The debate which followed proved that there is greatly increasing
support for a Ministry of Defence. It was not urged that the time had actually arrived for such a Ministry, but the insistence on the need for a joint Staff With executive authority over the three Fighting Services points to the logical conclusion. Our own feeling is that though a Ministry of Defence will be the only solution in the end it is a matter in which opinion should not be forced by any hothouse methods. Such a Ministry would have to bring the Dominions into the reckoning of our total Imperial strength. It is necessary to find out most carefully how far the Dominions are prepared to go and we trust that the matter will be discussed at the Imperial Conference in the autumn. Much more harm than good would be done if the Dominions felt that they were given any cause for jealousy by the hurried creation of a central authority here with very high powers. * * *
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