(c) crown copyright

Catalogue Reference:CAB/23/9 Image Reference:0039

[This Document is.the Property of His Britannic Majestys Government]

Printed for the War Cabinet. April 1919 .

S E C R E T

27 W A R C A B I N E T , 5 5 2 .

Minutes of a Meeting of the War Cabinet held at 10, Downing Street, S.W., on Monday, March 3 1 , 1919 , at 12 noon.

P r e s e n t :

The R i g h t Hon . A. B O N A R L A W , M .P . (in the Chair).

The R i g h t Hon. the Earl C U R Z O N OF The R i g h t Hon. A . C H A M B E R L A I N , MVP. K E D L E S T O N , K . G . , C C S . I . , C C . I . E .

The following were also present :

Tbe R i g h t Hon. the Viscount M I L N E R , The R i g h t Hon. S i r A. C. G E D D E S , K .C .B . , G . C . B . , G . C . M . G . , S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for M . P . , Min i s te r of Reconstruct ion a n d t h e Colonies. Nat iona l Service .

The R i g h t Hon. W . . S . C H U R C H I L L , M . P . , Vice-Admira l S . R. F R E M A N T L E , C .B . , S ec r e t a r y of S t a t e for W a r . Deputy Chief of the N a v a l Staff (for

The R i g h t Hon. Lord E R N L E , M.V.O., Minute 3 ) . P re s iden t of the Board of Ag r i cu l t u r e The R i g h t Hon. S i r R. S . H O R N E , K .B .E . , and F isher ies (for Minutes 4 and 5 ) . K . C , M .P . , Min i s te r of Labour (for

The R i g h t Hon. Vi scount G O S C H E X , Minute 4). C.B.E. , Control ler , Labour Division, The R ight Hon. S i r J . M A C L A Y , B a r t . , Food Product ion Depar tment (for Min is te r of Sh ipp ing (for Minutes 5, 6, Minute 4 ) . and 7).

The R i g h t Hon. S i r A . M O N D , Bar t . , M . P . , The R i g h t Hon. R . M U N R O , K .C . , M . P . , F i r s t Commissioner of W o r k s (for Sec r e t a r y for Scot l and (for M i n u t e 4 ) . Minute 5 ) . The R i g h t Hon. Lord I N V E R F O R T H ,

S i r A . D U R R A N T , M.V.O. , H.M. Office of Min i s t e r of Munit ions (for Minute 5). W o r k s (for Minu t e 5).

Mr. T H O M A S J O N E S , Acting Secretary.

Mr. P E M B R O K E W I C K S , Assistant Secretary.

Lieutenant -Co lone l L. S T O R E , C.B., Assistant Secretary. Mr. G : M. E V A N S , Assistant Secretary.

C a p t a i n L. F. B U R G I S , Assistant Secretary.

[ 8 2 6 ] - 4 4 4

Equipment for Eoumania.

Utilisation of National Factories.

Allied Policy inRussia.

1. W i t h r e f e r e n c e tq W a r C a b i n e t 550, M i n u t e 1, t h e W a r C a b i n e t took note of M r . B a l f o u r ' s t e l e g r a m No. 570 , d a t e d t h e 2 6 t h i n s t a n t , w h i c h s t a t e d t h a t , a t a m e e t i n g w i t h M . C l emenceau , P r e s i d e n t W i l s o n , a n d S i g n o r O r l a n d o on the p r e v i o u s d a y , M r . L l o y d George , who w a s a c c o m p a n i e d by the, D i r e c t o r of M i l i t a r y I n t e l l i g e n c e , a g r e e d t h a t t h e b a l a n c e of e q u i p m e n t o r i g i n a l l y d e s t i n ed fo r G e n e r a l D e n e k i n shou ld be sent to R o u m a n i a . T h i s b a l a n c e w a s s a i d to a m o u n t to se t s of c lo th ing a n d e q u i p m e n t for 150 ,000 men .

2. W i t h r e f e r e n c e to W a r C a b i n e t 543, M i n u t e 2, the W a r C a b i n e t took note of a M e m o r a n d u m by the M i n i s t e r of M u n i ­t ions , on the sub j e c t of t h e u t i l i s a t i o n of N a t i o n a l F a c t o r i e s ( P a p e r G . T . - 7 0 2 5 ) .

3. T h e W a r M e m o r a n d a : —

C a b i n e t h a d before t h e m t h e fo l low ing

(a.) b y L o r d(&.) b y t h e

C u r z o n ( P a p e r G . T . - 7 0 3 5 ) . C h i e f of t h e I m p e r i a l G e n e r a l Staff

( P a p e r P . - 1 1 1 A ) .

M r . B o n a r L a w r e f e r r e d to a r epor t w h i c h h a d a p p e a r e d i n the p re s s t h a t m o r n i n g of a speech m a d e by t h e F r e n c h TJnder-S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for W a r i n the C h a m b e r of D e p u t i e s , r e f e r r i n g to the forces on t h e M u r m a n coast a n d i n the S o u t h of R u s s i a , f rom w h i c h he quo ted the f o l l o w i n g e x t r a c t : —

" T h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r h a s a u t h o r i z e d m e to t e l l you t h a t he w o u l d be f a l s e to h i s p a s t a t t i t u d e i f he p roposed s e n d i n g a n e x p e d i t i o n to R u s s i a . F r o m to-day , n o t a m a n w i l l go to R u s s i a , a n d those who a r e s e r v i n g t h e r e a r e b e i n g r e l i e v e d . "

T h e A c t i n g S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for F o r e i g n A f f a i r s s a i d tha t , w h e n the m a t t e r h a d l a s t been before the W a r Cab ine t , i t h a d been dec ided t h a t our po l i c y shou ld be to p r e s s for the e a r l y e v a c u a t i o n of M u r m a n s k a n d A r c h a n g e l . S i nce t h a t dec i s ion h a d been r e a c h e d the B r i t i s h Commis s ione r a t A r c h a n g e l h a d f u r n i s h e d h i s v i e w s on the s u b j e c t of the p roposed e v a c u a t i o n , w h i c h he h a d br ie f l y s u m m a r i s e d i n the P a p e r now before the Cab ine t . A p a r t f rom the m i l i t a r y a spec t of the s i t u a t i o n , i t wou ld be n e c e s s a r y for the A l l i e s to a r r a n g e fo r the r emova l of, a n d to find a d e s t i n a t i o n for, some 13,500 men of v a r i o u s n a t i o n a l i t i e s o ther t h a n F i n n s , Po les , E s t h o n i a n s , L e t t s a n d L i t h u a n i a n s , who , i t w a s to be hoped , cou ld e v e n t u a l l y be r e p a t r i a t e d to t h e i r o w n coun t r i e s . Secondly , t he r e w a s the ques­t i on of t h e a t t i t u d e to be a d o p t e d by the A l l i e s t o w a r d s the P r o ­v i s i o n a l Government . I n M r . L i n d l e y ' s v i e w w e w e r e bound to g i v e t h a t Gove rnmen t f a i r w a r n i n g . S u c h a not i f i ca t ion , con­veyed a t t h e p r e s e n t t ime , w o u l d h a v e effects w h i c h w o u l d r e ac t f a r beyond A r c h a n g e l . A t h i r d po in t w a s , — w a s i t poss ib le or d e s i r a b l e t o m a k e t e r m s w i t h t h e Bo l shev i k Gove rnment , w h i c h no doubt w o u l d b e g l a d to come to some a g r e e m e n t w i t h u s a n d to see the l a s t of our t roops . S u c h ac t ion , however , w o u l d r u n coun te r to the whole of our po l i c y h i the r to . I n M r . L i n d l e y ' s op in ion , t h e r i g h t t i m e for t h e e v a c u a t i o n to t a k e p l a c e w a s not now, bu t i n t h e a u t u m n . H e f u r t h e r r e commended t h a t 8 ,000 t roops shou ld be sent out i n o rde r to cover the e v a c u a t i o n a n d to l e t t he t i r e d m e n the r e r e t u r n home. H e f u r t h e r p o i n t e d out t h a t by the e v a c u a t i o n the f a t e of Esthonia , wou ld be sea l ed , a n d the d i s a s t r o u s effect t he a n n o u n c e m e n t of our dec i s ion w o u l d h a v e u p o n the v a r i o u s S t a t e s who w e r e co -ope r a t i ng w i t h u s i n f i gh t i ng t h e B o l s h e v i k s .

GOL. DALLY J O I J B S .

A B a : l 3 I S 'M %

i . - i t h s ? e f e r o i i e e t o t h e a i y e u s s i o j D . o n A l l i e d . £ ; o i X o y

i t a A n a o i a t h e h a r O&blttofe o a M o n d a y , Au2'civ i : l s t - * ,

t o t h e s t a t c j & c i i t . b y l . i io I r o a c h t t e $ e x ' iaoptv&li&xy o f

j f . , , t o f o r ' - . . a r t t o w h i c h lur hozxw h a w ^ e £ t ) B r e c i a t t h e

K - c e t i a g , t h e f o l l o w i n g ' m e s s a g e h a s b c £ ? n , r s c a l v f i a f r o m

t h e I - r i s i e A i r d s t e x ' ; ­

" :fix8 - - r i m e ; ; . i i v i ; r i ; o x a i d no t - a p p r o v e i s a k i s g o f t h i s B t ^ t o i f l c j i t b u t i t HQQB tn feot ^ e ^ r G s o x r t h i s ? s s t r c i s g . o p i n i o n , - a n t i t h e o p i n l o i L o f ' M B a o l l e & s p t o - s oxi t h o C o i m o - i l o x i ; ; , oui* . *­

Ai/i l i l 1 s t . 1 9 1 9

WC 552 T h e Chance l lo r of t he E x c h e q u e r e x p r e s s e d t h e v i e w t h a t w e

shou ld come to some a r r a n g e m e n t w i t h the Bo l shev i k Government. , i f we could, i n r e g a r d to the w i t h d r a w a l of our t roops , who w e r e in a s e r ious pos i t ion . I n r e g a r d to t h e s u g g e s t e d e v a c u a t i o n of t h o u s a n d s of men of o the r n a t i o n a l i t i e s , f e w of whom h a d neve r l i f t c d a f inger i n our suppor t , h e d i d not t h i n k t h a t w e we r e u n d e r a n y r e a l o b l i g a t i o n to do t h i s .

T h e D e p u t y Ch ie f of the N a v a l S taf f s a i d t h a t cons ide rab l e t roub le h a d been c au sed a t A r c h a n g e l by the behav iou r of c e r t a i n F r e n c h t roops who h a d been demob i l i s ed the re , 150 of whom w e r e now t inde r a r r e s t . H e s u g g e s t e d tha t i t w a s e q u a l l y u r g e n t for u s to dec ide our po l i cy i n r e g a r d to the B a l t i c S t a t e s . On a p r e ­v ious occas ion he h a d p o i n t e d out to the W a r C a b i n e t in w h a t a p e r i l o u s s i t u a t i o n our t roops t h e r e wou ld f ind themse lves when t h e ice broke .

T h e A c t i n g S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e f o r t F o r e i g n A f f a i r s expressed doubts as to the w i sdom of the po l i c y s u g g e s t e d by the Chance l l o r of the, Excheque r . A n y r e c o g n i t i o n of, or n e g o t i a t i o n s w i t h , even a p r o v i n c i a l Bo l shev ik Government wou ld g i v e cons ide rab le i m p e t u s to Bo l shev ik p r e s t i g e t h roughou t R u s s i a . W i t h r e g a r d to w h a t t h e D e p u t y C h i e f of t he N a v a l S taf f h a d s a i d about t h e B a l t i c S t a t e s , he h a d , in a c co rdance w i t h the recent W a r C a b i n e t dec i s ion , w r i t t e n a d e spa t ch on the sub jec t to M r . B a l f o u r w h i c h he wou ld c i r c u l a t e shor t l y , p r e s s i n g very s t r o n g l y for a dec i s ion of the A l l i e s i n r e g a r d to the po l i c y to be p u r s u e d i n t h a t q u a r t e r .

T h e W a r C a b i n e t d e c i d e d : —

(a.) T h a t the S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for W a r shou ld f u r n i s h a P a p e r g i v i n g p a r t i c u l a r s of the s teps the W a r Office h a d t a k e n a n d w e r e t a k i n g to p r e p a r e for t h e e v a c u a t i o n of our t roops a n d such f r i e n d l y i n h a b i ­t a n t s a s we m i g h t be u n d e r an o b l i g a t i o n to remove.

(.'&.) To resume the d i s cu s s ion as soon a s the W a r Office p r o g r a m m e h a d been c i r cu l a t ed .

T h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for W a r ( w h o en te r ed a t t h i s m o m e n t ) s a i d t h a t the announcemen t of the A l l i e d po l icy in t h e F r ench Chamber comple te l y compromised ou r pos i t ion in Nor th R u s s i a , a n d m i g h t g r a v e l y e n d a n g e r the l i v e s of our so ld iers , of whom t h e r e we r e some 13,000 i n t h a t t hea t r e . T h e r e w a s n o t h i n g to i n d i c a t e whe the r the s a i d announcement h a d been m a d e w i t h the a p p r o v a l of t h e B r i t i s h de l e g a t e s in P a r i s .

Eetention of Prisoners and Soldiers on the Land.

Soldiers.

4. W i t h r e f e r ence to W a r C a b i n e t 5 5 1 , M i n u t e 3, t h e W a r C a b i n e t h a d u n d e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n a M e m o r a n d u m by the P r e s i d e n t of the B o a r d of A g r i c u l t u r e a n d F i s h e r i e s ( P a p e r G . T . - 7 0 4 2 ) , a n d a M e m o r a n d u m by the S e c r e t a r y f o r S c o t l a n d ( P a p e r G . T . - 7 0 5 6 ) , on t h e s u b j e c t of t he r e t e n t i o n of p r i s o n e r s a n d so ld i e r s on the l a n d .

T h e P r e s i d e n t of the B o a r d of A g r i c u l t u r e s a i d t h a t , o w i n g to the b a d w e a t h e r of the l a s t f e w months , w o r k on t h e l a n d h a d been pos tponed . A l l f a r m i n g ope r a t i on s , such a s p l o u g h i n g a n d sowing , w o u l d be t a k i n g p l a c e f rom now o n w a r d s , e s p e c i a l l y du r ­i n g the n e x t two months . T h e p r e s e n t w a s a, b a d momen t to w i t h ­d r a w s o l d i e r s a n d p r i s o n e r s f rom the l a n d . A t t h i s t i m e of y e a r the A r m y g e n e r a l l y l ent a d d i t i o n a l men to f a r m e r s , i n s t e a d of t a k i n g m e n a w a y . T h e r e w e r e s t i l l e n g a g e d on t h e l a n d 27 , 000 so ld ie rs , 25 ,000 of w h o m t h e W a r Office w a n t e d for t h e A r m i e s of Occupa t ion . The f a r m e r s w o u l d only r e q u i r e them for t h e n e x t t w o months , a n d they could then be r e t u r n e d to the d u t i e s for w h i c h t h e W a r Office w a s k e e p i n g them.

M r . B o n a r L a w s a i d t h a t to r e t a i n so i l d i e r s in a g r i c u l t u r e wou ld be in opposit ion, to t h e d e c l a r e d po l i cy of t h e Government, to r e l e a s e f rom the A r m y a l l men w h o Avere not r e q u i r e d for t h e A r m i e s of Occupa t ion .

T h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for W a r s a i d t h a t i t w a s imposs ib l e to exe r c i s e t he power of en fo r c ing compu l sory m i l i t a r y s e rv i ce for the p u r p o s e of p r o v i d i n g a g r i c u l t u r a l l a b o u r . M e n who w e r e be ing k e p t i n the A r m y by the W a r Office we r e those who fu l f i l l ed , c e r t a i n cond i t ions a s r e g a r d s a g e a n d the t i m e a t w h i c h t h e y j o i n e d the se rv i ce . I t w a s not poss ib le to r e t a i n these m e n for a n y p u r ­. pose -except m i l i t a r y se rv ice . I f the re w a s a s u r p l u s , t he W a r Office wou ld have to cons ider the mod i f i ca t ion of the cond i t i ons u n d e r w h i c h they we r e r e t a i n e d . I t w a s i n t e n d e d to r e l e a s e f rom the A r m y a l l those who w e r e not r e q u i r e d for t h e A r m i e s of Occupa t ion .

T h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for the Co lon ies s u g g e s t e d t h a t , i f the 25 ,000 men who w e r e i n a g r i c u l t u r e w o u l d be k e p t i n a n y c a s e a s a m i l i t a r y reserve , t he r e w a s no r e a son why- t h e y shou ld not be emp loyed i n t h i s c o u n t r y i n s t e a d of be ing sent to T r a n c e .

T h e S e c r e t a r y fo r S c o t l a n d s a i d t h a t if the so ld i e r s cou ld be r e t a i n e d on the l a n d for t he n e x t two m o n t h s i t wou ld m a k e a g r e a t d i f fe rence to f a r m e r s . T h e W a r C a b i n e t shou ld cons ider the effect of t a k i n g these men a w a y upon the a g r i c u l t u r a l commun i t y . T h e announcemen t of t h e g u a r a n t e e d p r i c e s of ce rea l s , w h i c h w o u l d t a k e p l a c e i n the course of t h e nex t week , w o u l d r a i s e a s t o r m a m o n g s t f a r m e r s . I f a t the s ame t i m e so ld i e r s , whose w o r k m e a n t so much to the f a r m e r s , we r e w i t h d r a w n f rom the l a n d a t such a busy pe r iod as ' the presen t , t h e r e m i g h t be a g r e a t d e a l of' t roub le .

T h e Chance l lo r of the E x c h e q u e r p o i n t e d out t h a t the q u e s t i o n e n t a i l e d more t h a n t h e mere p rov i s ion of a g r i c u l t u r a l l a b o u r . T h e Government a t p r e s en t w e r e p a y i n g ou t -o f -work dona t ion to peop le who r e fused to t a k e work . There , wets a s h o r t a g e of m e n on t h e l and , a n d a t the same t ime we w e r e a s k e d to k e e p a n d p a y so ld i e r s for do ing w o r k wh i ch the people d r a w i n g u n e m p l o y m e n t dona t i on r e fu s ed to do . H e t h o u g h t i t w a s t i m e t h a t t he who l e ques t ion of the ou t -o f -work dona t ion shou ld be r econs ide red .

T h e W a r Cab ine t dec ided t h a t —

T h e w i t h d r a w a l of so ld i e r s f rom w o r k on the l a n d shou ld cont inue , but should proceed a s s low ly a s i s cons i s t en t w i t h our m i l i t a r y r e q u i r e m e n t s .

Prisoners of War. T h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for W a r , r e f e r r i n g to the r e q u e s t o l the B o a r d of A g r i c u l t u r e to be a l l o w e d to r e t a i n G e r m a n p r i s o n e r s of w a r on the l and , s a i d t h a t t h e W a r Office h a d no ob jec t ion to offer to t h i s course . H e t h o u g h t the m a i n ob j e c t i on s i n the c o u n t r y a n d t h e H o u s e of Commons w e r e to t h e i r r e t e n t i o n in i n d u s t r y . I n r e p l y to M r . B o n a r L a w , he s a i d t h a t h e h a d c e r t a i n l y a d v i s e d t h a t a l l p r i s o n e r s of w a r shou ld be r e t u r n e d to F r a n c e a s soon a s ­poss ib le , bu t he h a d proposed t h a t excep t ion shou ld be m a d e i n t h e case of those emp loyed in a g r i c u l t u r a l a n d l imes tone q u a r r i e s .

T h e M i n i s t e r of Recons t ruc t i on r e f e r r e d to a P a p e r ( G . T . - 7 0 2 2 ) w h i c h h e h a d c i r c u l a t e d on the s t a t e of t r a d e a n d emp loymen t i n S u s s e x , i n w h i c h a t t e n t i o n w a s c a l l ed to t h e u n r e s t occas ioned by the cont inued e m p l o y m e n t of p r i sone r s of w a r in t h a t coun t r y . T h i s cond i t ion of u n r e s t h a d been g r o w i n g s ince the d e c l a r a t i o n of po l i c y iby the S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for W a r t h a t

. p r i s o n e r s w o u l d be r e t u r n e d to F r a n c e . - T h e M i n i s t e r of L a b o u r a g r e e d w i t h t h e Chance l l o r of t h e

E x c h e q u e r t h a t the u n e m p l o y m e n t d o n a t i o n w a s a source of con­si de r ab l e a n x i e t y , a l t h o u g h i t w a s t r u e t h a t a cons ide rab l e r e d u c ­t ion h a d been m a d e for the second p e r i o d of p a y m e n t — i n t h e c a s e of m e n , f r o m 29s . to 20.s. a week , a n d , i n the case of women, f rom 25s . to 15s. a week . T h e l a ck of a g r i c u l t u r a l l a b o u r w a s a c c o u n t e d for i n some m e a s u r e b y the p r e v a i l i n g w a g e s cond i t ions . B e f o r e the W a r a n a g r i c u l t u r a l l abou r e r w a s e a r n i n g 18s. a week corn­p a r e d w i t h 20s . a w e e k e a r n e d by a r a i l w a y po r t e r in the s a m e d i s t r i c t . S i n c e then , r a i l w a y m e u s w a g e s h a d been i n c r e a s e d b y

33s . a week , but a g r i c u l t u r a l w a g e s b a d not i n c r e a s e d i n the s a m e propor t ion .

T h e E m p l o y m e n t E x c h a n g e s w e r e supposed to s c r u t i n i s e each a p p l i c a t i o n for u n e m p l o y m e n t dona t i ons , bu t t he vo lume of work l a i d upon them h a d become v e r y heavy , a n d i t w a s poss ib le t h a t i t h a d occas ioned i r r e g u l a r i t i e s in the g r a n t i n g of unemp loymen t dona t ions .

The W a r C a b i n e t dec ided t h a t —

F a r m e r s shou ld be p e r m i t t e d , for t he presen t , to r e t a i n G e r m a n p r i sone r s of w a r for w o r k on the l a n d .

Office Aecommoda- 5. W i t h r e fe rence to W a r C a b i n e t 471 ( 1 4 ) a n d W a r Cab ine t fcion and Demobili- 550 , M i n u t e 2 , t h e W a r C a b i n e t h a d u n d e r cons i d e r a t i on a note

s a t i o n - by L o r d C u r z c n ( P a p e r G . T . - 7 0 3 9 ) r e l a t i n g to office accommoda­t i on for t h e D e p a r t m e n t of Overseas T r a d e , toge the r w i t h M e m o r a n d a by t h e P r e s i d e n t of the B o a r d of A g r i c u l t u r e ( P a p e r G . T . - 6 8 6 4 ) , the F i r s t Commis s ione r of W o r k s ( P a p e r G . T . - 6 8 8 9 ) , a n d 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 . - 7 0 2 6 ) .

L o r d C u r z o n e x p l a i n e d t h a t i t h a d become v e r y nece s s a r y t h a t a d e q u a t e a ccommoda t ion for t he D e p a r t m e n t of "Overseas T r a d e shou ld be p r o v i d e d close to the F o r e i g n Office a n d the B o a r d of T r a d e . S i r A r t h u r S t e e l - M a i t l a n d ' s staff w a s w o r k i n g a t h i g h p r e s s u r e a n d u n d e r g r e a t d i f f icu l t ies , w i t h the r e s u l t t h a t t h e i r w o r k w a s suf fe r ing , a n d m a n y of t h e chief officials h a d broken down . T h e s taf fs of the. F o r e i g n Office a n d of S i r A r t h u r S tee l ­M a i t l a n d ' s d e p a r t m e n t were so ove rc rowded t h a t i t m i g h t be n e c e s s a r y a t some f u t u r e d a t e to a s k t h a t the Co lon i a l Office should be g i v e n over e n t i r e l y to house the se staffs .

T h e C h a n c e l l o r of t he E x c h e q u e r , i n r e p l y to a sugge s t i on by the F i r s t Commis s i one r of W o r k s t h a t new offices shou ld be e rec ted , s a i d t h a t t h e r e wou ld be the s t ronges t oppos i t ion in the H o u s e of Commons to the e rec t ion of a d d i t i o n a l b u i l d i n g s , w h i l e the p r e m i s e s s t i l l he ld by v a r i o u s d e p a r t m e n t s w e r e not be ing v a c a t e d . H e t h o u g h t the p r o p e r p rocedu r e w o u l d be to b r i n g p r e s s u r e on d e p a r t m e n t s to g i v e u p a l l the accommoda t ion nece s s a r y .

T h e F i r s t Commis s ione r of W o r k s s a i d tha t , i n h i s op in ion , the Gove rnmen t w o u l d have to come to a dec is ion to p u t u p new blocks of b u i l d i n g s . H e h a d a l r e a d y m a d e a p r e l i m i n a r y e x a m i n a t i o n of v a r i o u s s i tes , bu t t hough t t h a t i t w o u l d be nece s s a r y to s c r a p the b u i l d i n g s i n W h i t e h a l l G a r d e n s a n d M o n t a g u Blouse a n d to p u t u p a new and" modern block of offices which, wou ld house a cons ide r ab l e staff. W i t h r e g a r d to S i r A r t h u r S t e e l - M a i t l a n d ' s d e p a r t m e n t , he could not r e q u i s i t i o n p r e m i s e s for h i s staff, a s t hey were, not a w a r d e p a r t m e n t . ' H e w a s e x p e r i e n c i n g g r e a t d i f f icu l t ies in h o u s i n g staffs of Gove rnment d e p a r t m e n t s , b e c au s e i n a g r e a t m a n y d e p a r t m e n t s t h e r a t e of demob i l i s i ng c e r t a i n p a r t s of the staff w a s not e q u a l to t h e r a t e of increase , of o ther p a r t s . A t t h e s a m e t ime , he w a s c o n t i n u a l l y be ing met w i t h d e m a n d s for a ccommoda t ion w h i c h w a s r e q u i r e d u r g e n t l y . H e i n s t anced , in h i s connect ion, the occupa t i on o f c e r t a i n nouses i n P a l l M a l l by t h e E a s t e r n C o m m a n d . T h e W a r Office, however , h a d s a i d t h a t i t w a s nece s s a r y for the E a s t e r n C o m m a n d to be housed in those b u i l d i n g s .

M r . B o n a r L a w e n q u i r e d i f S i r A u c k l a n d Geddes h a d gone i n t o t h i s m a t t e r a t a l l ( W a r C a b i n e t 550 , M i n u t e 2 ) i

S i r A u c k l a n d G e d d e s po in t ed ou t tha t , i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h a t m i n u t e , he h a d p r e p a r e d a scheme, w h i c h he p roposed to a s k the T r e a s u r y to c a r r y out, for o b t a i n i n g a r e t u r n f rom a l l d e p a r t ­m e u t s of the n u m b e r s of t h e i r s ta f f s , a n d the p a r t i c u l a r w o r k t h a t each , w a s do ing , a n d a somewha t s i m i l a r scheme w i t h r e g a r d to

[ 8 2 6 - 4 4 4 1 C

M r . B o n a r L a w s a i d t h a t he t hough t the Government should a s s i s t a n ex - so ld i e r to e m i g r a t e , and , provided Lord Milner's proposa l s w e r e confined to ex - se rv ice men , for whom t h e D o m i n i o n s m a d e su i t ab l e p rov i s ion , he s a w no objection to their r e c e i v i n g W a r C a b i n e t a p p r o v a l .

T h e W a r C a b i n e t d e c i d e d t h a t —

S u b j e c t to the P r i m e M i n i s t e r s a p p r o v a l , free passages t o the Domin ions for ex - so ld ie r settlers should be p r o v i d e d .

Communications 8 . W i t h r e f e r e n c e to W a r C a b i n e t 525, M i n u t e 4, t h e W a r Board. C a b i n e t a p p r o v e d of the a p p o i n t m e n t of t h e H o n . S i r H e n r y

Norman , B a r t . , a s V i c e - C h a i r m a n of t h e C o m m u n i c a t i o n s Commi t t e e .

2 , Whitehall Gardens, S.W.1, March 3 1 . 1919.

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