After questions Mr. Balfour called attention to the appoint- ment
of the Committee of Defence, and moved that the growing needs of the Empire necessitated the establish- ment of the Committee on a permanent footing. Though we still do not feel altogether satisfied that the Committee may not end by weakening the sense of Cabinet responsi- bility in regard to national defence, we admit that Mr. Balfour's detailed account of the scheme, and the way it is proposed to work the Committee, go far to remove our scruples. We are glad to note his statement that the Chan- cellor of the Exchequer will always be present when matters involving the expenditure of public money are discussed, but we hold with Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman that he ought to be a permanent member of the Committee. Indeed, on Mr. Balfour's own showing he should be, for what question of national defence is there which does not involve expenditure ? We trust, then, we may hold with Mr. Arthur Lee, who made a very sensible speech during the course of the debate, that the Chancellor of the Exchequer may be regarded as practically a permanent member of the Committee. Mr. Balfour's defence of the civilian judgment in military matters was most sound and useful, as also was his declaration that "even the best of soldiers and the best of sailors give a better opinion after they have been thoroughly cross-examined by civilians."
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