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done so by qualifying at the entrance examination. Canada and Australia now require their officers to prepare themselves for and qualify at the entrance examination for admission, and it is desired to submit for the consideration of the representatives of the other oversea Dominions that, in their own interests, equal demands should be made on their officers.

In regard to this question it is necessary to remember that it is intended that the p.s.c. certificate shall be regarded as a qualification for employment on the Imperial General Staff, so far as professional requirements are concerned, and it is essential that no officer should be appointed to the Imperial General Staff whose attainments have not been proved to come up to the required standard. For this reason, if officers of the forces of the oversea Dominions are to be admitted to a Staff College without having proved their fitness to profit by the course of instruction there, it would be necessary to consider the introduction of an examination for them, before they left the college, upon the result of which their inclusion in the list of Staff College graduates would depend, provided that the report of the Military Board was satisfactory.

The full course at the Staff College is of 2 years' duration, and, in the interests of the forces of the oversea Dominions and of the proper training of candidates for the Imperial General Staff, it is not advisable, as a general rule, that any period of instruction less than 2 years should be recognised as qualifying an officer for the p.s.c. certificate.

Although a very limited number of officers of the Regular Army below the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, who are considered specially qualified by approved service on the staff in the field, are permitted to undergo a 1-year course at a Staff College, it must be remembered that such officers have had the advantage of at least from 15 to 20 years' experience with troops, in addition to having given proof of having reached a high standard of military knowledge and aptitude. The officers of the forces of the various oversea Dominions who have not had equal opportunities of gaining experience in the profession of arms, cannot be expected to have reached the same standard of military knowledge; and, in the interests of the Imperial General Staff and of the forces of Dominions themselves, it is not considered that any curtailment of the full course of instruction should be permitted in their case.

As »ccommodation at the college is limited, it is necessary that applications for admission should, in future, be dispatched in time to reach the War Office by the 31st May annually for admission in the following January. This would give time to consider the possibility of making the necessary arrangements.

PROPOSED ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE INSPECTION OF THE FORCes of a SELF-GOVERNING DOMINION.

3. In considering arrangements for the inspection of the forces of the self- governing Dominions it is understood that such inspections can only take place on the invitation of the Governments concerned.

In the event of the Government of a self-governing Dominion desiring that its forces should be inspected, the Army Council will be prepared to make the necessary arrangements for the inspection to be carried out by the Inspector-General of the Oversea Forces.

In such cases the duties of the Inspector-General of the Oversea Forces will be similar, mutatis mutandis, to those defined in paragraphs 7 to 10 and 13 of War Office Memorandum, dated 20th June, 1910, for the inspection of those portions of the Empire outside the United Kingdom and the limits of the Mediterranean Command, where troops under the control of the Home Government are stationed.

These duties would be as follows:-

He must form a judgment on the efficiency of officers and men, on the handling of troops, on the standard and system of training, on the suitability of equipment, and generally on all that affects the readiness of the forces for war.

For the proper 'discharge of his functions it is necessary that he should—

(a.) By means of inspection ascertain whether the training, instruction and preparation for war of the forces of the Dominion concerned, as laid down by Regulations, are fully carried out in the various commands, and whether a uniform standard of efficiency is attained.

(b.) Advise as to changes of regulations bearing on (a)

(c.) Acquaint the Minister of Defence with the state of the forces of the

Dominion concerned as regards both personnel and equipment.

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