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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
Printed for the War Cabinet.
December 1 9 1 7 .
SECRET.
WAR
297.
CABINET,
Minutes of a Meeting of the War Cabinet held at 1 0 , Downing Street, S.W., on
Thursday, December 1 3 , 1 9 1 7 , at 1 1 A.M.
Present:
THE
PRIME MINISTER
(in the Chair).
T h e R i g h t Hon. t h e E A R L CURZON of
KEDLESTON, K G , G . C . S . I . , G . C . I . E .
T h e Right Hon. G. N . BARNES. M . P .
T h e R i g h t Hon. the VISCOUNT MILNER,
G.C.B., G.C.M.G.
The
T h e Right Hon. A. BONAR L A W , M.P.
Right
Hon. S I R E.
CARSON, K . O . ,
M.P.
The following were also p r e s e n t : —
OF DERBY,
Mr. J . F . HOPE, M.P. (for Minutes 1 to 1 7 ) .
ICG., G.C.V.O., C.B., Secretary of State
for War.
General S I R W . R. ROBERTSOX, G.C.B.,
T h e Right Hon. S I R E. GEDDES, G . B . E . ,
K . C . V . O . , D . S . O . , Chief of t h e Imperial
A d m i r a l S I R J . R. JELLICOE, G . C . B . , O.M.,
The
Right
Hon.
the E A R L
General Staff (for Minutes 2 3 to 2 9 ) .
Lieutenant-General SIR C. F . N . MACREADY, K . G . B . , K.C.M.G., AdjutantGeneral t o the Forces (for Minutes 1 to
12).
The R i g h t Hon W. LONG, M.P., Secretary
of State for the Colonies (for Minutes
1 to I S ) .
T h e R i g h t Hon. C. ADDISON, M . D . , M.P.,
Minister of Reconstruction (for Minutes
1 to 1 8 ) .
The
R i g h t Hon. R. MUNRO, I C G , M . P .
Secretarv for Scotland (for Minutes 1
to 1 8 ) .
K.C.B.,
M.P., First Lord of
Admiralty (for Minutes 2 3 to 2 9 ) .
the
G.C.V.O.. First Sea Lord a n d Chief of
the Naval Staff (for Minutes 1 9 t o 2 9 ) .
T h e Right Hon. W . HAYES F I S H E R , M.P.,
President, Local Government
Board
(for Minutes 1 to I S ) .
T h e Right Hon. H. A. L . FISHER, L.L.D.,
M.P., President, Board of Education (for
Minutes 1 to 1 8 ) .
The
Right
Hon.
LORD
RHONDDA, Food
Controller (for Minutes 1 t o 1 8 ) .
Mr. U . F . WINTOUR, C . B . , C.M.G., P e r ­
manent Secretary, Ministry of Food (for
Minutes 1 to 1 8 ) "
T h e R i g h t Hon. H. E . D U K E , I C C , M . P . ,
Major t h e Hon. WALDORF ASTOR, M.P. (for.
Chief
Secretary
for Ireland
(for
Minute 1 to 1 8 ) .
SIR A . C. GEDDES, K.C.B., M.P.', Minister
of Kational Service (for Minutes 1 to
S I R A. LEE, ICC.B., M.P., Director-General,
Food
Production
Department
(for
Minutes 1 to 1 8 ) .
18).
T h e Right Hon. VISCOUNT GOSCHEN, Food
Professor W . G. ADAMS (for Minutes 1 to
18).
Minutes 1 to 1 8 ) . .
Production D e p a r t m e n t (for Minutes 1
to 1 8 ) .
Lieutenant-Colonel W . DALLY JONES, C.M.G., Acting
Secretary.
Captain CLEMENT JONES, Assistant
Secretary.
Mr. THOMAS JONES, Assistant
Secretary.
Fleet Paymaster P . H. R o w , R.N., Assistant
Secretary.
1. T H E W a r Cabinet resumed t h e discussion of t h e Food
Situation adjourned from yesterday's Meeting ( W a r Cabinet 2 9 6 ,
Minute 1 5 ) , with special reference to Lord Rhondda's Memorandum
The Food
Situation :
Finance.
(Paper G . - 1 8 0 ) .
The Prime Minister announced t h a t t h e details of t h e financial
arrangement come to with the American representatives yesterday
morning would be settled a t a Conference t h a t afternoon.
The W a r Cabinet decided to request—
The Shipping Controller to give absolute priority t o t h e Food
Controller's requirements for tonnage necessary t o carry out
the programme of food imports.
M e a t a n d Cheese.
Imports of
Tea.
2 . W i t h reference t o W a r Cabinet 2 8 3 , Minute 1 2 , dealing with
t h e proposed transfer of t h e organisation for t h e purchase of meat
and cheese from the Board of Trade t o t h e Ministry of Food, t h e
W a r Cabinet were informed t h a t t h e a t t e m p t s to settle t h e m a t t e r
had so far been unsuccessful.
Mr. Long said it was important to bear in mind the Dominions'
point of view, a n d suggested t h a t Sir Thomas McKenzie should be
consulted.
The W a r Cabinet decided to ask—
Lord Milner and Mr. Barnes t o go into t h e m a t t e r t h a t
afternoon, and, if t h e y failed t o come to a final decision, to
bring u p the m a t t e r before t h e Cabinet to-morrow.
3 . Lord Rhondda s t a t e d t h a t t h e shortage of tea was an acute
cause of popular discontent, which could be remedied by a relatively
small expenditure of tonnage, and he would like t h e Shipping
- Controller to be authorised t o provide tonnage sufficient t o raise a t
once t h e stock in bond to 6 0 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 lb. after the grocers' stocks h a d
been replenished.
F u r t h e r , the restriction on the importation of
J a v a and China t e a should be removed.
Mr. Long said t h a t he understood t h a t twelve liners were being
diverted from the E a s t t o t h e Atlantic in order t o bring corn to this
country.
Lord Derby stated t h a t , under pressure from t h e Shipping
Controller, he h a d u n d e r t a k e n not to recruit t h e full n u m b e r of
Chinese coolies. I n t h a t way about 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 tops of shipping would
be saved between Vancouver and China, provided t h a t France also
stopped recruiting in China.
T h e W a r Cabinet referred the question to Lord Milner and
Mr. Barnes for decision t h a t afternoon, in consultation with
t h e Shipping Controller and Food Controller.
Protection of
Labour.
Accommodation
and Staff for the
M i n i s t r y of Food.
4. Lord Rhondda u r g e d t h a t , in t h e interests of the food
supply, it was essential t h a t labour in flour mills and other food
factories should be protected from military service. A t present only
temporary exemptions were granted.
Sir Auckland Geddes said it was difficult to g r a n t absolute
protection, but his D e p a r t m e n t had already negotiated a large
measure of protection, a n d would continue to do everything possible
to meet t h e wishes of t h e Food Controller. N o serious withdrawal
of labour was t a k i n g place.
5. The W a r Cabinet instructed—
The Secretary to communicate to all t h e D e p a r t m e n t s concerned
t h a t in respect of accommodation, printing, and staff t h e
W a r Cabinet considered t h a t t h e claims of t h e Ministry of
Food should be t r e a t e d as being of great urgency.
Inequalities of
Distribution.
6. The attention of the W a r Cabinet was drawn t o t h e
inequality in the distribution of food as between one centre and
another. A deputation which had waited on the Prime Minister on
the previous day had alleged t h a t in some districts there was an
entire iack of butter, lard, margarine, and bacon, i t was suggested
t h a t greater use ought to be made of t h e local authorities in t h e
work of distribution, a n d the administrative experience of Town
Clerks and Councillors drawn upon. Further, t h e Ministry of Food
might consider the desirability of making the Co-operative Whole­
sale Societies and t h e large private distributing agencies into
"controlled establishments" on t h e analogy of engineering works.
Lord Rhondda stated that a t Birmingham and other centres
local experiments were being tried w i t h a view t o improving
distribution and g e t t i n g rid of queues. - H e had set up nearly 2 , 0 0 0
local Food Committees, t h e personnel of which was largely drawn
from t h e local authorities. W i t h regard to local shortages, supple­
mentary allowances had been made to a large number of towns, and
steps were being taken to organise distribution schemes for bacon,
butter, tea, & c , b u t t h e y would necessarily t a k e some time to p u t in
motion.
The W a r Cabinet decided to ask—
The Food Controller to prepare a report on the problem of
distribution, with special reference to the points raised in
the discussion.
Agricultural
Programme and
Food Production.
7. The W a r Cabinet resumed the discussion of the agricultural
programme begun a t t h e previous d a y s meeting ( W a r Cabinet 295,
Minute 1 6 ) , with special reference to Mr. Prothero's Memorandum
(Paper G . T . - 2 7 6 7 ) .
Sir A r t h u r Lee, in t h e unavoidable absence of - the President of
t h e Board of Agriculture, informed the Cabinet t h a t , a t a meeting
of Agricultural Commissioners, held the previous day, encouraging
reports had been received as to t h e progress made with the agricul­
tural programme. H e hoped t h a t at least 8 0 per cent, of t h e
2 , 6 9 5 , 0 0 0 acres assigned to breadstuffs would be got ready.
This
would, roughly, be 2 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 acres above the 1 9 1 6 area. N o very
reliable estimate could be given of the increased production by small
growers, b u t it was conjectured t h a t there had been an addition of
3 0 0 , 0 0 0 tons of potatoes, and 3 0 0 , 0 0 0 tons of other vegetables from
t h a t source in 1 9 1 7 , aud it was hoped to increase this total to
1 , 0 0 0 , 0 . 0 0 tons in 1 9 1 8 .
Mr. Munro dealt with t h e position in Scotland, where t h e aim
was to plough b y 1 9 1 8 , 3 5 0 , 0 0 0 acres above t h e 1 9 1 6 area. Of this
amount, 50,000 acres h a d been obtained in 1 9 1 7 . The realisation
of t h e complete programme was contingent on t h e supply of soldier
labour of good quality, of superphosphates, and of an adequate
staff a t the Board of Agriculture.
Mr. D u k e said -that in Ireland the output in 1 9 1 7 above t h a t of­
1916
had been 1 , 7 5 0 , 0 0 0 tons of potatoes a n d 5 3 6 , 0 0 0 tons of
cereals. The increase in acreage for these crops had been 6 0 0 , 0 0 0 .
I n 1 9 1 8 it was hoped t h a t t h e increase would be, a t least, 1 , 2 0 0 , 0 0 0
acres. There were signs t h a t t h e Sinn Feiners were t u r n i n g from
active rebellion to a policy of holding up crops, but, so far, this
movement had not been serious except in t w o counties.
Labour
Requirements.
8. Sir A r t h u r Lee said t h e agricultural programme could
only b e carried out if the urgent minimum requirements specified in
the Memorandum ( G . T . - 2 7 6 7 ) were fully and promptly met. The
most u r g e n t need a t t h e moment was for skilled ploughmen, of
whom 8 , 5 0 0 in all were required.
There were 1 , 0 0 0 in sight from
t h e Army in France, and it was hoped to draw 1 , 0 0 0 from German
prisoners now iu this country. The D e p a r t m e n t could place 1 , 0 0 0
skilled ploughmen a week, as t h e horses and harness required were
now in sight. H e understood a second 1 . 0 0 0 , withdrawn from t h e
army in F r a n c e would soon be available.
Mr. Munro said it \\ ould not be possible in Scotland to r e t u r n
to t h e a r m y a n y of t h e men lent to the farmers. As to additional
labour, 1 , 0 0 0 men n e x t spring would suffice. These should be, if
possible, skilled agriculturists, and in any case they should be able­
bodied,
Mr. D u k e said t h a t there was a constant flow from Ireland of
from 5 0 0 to 1 , 0 0 0 labourers weekly, attracted bv high wages on this
side. They were, therefore, very near bedrock in Ireland, and had
no skilled ploughmen to spare.
Sir Auckland Geddes said . there were perhaps 1 , 0 0 0 skilled
ploughmen in the New Zealand Reserves, who could, he understood,
be loaned for t w o and a half months. The N e w Zealand military
authorities were willing t o lend t h e m on furlough. I n D e n m a r k
there were from 3 , 0 0 0 to 5,000 deserters from t h e German A r m y now
out of work. They were natives of Schleswig-Holstein, and among
them were some of the best farmers in Europe. T h e W a r Office was
raising no objection to their removal, nor was t h e Foreign Office,
subject t o the approval of the Danish Government, b u t it
was necessary to arrange tonnage with t h e Shipping Controller,
and to obtain particulars from the Food Production D e p a r t m e n t as
to the farms to which these men could be sent. They would be
under t h e Alien Restriction Act and Orders, and t h e r e would be no
necessity to provide guards.
In Denmark there were between
2 0 , 0 0 0 a n d 2 2 , 0 0 0 unemployed Danes.
Probably m a n y of these b a d
had some experience of t h e land as small-holders; others were b u t t e r
and margarine makers. H e gathered from t h e Ministry of Labour
that there would not be any Trade Union difficulties in connection
with their employment in agriculture.
German Prisoners.
9. Sir A r t h u r Lee pointed out t h a t it was essential t h a t t h e
W^ar Office and t h e Prisoners of W a r Committee should agree to
relax t h e regulations for guarding and accommodating German
prisoners, if t h e maximum a d v a n t a g e was to be obtained from their
employment.
General Macready said the W a r Office was quite prepared to­
make t h e necessary relaxations, provided t h e W a r Cabinet was
prepared t o meet t h e criticism which always arose from t h e H o u s e of
Commons and in the press when a prisoner escaped. U p to t h e
present only one officer and two men had got away from t h e
country.
Lord Derby said he was quite willing t h a t the prisoners should
go out in twos and threes to farmers, but i t was impossible to have
tiny camps all over t h e country. Surveillance could be left to t h e
local police, and weekly reports could be obtained as to t h e conduct
of the prisoners.
Sir Auckland Geddes urged t h a t there should be an industrial
census t a k e n of t h e German prisoners in France and this country
similar to t h a t which has been t a k e n in the Home forces, a n d t h a t ,
as t h e ploughmen were discovered, t h e y should be sent in batches to
be employed on the land.
Mr. Hope said t h a t as far as t h e prisoners in the U n i t e d K i n g d o m
were concerned, instructions to this effect h a d been given months
ago b y t h e . P r i s o n e r s of W a r Employment Committee, b u t t h e y
apparently had not been carried out.
The Wax Cabinet decided t h a t —
(a.) The restrictions affecting German prisoners loaned to farmers
could be relaxed . as far as safely t h o u g h t possible, t h e
details to be arranged by t h e Departments concerned.
(b.) A trade index of t h e German prisoners should be made, a n d
skilled ploughmen released in batches as discovered.
1
Fertilisers.
10. Sir A r t h u r Lee s t a t e d t h a t t h e consumption o f s u l p h a t e of
ammonia for munition purposes was now expected t o be greater
t h a n previously contemplated, and t h a t t h e r e was a prospective
deficiency of 4 0 , 0 0 0 tons in t h e supplies available for food production.
A s regards superphosphates, the Cabinet h a d decided t h a t 5 0 , 0 0 0
tons per m o n t h of p h o s p h a t e rock should be imported into this
country for t h e five months 1 s t J u n e t o 3 1 s t October. Only 1 4 9 , 0 0 0
tons have so far been imported instead o f 2 5 0 , 0 0 0 t o n s . Sir A r t h u r
Lee pointed out t h e serious effect o f these deficiencies o n t h e future
food supplies of t h e country.
Tractor Transport
and Fuel.
11. Sir A r t h u r Lee called attention to the prolonged delays
which have occurred in the delivery of tractors and other machinery
ordered by the Department last spring, and to the importance of
p r o v i d i n g adequate supplies of fuel and spare parts for all agricul­
t u r a l machinery, whether privately owned or in the h a n d s of the
Department.
Facilities for the provision of steam tackle and
additional equipment were also urgently required.
Mr. Long said that the oil situation had improved wdthin the
last week a n d w as now somewhat more secure. H e hoped i t would
be possible to supply all the oil required for agricultural p u r p o s e s .
T h e W a r Cabinet instructed—
r
T h e Secretary to call the attention of the Minister of Munitions
a n d the S h i p p i n g Controller to the position as described
by the Director-General of Food Production, a n d to the
importance of expediting the s h i p m e n t of machinery from
America and of g r a n t i n g the other facilities to manufac­
t u r e r s of steam tackle and e q u i p m e n t now asked for.
A c c o m m o d a t i o n for
the Food
Production
Department.
1 2 . Sir A r t h u r Lee stated that his Department was i n u r g e n t
need of further staff accommodation of about thirty to forty rooms.
H e did not press for a b r a i d i n g in Whitehall, as he knew that the
Office of W o r k s had w-ell-nigh exhausted the possibilities in t h a t
district.
T h e W a r Cabinet decided t h a t —
T h e F i r s t Commissioner of W o r k s should be requested to
provide the accommodation referred to as soon as possible,
b u t i n his efforts to meet the d e m a n d s for new accom­
modation now b e i n g made, should inform Departments
t h a t they m u s t be prepared, if necessary, to t a k e offices
at some distance from Whitehall.
Food P r i c e s i n
1918.
13. T h e W a r Cabinet requested—
T h e Food Controller to make an announcement at t h e earliest
possible moment of the official prices for next year's grain,
potatoes, and milk.
Departmental
E x p e n d i t u r e on
Food P r o d u c t i o n .
14. I n response to a request from Sir A r t h u r Lee to be allowed
by the T r e a s u r y a reasonable latitude in i n c u r r i n g minor expendi-.
t u r e on t h e Agricultural Programme, the Chancellor of t h e E x c h e ­
quer undertook to consider any representations made to h i m on the
subject.
Staff of B o a r d of
Agriculture
(Scotland).
15. The Chancellor of t h e Exchequer took note of representations made by Mr. Munro on behalf of t h e Scottish Board of
Agriculture for an increase of staff.
Allotments.
16. D r . Addison called a t t e n t i o n to t h e insecurity felt over t h e
country b y t h e men who, in order to increase t h e food supply, h a d
undertaken t h e cultivation of small patches of ground under t b e
Cultivation of Land Act. I t was not necessary to raise a t this
juncture questions of ownership or saleable interests, b u t only t o
safeguard t h e liberty to cultivate and provide security of tenure
during t h e war.
I t w a s suggested t h a t a public official s t a t e m e n t might meet
the case.
(No decision was come to.)
S u p p l y of M i l k for
Young Children a n d
Mothers.
17. T h e W a r
documents :—
Cabinet
had
before
them
the
following
Memorandum by t h e Food Controller (Paper G.-T. 2861).
Second Interim Report of t h e Committee on t h e Production a n d
Distribution of Milk (Paper G.T.-2877).
R e p o r t bv t h e Food ( W a r ) Committee of t h e Royal Society
(Paper G.T.-2899).
Notes on Lord Rhondda's Memorandum b y t h e Chairman of the
Committee on t h e Production and Distribution of Milk
( P a p e r G.T.-2898).
Memorandum on Milk Production in 1918-19, by Major Waldorf
Astor (Paper G.T.-2897).
Note by t h e Medical D e p a r t m e n t of t h e Board of Education
( P a p e r G.T.-2955).
I t w a s pointed out t h a t there were serious objections to t h e
principle of subsidising recommended by t h e Food Controller, and
doubts were thrown on t h e e x t e n t and urgency of t h e need for cheap
milk, in view of t h e high wages now so widely prevailing.
Mr. H a y e s Fisher said h e would not object if t h e scheme were
confined t o necessitous children, and if suitable machinery was used
to discover t h e m .
Major W a l d o r f Astor said t h a t there w a s n o milk famine a t
present, b u t there undoubtedly was bad distribution. His Committee
were in favour of a n y proposal t o supply cheap or, if need be, free
milk to necessitous children. They believed t h a t this could be
done b y —
(a.) Empowering t h e S a n i t a r y Authorities t o give, or sell
a t reduced prices, milk to necessitous children under
school age, t h e necessary grants being made partly out
of Exchequer g r a n t s and partly out of local r a t e s ;
(6.) B y the more general feeding of children of school age under
the Provision of Meals Act, if and where this ' was
necessary.
Mr. H e r b e r t Fisher said t h a t his Department agreed
Major Astor's report.
The W a r Cabinet decided—
with
To accept t h e recommendations of t h e Committee on t h e
Production and Distribution of Milk, as s e t forth above by
t h e Chairman.
Oat; for Ho.s .s
Engaged in Winter
"' '
s
5
; M v
18. T h e W a r Cabinet h a d before them a memorandum by
R h o n d d a (G.T.-2929) in which he expressed his view t h a t not
a single pound of oats should be allowed to racing horses, having
regard to t h e very grave shortage of cereals with which t h e country
is threatened.
Lord PJiondda drew a t t e n t i o n to the serious effect t h a t allowing
a ration of oats to horses engaged in steeplechasing would have upon
public opinion in the United States of America.
On t h e other hand, i t was pointed out t h a t it was impossible
entirely to prevent racing in E n g l a n d if it were allowed t o continue
in Ireland, where it could not be stopped. I t was also s t a t e d t h a t
horse-racing is still carried on in Germany.
The W a r Cabinet authorised—
The Food Controller to issue licences t o allow horses engaged in
fixtures, agreed by the Board of Trade, to receive a ration
of o a t s ; the ration to be 15 lb. a d a y each for a number of
horses not exceeding 500, a n d the period of the ration not
t o extend beyond t h e middle of April.
Shelling of F u n c h a l .
19. The First Sea Lord reported t h a t 2 enemy submarines had
shelled Funchal, Madeira, at daybreak on t h e 12 th instant, 3 persons
being killed and 17 wounded.
Slight d a m a g e was done to t h e
town.
Bombing Eaid.
20. The First Sea Lord stated t h a t a bombing raid had been
carried out o n . t h e night of the 11-12th on Bruges Lock, 2g tons of
bombs being dropped'. One of our machines is missing.
Submarines.
2 1 . The F i r s t Sea Lord informed the W a r Cabinet t h a t ­
(a.) A motor-launch ran over an enemy submarine, submerged
in t h e vicinity of t h e Lizard, on the 12th instant. The
submarine rose to the surface and the motor-launch
attacked her with gunfire, but was unable to use d e p t h
charges owing to having carried away her propeller-shaft
and rudder.
(6.) Explosions had occurred in the deep mine field in t h e
vicinity of the Folkestone Gate, which indicated t h e
possible loss of an enemy submarine.
Enemy Naval
A c t i v i t y iii t h e
N o r t h Sea.
22. The F i r s t Sea Lord reported t h a t information had been
received t h a t , on t h e 12th instant, enemy destroyers had attacked a
Danish steamer off Longstone and a fishing vessel off t h e Tyne, t h e
destroyers being accompanied by an airship. A report has since been
received which indicated t h a t it was possible t h a t t h e enemy vessels
were submarines and not destroyers. The presence of an airship was
doubtful.
A t t a c k on a
Convov.
23. The First Sea Lord informed t h e W a r Cabinet t h a t a
convoy of 6 ships, of.which 1 was British, 2 Norwegian, 2 Swedish,
and 1 Danish, under t h e escort of t h e destroyers " Partridge " and
" Pellew " and 4 trawlers, had been attacked by 4 enemy destroyers
about 34 miles off the coast of N o r w a y a t a b o u t 1 P.M. on t h e
12th instant. Full particulars of t h e action had not yet been
received, b u t it was understood t h a t the " P a r t r i d g e " had been
sunk and t h a t t h e " Peliew " had reached Norwegian waters, being­
towed in by a Norwegian torpedo-boat, her engines being out of
action. The convoy was s t a t e d by t h e commanding officer of t h e
" Pellew " to have scattered when t h e attack took place, b u t no news
h a d yet been received as t o whether the convoy had arrived in
Norwegian ports, although enquiries were being made to t h a t end.
The Admiral a t Longhope h a d reported, however, t h a t t h e convoy
had been destroyed.
The F i r s t Sea Lord indicated t h a t t h e r e was a British force-of
two light cruisers and four destroyers 40 miles off when t h e action
took place, also a light cruiser squadron t o the southward, b u t they
had been unable to intercept the enemy, who had presumably
slipped through during t h e night.' As regards t h e protection of convoys in future, Admiral Jeliicoe
stated t h a t there were two courses open to us : one was to send the
convoys on a far northerly course, so t h a t t h e enemy would not be.
able t o take advantage of the dark hours to evade our patrols, but
this would double the length of t h e voyage ; t h e other was, to run
t h e risk of having b a t t l e cruisers, cruisers or light cruisers in close
touch with t h e convoy. If this latter course were adopted the
enemy would obtain information of our movements and wouid
undoubtedly concentrate submarines to a t t a c k them, and we had
not a sufficient number of destroyers available to provide the
requisite screen. The question was under consideration. The First
Sea Lord indicated the very slight amount of help in the provision
of destroyers which we might expect to receive from t h e U n i t e d
States in t h e near future.
The W a r Cabinet discussed t h e question of mentioning t h e
engagement and possible loss, by the First Lord in t h e statement on
shipping m a t t e r s which he was t o make to the House in the
afternoon, and decided t h a t —
!;
A s t h e information at present received was so uncertain, no
particulars should be announced pending fuller data being
forthcoming.
The Western Front.
2 4 . The Chief of t h e Imperial General Staff informed t h e W a r
Cabinet t h a t two more German divisions had been transferred
from Flanders to the Cambrai region. H e added t h a t the fighting
a t Bullecourt had been severe. Two a t t a c k s had heen made by
t h e enemy a t dawn, after heavy artillery preparafion, but both
attacks h a d been beaten off with heavy losses to the enemy, only a
small portion of trench being lost by us.
T h e I n v a s i o n of
Italy :
2 5 . The Chief of t b e Imperial General Staff stated t h a t he h a d
received information from General Plumer t c the effect t h a t t h e
Italian commander was satisfied with t h e results of t h e recent fighting
on the Italian front.
The Italian
Command.
2 6 . The Chief of the Imperial General Staff stated t h a t be h a d
received a telegram from General Foch informing him t h a t t h e
Italians were raising t h e question of exercising more control over
the French force in Italy, and asking whether he was prepared to
adopt t h e principle of complete Italian command over the French
and British contingents. General Robertson read t o t h e W a r
Cabinet t h e original instructions given to General Plumer.
The W a r Cabinet held t h e view t h a t , at this stage, it was
unnecessary to consider t h e question, more particularly as General
Diaz, who was in command of the Italian troops, was an u n t r i e d
m a n ; but t h a t if t h e Italians raised t h e question a t a later d a t e ,
after t h e abilities of General Diaz had been proved, t h e m a t t e r would
be fully considered. They therefore authorised—
. . The Chief of t h e . Imperial General Staff to inform General
Foch t h a t the W a r Cabinet did not a t /present - propose
to make any alteration in t h e existing instructions.
WC 297
9
6
Palestine. .
' ' '
-'!':
-
. 2 7 . The Chief of the Imperial General Staff asked t o be informed
of t h e wishes of t h e W a r Cabinet in connection with t h e preparation
of a report which he had been asked to make, relative to an advance in
Palestine, based generally on t h e telegram that;was sent to General
Allenby in accordance with t h e Cabinet's directions ( W a r Cabinet 2 9 6 ,
Minute 5 ) .
The W a r Cabinet decided that—The General Staff should submit for consideration a project for
for carrying out t h e following alternative policies: —
(a.) Complete t h e conquest of t h e whole of Palestine, and
hold t h e country for the remainder of the war.
(6.) Continue t h e advance t h r o u g h Palestine and Syria to
t h e vicinity of Aleppo, so as permanently t o
interrupt railway communication with Mesojio­
tarnia.
For the purposes of (a) Palestine to be considered as embracing
t h e whole country between Beersheba and Dan.
Guns for Italy.
2 8 . W i t h reference to W a r Cabinet 2 9 4 , Minute 6 , the Chief of
t h e Imperial General Staff informed t h e W a r Cabinet that it had
been his intention to send from E g y p t to General Plumer two batteries
of 6-inch howitzers out of those now in reserve a t Alexandria, a s
he was of opinion t h a t General Allenby had a t his disposal a t present
more howitzers than he had occasion to use.
- As t h e weather on t h e W e s t e r n front m a y be expected in t h e
near future to prevent any large offensive operations in t h a t quarter,
and also bearing in mind the difficulty of providing; the requisite
shipping for t h e transfer of these batteries from E g y p t , and t h e
possible need of sending t h e m back in t h e event of an extended
advance in Palestine, the W a r Cabinet decided that—Before t h e military authorities took any action for the removal
of these guns, General Allenby should be asked if he will
require the same in t h e event of his carrying out further
operations.
Naval Allied
Council.
2 9 . I n continuation of W a r Cabinet 2 9 0 , Minute 1 2 , t h e W a r
Cabinet had under further consideration the question of the publica­
tiori of an abridged communication in regard to the Naval Allied
Council.
-,
The W
Cabinet held t h e opinion t h a t i t was essential t h a t t h e
Council should have for their assistance and
W4 ^
* their deliberations t h e services of an experienced naval
officer, n o t necessarily of high rank, with t h e " sea sense," who was
fully acquainted with naval policv and the means by which it was
best possi Lie to carry out t h e same.
The W a r Cabinet were averse to the creation of a new and
independent body to deal with naval matters only, and desired e^me
organisation t h a t would in any case act as a connecting link between
the Military and Naval Councils, i n view of the need for co-operation
t h a t frequently arises between t h e two services in t h e many opera­
tions of war.
I t was mentioned t h a t the Prime Minister had stated in the
House of Commons t h a t a British naval representative would be
a t t a c h e d to General Wilson, and it was suggested t h a t if we h a d
a representative She French and Italians would also wish t o
appoint one of their naval officers.
The First Lord stated t h a t the Admiralty had proposed to detail
t h e British N a v a l Liaison Officer in Paris as Liaison Officer between
a r
f p^^cyr^i^JlJ^ik^
'
friW^
u
a
n
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e
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*
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Y
t h e Admiralty a n d t h e ^ f c t e r - A l l h ^ - ^
Council, and t h a t
General Wilson h a d been asked if such a course would be agreeable
to him. Sir Uric Geddes added t h a t t h e Military Council, t h r o u g h
t h e Liaison Officer, would be able to acquire a n y further information
or opinion t h a t t h e y m i g h t desire. T h e F i r s t Lord pointed out t h a t ,
from a naval point of view, t h e efforts, & c , of t h e Allies were not
' comparable to those which prevailed from t h e military aspect. I n
the main t h e a t r e of naval warfare t h e Americans and ourselves pro­
vided t h e whole of t h e Allied force which was working u n d e r t h e
British Admiralty, whilst in t h e Mediterranean the whole of t h e Allied
naval force was under t h e command of t h e French Commander-inChief. The Allies had arranged t h a t , as a general rule, t h e meetings
of t h e Allied Naval Council would be held in London—not in F r a n c e —
under t h e presidency of the F i r s t Lord of t h e Admiralty, t h e per­
m a n e n t staff being located in London under Admiralty control.
The F i r s t Sea Lord s t a t e d t h a t he had frequent conversations
with t h e Chief of t h e Imperial General Staff, but t h a t t h e y nearly
/L^a^^-9v)J&jD H related t o t h e provision of escort, a n d he t h o u g h t it possible t h a t
c4jum^-^ Ar ^/L- ^^fe^-^^ ^ " ^^ ^ ^ "MrHtajy-) Council needed a shipping expert even
more t h a n a naval expert, except for certain special operations.
T h e W a r Cabinet r e q u e s t e d —
a
c
n
cr
j:
l
C(
t
T h e First Lord to confer w i t h t h e F i r s t Sea Lord, and t o report
as to^tlie practicabilitY of appointing a suitable naval
"officer to t h e staff of thef^Inter-Allied Military)Council, such
'*tl oiiic-f r jing a
associated with the Allied Naval Council.
The issue of t h e abridged s t a t e m e n t to the press simultaneously
with t h e other parties to t b e agreement was approved.
2, Whitehall Gardens,
S.W.,
December 13, 1917.
o