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11.

We have seen reports supplied by the Ministry of Information about the general trend of public opinion throughout the country. One point has particularly impressed us. The public ask why more men are not being called up and put under discipline. This criticism is likely to become more insistent as time goes on. It is un- necessary in this report to explain the policy, which has so far governed the calling to the colours of the available man power of the country, but we take the view that, in spite of the difficulties of accommodation, training and the provision of equipment, men who have now been registered and are awaiting calling up should be called up forthwith.

12.

If it is impossible to absorb the greater number of these men in the Army at once, they might, as an interim measure, be employed with the Local Defence Volunteers of the Civil Defence Services. The important point is that these men should be organised in formed bodies and placed under discipline at once.

Apart from the purely military aspect, we consider this measure to be of the utmost importance, if the confidence of the public is to be maintained as to the Government's determiration to resist attack on this country by all possible means.

Recommendations.

13.

We recommend:

(a) That all the measures recommended in

W.P. (40) 168 (see Annex I) which have not yet been completed should be pressed on with day and night and particularly recommendations (iii), and (xiii).

(b) That action to intern the large number of German

and Italian men and women still remaining at large in this country should be accelerated. We suggest that the administrative

difficulties of interning them in this country could be overcome by sending a considerable number of them to the Canada

in large liners.

M

(c) That decentralisation of control to Regional

Commissioners should be put into force to the greatest practicable extent at once. (paragraph 10).

(a) That men who have recently been registered and

are now waiting to be called-up should be called up forthwith (paragraphs 11 and 12).

(e) That consideration should be given to extending the

"childrens overseas reception scheme"

(W.P. (G) (40)152) to include old and infirmed persons and those who cannot contribute usefully to the defence of this country.

(f) That the area bordering the East, South East_and

South Coast from Tyneside to Portland (inclusive) should be declared a defended area.

(g) In order to avoid administrative delays throughout

the machine of Government, there should be the widest delegation of executive and financial powers in each department and throughout the Services.

Richmond Terrace, S.W.1.

(Signed)

-3-

C.L.N. NEWALL.

T.S.V. PHILLIPS, V.C.N.S. R. H. HAINING, V.C.I.G.S.

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