46.
Mr. Sloss said that even envisaging 1947 as the date for restarting his searches in London had convinced him of the necessity of deciding as soon as possible on the equipment required. Very little was available and there were many competitive buyers. Money (perhaps from the Treasury) would be needed for this purpose and therefore some kind of estimate of the cost of what would be the barest essentials for the re-opening of the University. Would it be possible for the Committee to appoint a mall sub- committee to take up that question, to save time?
The Committee agreed but thought the enquiry could best be left to Mr. Sloss himself with such expert assistance as could be obtained and various suggestions were made as to people who might be able and willing to assist.
47. The Chairman then summed up by asking whether the Committee agreed.
(1) That they would like to see the University
restarted in such a way as to carry out the purposes of the original founders interpreted in modern terms.
(2) That they considered that in view of the incomplete but sufficient data brought out during the afternoon, it was not practicable to re-start the University, (except perhaps as on a makeshift basis which they wished to avoid), by September next,
(3) That in view of the last point, they should defer for the time being asking for further data.
(4) That at the next meeting they should proceed with Dr. Priestley's "Stage 1" that is to say face systematically the difficulties likely to stand in the way of putting into effect the wish expressed in (1) above.
(5) That only very brief minutes should be circulated recording decisions reached in Committee.
THE COMMITTEE AGREED.
The meeting ended at 4.4 45 p.m.