M. BRIAND'S PLANS WELL ADVANCED.

Colonist, Volume LVIII, Issue 14284, 13 December 1916, Page 5

M. BRIAND'S PLANS WELL ADVANCED.

MR. LLOYD GEORGE'S AIM CLOSELY FOLLOWED.

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association)

(Received Dec 12, 8.50 p.m.) • ■ London, Dec. J2.' The "Daily Chronicle's" Paris correspondent says M. Briand'&• plan of concentrating the conduct of the war in a small Cabinet is well advanced. He has been busy for several days conferring with prominent politicians aid commercial and industrial persona iities, and is endeavouring to complete the negotiations at the earliest possible moment.

It is expected that the War Council will be similar in its aims and powers to Mr Lloyd George's Cabinet, facilitating constant communication between Britain and France.

M. Briand will probably radically reform the administrative departmen.-s and modernise their methods with a view to efficient co-operation in tfce prosecution of the war. Each head will have almost absolute authority, subject to the War Cabinet's direction.

Several important departments, including Commerce, Public Works, Transport, and the Post Office, are likely to be amalgamated as a Ministry of Supplies. The changes will reduce the Government from twenty-two to eleven.