CO129-502-7 China- general situation 4-3-1927 - 26-4-1927 — Page 188

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SIR WARREN FISHER expressed the opinion that the Report should be accepted as it stood, but that acceptance should be accompanied by a reaffirmation of the purely advisory functions of the Principal Supply Officers Committee in its future activities.

In the second place, he suggested that, in view of the fact that the Principal Supply Officers Committee were to be responsible for dealing with national resources and requirements of all kinds in their entirety, the position of Chairman should be held by a Cabinet Minister. In that connection the Board of Trade was so closely involved in the scheme that the name of the President of the Board of Trade at once sprung to mind. Further, Sir Warren Fisher thought that three representa- tives of the Civil Service, comparable in status to the Naval, Military and Air Members of the Committee, should be added.

SIR PHILIP CUNLIFFE-LISTER agreed with Sir Warren Fisher's pro- posals, except that he considered that the Head of the Industry Section of the Board of Trade, who had been closely associated with the Principal Supply Officers Com- mitee since its institution, should remain a member of the Committee.

THE PRIME MINISTER endorsed Sir Warren Fisher's suggestions, and asked Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister whether he would be so good as to undertake the Chairmanship of the Committee.

SIR PHILIP CUNLIFFE-LISTER signified his willingness to do so.

LORD BEATTY enquired whether the Principal Supply Officers Committee would remain a Sub-Committee of the Committee of Imperial Defence.

THE PRIME MINISTER said it would certainly retain its present status as an advisory Sub-Committee.

CONCLUSIONS.

THE COMMITTEE OF IMPERIAL DEFENCE agreed--

(a.) To approve the Report of the Principal Supply Officers Committee (C.I.D. Paper No. 763-B), on the understanding that the functions of the Com- mittee and of the various organising bodies contemplated in the Report (in so much as they form part of the organisation of the Committee of Imperial Defence itself) should remain purely advisory.

(b.) That, in view of the very important supervisory functions attaching to the

Principal Supply Officers Committee under the proposed organisation-

(i.) The Chairmanship of the Committee should be assumed by the

President of the Board of Trade:

(ii) Two representatives of the Civil Service, comparable in status to the Naval, Military and Air Members, should be added to the Com- mittee; these representatives being nominated by the Prime Minister, in consultation with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Secretary of State for Home Affairs, and the President of the Board of Trade.

2. Whitehall Gardens, S.W. 1, March 4, 1927.