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(b) Took note that the Secretary
of State for Air wished to be associated with the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the remarks added by the latter to the Report.
The Cabinet approved the Report of Lord Salisbury's Sub-Committee, the Conclusions of which are summarised above, and took note of the following remarks by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in which the Secretary of State for Air concurs:-
"I am in full agreement with the policy
adopted by the War Office of using Cavalry personel to operate mechanical vehicles. I am content with the step that has been taken in mechanising two Cavalry Regiments, etc., so far as this financial year is concerned, but I consider that further measures should be taken as rapidly as possible to furnish the British Cavalry with an equipment suitable to modern war. I hold most strongly that further transformations of horse soldiers are required in the interests primarily of war efficiency, but also for the economies resulting from the elimina- tion of redundant units.
In these circumstances I regret that I find myself unable to sign a report which would associate me either with acquiescence in the present military view, or in any suggestion that progress towards mechanisation should not be as rapid as we can possibly afford".
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