IMPERIAL WAR CABINET

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23997, 21 June 1941, Page 10

IMPERIAL WAR CABINET

Suggestions heard from time to time that an Imperial War Cabinet should be set up have found a warm champion in Sir Evelyn Wrench, who is at present in New Zealand. In advocating it, he referred to the precedent of the last war. The Imperial War Cabinet which then sat was summoned by a direct invitation Mr. Lloyd George issued on Christmas Day, 1910. Had the war not intervened there would have been an Imperial Conference in 1915, but it was postponed. Then, to deal with a war situation that had grown increasingly complex, and to consider decisions which might vitally affect the Dominions, the War Cabinet idea was conceived. It met toward the end of March, 1917. The personnel consisted of the five members of the British War Cabinet, the Prime Ministers of the Dominions, and a representative from India. As with all meetings of Cabinet, the proceedings were secret and no detailed report of what happened

was ever issued ; but, addressing the House of Commons in May, 1917, Mr. Lloyd George said: "The British Cabinet became, for the (ime being, an Imperial War Cabinet. While it was in session its overseas members had access to all Ihe information which was at Ihe disposal of Uis Majesty's Government, and occupied a status of absolute equality with that of the members of the British War Cabinet It, came to decisions which wil' enable us to prosecute the war with increased unity and vigour." It was therefore proposed that there should he a meeting every year, and th» Imperial War Cabinet did, in fact, assemble again in 1918, not long before the Armistice came. This is, in brief, the precedent to which eyes have been turned now the Empire is again involved in war.