be
selected for this p u r p o s e .
I t w a s agreed t h a t i t would be unnecessary for t h e P r i m e
M i n i s t e r to receive t h e suggested d e p u t a t i o n u p o n t h e subject,
a n d t h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r u n d e r t o o k to discuss t h e question w i t h
t h e A r c h b i s h o p of C a n t e r b u r y , w i t h a view to a possible:
r e p r e s e n t a t i o n being m a d e in d u e course to H i s Majesty t h e
King.
Labour Disputes.
Eecruiting of Coal
Miners.
"4. T h e W a r Cabinet h a d before t h e m a M e m o r a n d u m by L o r d
Milner a n d M r . B a r n e s ( P a p e r G . T . - 2 1 9 4 A ) on t h e subject of t h e
settlement of labour disputes involving increases of wages.
L o r d M i l n e r pointed out t h a t cases h a d arisen whereby labour
disputes h a d been settled by one D e p a r t m e n t in such a m a n n e r
t h a t other G o v e r n m e n t D e p a r t m e n t s w e r e affected.
H e thought
t h a t it w a s absolutely necessary t h a t in every case t h e r e should be
one u l t i m a t e a u t h o r i t y , such a s t h e Committee on P r o d u c t i o n , w h o
should deal w i t h d i s p u t e s t h e result of which w a s likely to affect a
wider sphere of w o r k t h a n t h a t which w a s u n d e r t h e i m m e d i a t e
control of a n individual Government D e p a r t m e n t .
There was,
for instance, t h e d e m a n d of the coal-mining i n d u s t r y t h a t they
should be t r e a t e d in a w a t e r - t i g h t c o m p a r t m e n t , t h u s m a k i n g the
miners a S t a t e w i t h i n a S t a t e . If t h i s principle w e r e a e k n o w ­
ledged, a decision in favour of one set of w o r k m e n prejudiced the
issue in m a n y other cases.
Some form of centralisation w a s
absolutely necessary.
Sir D a v i d Shackleton pointed out t h a t unless some c e n t r a l
a u t h o r i t y were recognised it m i g h t he possible for employers a n d
employees in a p a r t i c u l a r t r a d e to come to some a r r a n g e m e n t ,
involving a high cost to t h e S t a t e , which d i s r e g a r d e d t h e n a t i o n a l
interest.
T h e M i n i s t r y of L a b o u r h a d no desire t o interfere in
the m a n y small disputes of a local a n d subsidiary c h a r a c t e r , in t h e
settlement of which a n y delay w a s m o s t u n d e s i r a b l e ; b u t in all
those questions of a wider c h a r a c t e r which involved increases of
wage to l a r g e classes of labour it h a d n o w become essential, w h e r e
S t a t e control of i n d u s t r i e s h a d been established, t h a t t h e S t a t e ,
a c t i n g t h r o u g h some central a u t h o r i t y , should be a p a r t y t o a n y
settlement.
M r . K e l l a w a y pointed out t h a t the M i n i s t r y of M u n i t i o n s h a d
s t a t u t o r y p o w e r s u n d e r the M u n i t i o n s A c t to deal, inter alia, with
the question of the wages of skilled w o r k e r s .
Sir L y n d e n Macassey pointed out t h a t very special a n d
peculiar conditions related to w o r k in H i s M a j e s t y ' s D o c k y a r d s ,
which m u s t be decided by t h e A d m i r a l t y .
B o t h the M i n i s t r y of M u n i t i o n s a n d t h e A d m i r a l t y were most
a n x i o u s t h a t all questions of this k i n d should be discussed w i t h the
M i n i s t r y of L a b o u r , a n d t h a t the M i n i s t r y of L a b o u r should h a v e
the fullest o p p o r t u n i t y of s u b m i t t i n g t h e i r views to t h e D e p a r t ­
m e n t s immediately concerned in the settlement of a d i s p u t e .
Similarly, D e p a r t m e n t s concerned should have the r i g h t of e n t r y
to t h e Committee on P r o d u c t i o n , to be h e a r d in connection w i t h
disputes referred to t h a t body.
The W a r Cabinet a p p r o v e d the s t a t e m e n t
(Paper
G.T.-2194 A )
iple, a n d left i t to t h e D e p a r t m e n t s t o
a r r a n g e its a p p l i c a t i o n in d e t a i l with the M i n i s t e r of L a b o u r .
5. S i r A u c k l a n d Geddes s t a t e d t h a t t h e Coal Controller a n d
h e h a d h a d a conversation about t h e r e c r u i t i n g of men e n g a g e d i n
coal mines.
They were agreed t h a t r e c r u i t i n g w a s p u r e l y a
function for t h e M i n i s t e r of N a t i o n a l Service.
I n view of t h e
possible d i s p u t e in S o u t h W a l e s , r e f e r r e d t o i n M i n u t e 2, h e a s k e d
for a Cabinet decison r a t i f y i n g t h i s agreement.
T h e W a r Cabinet decided t h a t —
T h e r e c r u i t i n g of men from coal mines should be one of
t h e functions of t h e M i n i s t r y of N a t i o n a l Service,
E e c o g n i t i o n of
O r g a n i s a t i o n s other
t h a n t h e Civil
S
e r v
j
c e
6. W i t h reference to W a r Cabinet 2 2 1 , M i n u t e 14, the W a r
Cabinet h a d before them the following d o c u m e n t s : ­
.
.
.
,
,
"
,
(a.) M e m o r a n d u m
by
the
Postmaster-General
(Paper
G.T.-2016).
(6.) N o t e by the M i n i s t e r of M u n i t i o n s ( P a p e r G.T.-2118).
(c.) M e m o r a n d u m bv the Conciliation a n d A r b i t r a t i o n B o a r d
( P a p e r G.T.-1731).
*
id.) M e m o r a n d u m bv t h e M i n i s t r y of L a b o u r
(Paper
G.T.-1732).
T h e P o s t m a s t e r - G e n e r a l p o i n t e d out t h a t in 1906 internal
P o s t Office unions h a d been recognised, a n d t h a t a g r e a t d a n g e r
existed if outside organisations, such as t h e T r a n s p o r t W o r k e r s '
F e d e r a t i o n , were recognised a s in a n y w a y p a r t y to disputes
affecting P o s t a l servants. Should the T r a n s p o r t W o r k e r s ' Federa­
tion be placed in a position to call o u t t h e P o s t a l t r a n s p o r t workers,
the whole business of t h e c o u n t r y m i g h t be held u p .
The
P o s t m a s t e r - G e n e r a l read an e x t r a c t from the M i n o r i t y R e p o r t of
a R o y a l Commission signed; a m o n g others, by Sir H e n r y P r i m r o s e
a n d Sir G u y G r a n e t , p o i n t i n g o u t t h e d a n g e r of outside unions
being a d m i t t e d to disputes or a g r e e m e n t s with Civil S e r v a n t s . H e
a d d e d t h a t t h e L o n d o n C o u n t y Council h a d recently decided not
to recognise outside unions in dealing with their employees.
D r . M a c n a m a r a pointed o u t t h a t the A d m i r a l t y h a d a d m i t t e d
representatives of outside organisations as spokesmen only, a n d
n o t a s p a r t i e s to a n y concessions m a d e by the A d m i r a l t y to their
employees.
T h e A d m i r a l t y did n o t m a k e a r r a n g e m e n t s or con­
t r a c t s "with their employees, b u t only concessions.
Sir W i l l i a m Collins, M . P . , C h a i r m a n of the Conciliation a n d
A r b i t r a t i o n B o a r d for G o v e r n m e n t Employees, t h o u g h t t h a t the
m e t h o d a d o p t e d by the A d m i r a l t y suggested a compromise which
the Government could u n d e r t a k e w i t h safety.
T h e P o s t m a s t e r - G e n e r a l a n d t h e M i n i s t r y of L a b o u r con­
c u r r e d in t h e view expressed by Sir W i l l i a m Collins, b u t t h e l a t t e r
t h o u g h t t h a t t h e whole m a t t e r should receive further
careful
enquiry.
The W a r Cabinet decided t h a t —
The t e r m s of reference to the Conciliation a n d A r b i t r a t i o n
B o a r d for Government Employees should be amended to
r e a d as follows :—
" Method of Procedure.—Any
claim which may fall
w i t h i n the terms of reference shall be heard before the
B o a r d a c t i n g as a t r i p l i c a t e c h a i r m a n , together with n o t
more t h a n three official representatives a n d n o t more t h a n
t h r e e representatives of t h e class of employees concerned
or their associations, w h e r e such association exists. P r o ­
vided t h a t in all cases the employees concerned shall be
a t liberty to n o m i n a t e a s one of their representatives
a person who is n o t a. member of the class in question.
Such a person shall not, however, be a signatory to a n y
a g r e e m e n t arrived a t by conciliation. The official repre­
sentatives shall be a p p o i n t e d in cases where employees of
only one Government D e p a r t m e n t a r e concerned—two by
t h a t D e p a r t m e n t a n d one by the T r e a s u r y .
I n other
cases they shall all be a p p o i n t e d by t h e T r e a s u r y .
In
the first instance, the official representatives a n d t h e
employees' representatives shall, endeavour to a r r a n g e the
difference by m u t u a l a g r e e m e n t , but should they fail to
settle the m a t t e r by conciliation the case will be a t once
referred to the B o a r d a c t i n g as A r b i t r a t o r s , who m a y
call for further evidence if they desire a n d give such other
directions as they m a y t h i n k necessary for t h e p r o p e r
decision of the m a t t e r s in d i s p u t e . "
A t t a c k on C o n v o y
by German Light
Cruisers.
7 . T h e F i r s t Sea L o r d r e p o r t e d t h a t on the previous day two
destroyers, t h e " S t r o n g b o w " a n d the " M a r y R o s e / ' while
escorting t h e S c a n d i n a v i a n Convoy, h a d been a t t a c k e d a n d sunk
by two G e r m a n light cruisers about sixty miles east of the
S h e t l a n d s . After disposing of the escort, the enemy proceeded t o
a t t a c k the m e r c h a n t m e n in the convoy.
O u t of 8 of these mer­
c h a n t m e n 3 h a d arrived u n d a m a g e d a t L e r w i c k , of which two were
B r i t i s h ; a n d of the r e m a i n i n g 5, from r e p o r t s a t present received
it a p p e a r e d t h a t 4 were on fire a n d 1 w a s in a sinking condition.
The other escorting craft of trawders a n d a whaler were reported
to have escaped. W i t h r e g a r d to the loss of life, t h e r e were no
survivors from the " M a r y Rose " ; 4 officers a n d 35 men h a d been
saved from the " S t r o n g b o w , " a n d 39 men from the m e r c h a n t m e n .
A t the time w h e n it h a p p e n e d five B r i t i s h light cruiser s q u a d r o n s
were in t h e N o r t h Sea, a n d the F i r s t L o r d pointed out t h a t even
if w e h a d h a d notice of the enemy's coming, a n d h a d p u t out our
m a x i m u m forces, we could not have been m o r e ready to intercept
the enemy.
The F i r s t Sea L o r d showed on a c h a r t i l l u s t r a t i n g t h e area of
visibility of our cruisers, the difficulty of e n s u r i n g the interception
of fast l i g h t cruisers on a d a r k n i g h t . I t w a s probable t h a t the
enemy vessels were of a new type of light cruisers, w i t h a speed of
34 k n o t s ; t h a t is to say. 4 to 5 k n o t s faster t h a n any of our light
cruisers. H e reminded the W a r Cabinet t h a t the A d m i r a l t y h a d
always expected t h a t sooner or later a n a t t a c k would be m a d e
upon our convoys. I t had also been recognised t h a t the Scandi­
navian Convoy w a s the one most liable to be a t t a c k e d . H e drew
a t t e n t i o n t o the fact t h a t ihe G e r m a n s must have been very AVELL
informed of our route, a n d a telegram h a d been sent to N o r w a y
in r e g a r d to leakage of information.
T h e A d m i r a l t y were
considering the problem of t h e best m e t h o d of securing the safety
of the S c a n d i n a v i a n Convoy a g a i n s t further a t t a c k s of this kind,
a n d he indicated the general lines on which t h i s would be tackled.
The F i r s t L o r d stated t h a t t h i s w a s the first occasion on
which n e u t r a l ships h a d been sunk bv surface craft w i t h o u t
t a k i n g off t h e crews, which was a most serious breach of I n t e r ­
n a t i o n a l Law.
The S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for F o r e i g n Affairs pointed out t h a t
the moral effect in Scandinavia would be very bad.
The W a r Cabinet discussed the question of publication,
a n d deferred a decision u n t i l the G e r m a n communique
w a s to
hand.
I t w a s decided—
I n a n y case to publish the loss of our two destroyers, b u t
t h a t , in accordance w i t h the usual practice, no publica­
tion should be m a d e Until the next-of-kin h a d been
advised.
Comparison of
B r i t i s h and F o r e i g n
Warships.
,
sSClM Haig.
T
( r n r n
8. I n t h e course of the discussion recorded in t h e previous
M i n u t e , a t t e n t i o n w a s called to the comparison of A m e r i c a n
destroyers w i t h B r i t i s h destroyers, a n d also to t h e comparison of
t h e latest t y p e of G e r m a n l i g h t cruisers w i t h B r i t i s h l i g h t cruisers.
I n both cases t h e B r i t i s h vessels compared u n f a v o u r a b l y in some
p a r t i c u l a r s , t h o u g h n o t necessarily in all respects, w i t h the latest
foreign types.
9. W i t h reference to W a r Cabinet 250, M i n u t e 4, the Chief
of t h e I m p e r i a l G e n e r a l Staff reported t h e r e c e i p t of a telegram
from Sir D o u g l a s H a i g expressing t h e t h a n k s of t h e B r i t i s h
A r m i e s i n F r a n c e a n d himself for t h e message of c o n g r a t u l a t i o n
which h a d been sent him by the P r i m e M i n i s t e r on behalf of t h e
W a r Cabinet.
T h e Secretary of S t a t e for W a r u n d e r t o o k to a r r a n g e for t h e
p u b l i c a t i o n of Sir D o u g l a s H a i g ' s reply.
Port and Transit
Executive
Committee.
10. T h e W a r Cabinet h a d before t h e m a M e m o r a n d u m by
M r . J o s e p h D a v i e s in r e g a r d to t h e proposed r e a d j u s t m e n t of t h e
T r a n s i t Executive Committee ( P a p e r G.T.-2281).
S i r N o r m a n H i l l outlined t h e h i s t o r y a n d work of t h i s Com­
mittee, of which he w a s now C h a i r m a n . A p p o i n t e d t w o years ago,
t h e Committee h a d worked smoothly u n t i l J u l y of t h i s year, when,
a t the request of t h e Executive Council of the N a t i o n a l T r a n s p o r t
W o r k e r s ' F e d e r a t i o n , the L a b o u r representatives, i n c l u d i n g M r .
H a r r y Gosling, w i t h d r e w from t h e C e n t r a l Committee a n d from
all t h e local P o r t a n d T r a n s i t Committees, for reasons given in
t h e M e m o r a n d u m . A scheme h a d now been a s r e e d bv t h e D e p a r t ­
ments concerned a n d the L a b o u r r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s whereby t h e
Dock L a b o u r r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s will rejoin the C e n t r a l a n d Local
P o r t a n d T r a n s i t Committees, and t h e N a t i o n a l U n i o n of
R a i l w a y m e n will also co-operate.
The new Committee will t h u s
be fully r e p r e s e n t a t i v e .
S i r A u c k l a n d Geddes r a i s e d a cognate question in h i s
M e m o r a n d u m ( P a p e r G.T.-2307) d e p r e c a t i n g any extension of
t h e system of m i l i t a r y compelled labour, p a r t i c u l a r l y in connec­
tion with the Transport Workers' Battalions.
H e pointed out
t h e u n f o r t u n a t e effect which such a form of labour h a s on labour
generally by a r o u s i n g suspicions of i n d i r e c t i n d u s t r i a l compulsion.
Resistance to r e c r u i t i n g w a s s p r e a d i n g t h r o u g h o u t t h e
c o u n t r y ; t h e case of South W a l e s h a d a l r e a d y been r e f e r r e d to
(vide M i n u t e 2 above), a n d there were other centres w h e r e the
movement w a s developing.
T h e r e w a s a w i d e s p r e a d resentment
caused by seeing a m a n who one day w a s in civilian clothes a n d
a few days l a t e r r e a p p e a r e d in k h a k i a t a lower r a t e of wages.
T h e same p r i n c i p l e a p p l i e d to soldiers e n g a g e d in a g r i c u l t u r e .
L o r d Derby said he entirely agreed w i t h w h a t S i r A . Geddes
h a d stated.
S i r A u c k l a n d Geddes requested t h a t his D e p a r t m e n t m i g h t
be represented on S i r N o r m a n H i l l ' s C e n t r a l Committee, in view
of t h e fact t h a t it w a s to a g r e a t extent a M a n - P o w e r Committee.
T h e W a r C a b i n e t decided t h a t —
^T-\.
P
o
r
t
a r i d
(a.)
T h e scheme for the r e a d j u s t m e n t of t h e P o r t a n d
T r a n s i t E x e c u t i v e Committee ( P a p e r G.T.-2281),
which h a d been agreed to by all the D e p a r t m e n t s con­
cerned, a n d Labour, should be adopted.
(b.)' T h e N a t i o n a l Service D e p a r t m e n t should be represented
on t h e C e n t r a l Committee a n d t h e Local Committees,
provided t h a t the other D e p a r t m e n t s expressed no
objection.
(c.) T h e question of the p r i n c i p l e of m i l i t a r y compelled
labour, in such forms as t h e T r a n s p o r t W o r k e r s '
B a t t a l i o n s a n d A g r i c u l t u r a l Companies, should be
r a i s e d a g a i n by the M i n i s t e r of N a t i o n a l Service a t a h
early date.
2, Whitehall
October
Gardens,
18, 1917.
S.W.,
o