CONSIDERED IMPRACTICAL

Evening Star, Issue 22261, 12 February 1936, Page 9

CONSIDERED IMPRACTICAL

BRITISH MINISTRY OF DEFENCE PRIVATE MEMBER'S BILL (British Official Wireless.) Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright RUGBY, February 11. (Received February 12, at noon.) A private member’s Bill for ' the creation of a Ministry of Defence will come up for the second rending in the > House of Commons on Friday. The Bill proposes that the Ministry should, consist of the principal Secretary of State, who should be president of a Defence Council, and the Secretary of State and Under-Secretary for each of the three service departments —the Admiralty, the War’ Office, and the Air Ministry—for purposes connected with the development and maintenance of the three fighting services in an up-to-date and efficient condition. The Ministry of Defence would be responsible to the Government for the proper consideration of all strategical and tactical questions bearing on the defence of the realm, and for the proper equipment of all arms of the three fighting and defence services. Among other provisions the Bill empowers the Government to appoint such representatives of the dominions as their Prime Minister may select to sit upon the council. It is expected that after Ml discussion of the objects of the Bill it will be withdrawn before a division on the second reading is challenged. Cabinet, at its weekly meeting tomorrow, will probably decide the attitude which it will assume towards the rne,f The Times ’ understands that the Government, while it agrees that closer co-operation and co-ordination _ than exist at present are desirable, is convinced that the creation of a special Ministry is impractical.