Hankey: Man of Secrets Vol.2: 1919-1931

300 Pages·1972·24.282 MB·English

by  Stephen Roskill

11. ............................................ .
....
~~~~~------a-••--lllllllllllllllll!lllR"~·nmS?lllllllllll!llllllllllllllilllill
by the same author HANKEY
THE WAR AT SEA (3 vols. in 4 parts. HMSO) Man of Secrets
H.M.S. WARSPITE
THE SECRET CAPTURE Volume II 1919-1931
THE NAVY AT WAR 1939-1945
THE STRATEGY OF SEA POWER
A MERCHANT FLEET IN WAR 1939-1945
THE ART OF LEADERSHIP STEPHEN 'ROSKILL
NAVAL POLICY BETWEEN THE WARS
VOL. I 1919-1929
(Ed.) DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE NA VAL
AIR SERVICE
VOL. I 1908-1918 (NAVY RECORDS SOCIETY)
HANKEY MAN OF SECRETS
VOL. I 1877-1918
COLLINS
St James's Place London
1972
William Collins Sons & Co Ltd
London · Glasgow · Sydney · Auckland
Toronto · Johannesburg
Contents
FOREWORD AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I I
The First Steps to Peace. November-December 1918 19
2. The Hard Road to Peace. January-February 1919 43
3 The Council of Four. March-May 1919 68
4 The Treaties Signed. June-August 1919 94
5 The End of the War Cabinet. September-December
1919 I 14
6 Europe in Disarray. January-April 19zo 140
7 The Era of Conferences I. May-December 192.0 164
8 The Era of Conferences IL January-October 19z1 2. I 3
9 The Washington and Genoa Conferences.
November 19z1-May 19zz z38
IO The Near East Crisis and the Fall of Lloyd George.
June-October 19zz z79
II Under Bonar Law. The fight for the Cabinet
Secretariat. October-December 19zz 304
I 2. From Bonar Law to Baldwin. January-December
19z3 330
13 The First Labour Government. January-October
19z4 353
14 Back to Baldwin. November 19z4-December 19z5 387
15 The Essentials of Defence. January 19z6-May 19z9 417
First published 197z
16 The Second Labour Government. June-December
© S. W. Roskill 197z
19z9 475
ISBN 0 00 2.II330 9 17 A Year of Conferences. 1930 502.
Set in Monotype Garamond 18 Crisis. 19 3 1
535
Made and Printed in Great Britain by
William Collins Sons & Co Ltd Glasgow INDEX 577
Illustrations
President Wilson's note page 59
Hankey at the Peace Conference between pages 80-81
Lloyd George and his family visit the battlefields
The Paris Peace Conference-a panorama of personalities
(Illustrated London News)
Curzon's doodles
Curzon and Hankey
Ordre dn ]our for the signature of the Peace Treaty page 93
Will Dyson's prophetic cartoon 1oz
Lloyd George's doodles faringpage 19z
The First Lympne Conference May 19zo 193
The Third Lympne Conference August 19zo 193
Hankey, Lloyd George and Giolitti zz4
Lloyd George and Hankey zz4
Hankey and Chelmsford (Sport and General Prm Agemy) zz5
Balfour's notes for his Washington speech page z43
Hankey's draft letter to Lloyd George (Crown Copyright) z47
Exchange of notes between Hankey and Lloyd George
at Genoa
z75
The Imperial Conference of 19z6
facingpage 480
(Ill11Strated London News)
At ease at Highstead
Sir Warden Chilcott at Deauville (The Tat/er)
The 'Dolphin' at Cowes (Beken of Cowes)
ILLUS'I'RA'I'IONS
The Order of the Bath procession facing page 5l z
The Imperial Conference of 1930 (The Tat/er) pz
The London Naval Conference: 513
King George at the opening
Abbreviations
(Illustrated London News)
Empire and Commonwealth Delegates
(Illustrated London News)
Hankey's draft 'Manifesto' August 1931 page 549
MacDonald's amended note on financial measures Adm. Admiralty document in P.R.O.
~51
Air Air Ministry document in P.R.O.
MAP A.R.P. Air Raid Precautions (also Sub-Committee of
C.I.D. on same).
The Dardane.l. les in , l9zz
,' B.E.D. British Empire Delegation (to International
J. Conferences).
B.M. British Museum.' .,
B.R. Belligerent Rights (also Sub-Committee of
C.I.D. on same).
'' Cab. (Followed by suffix indicatirig series and
number) Cabinet Minute or Memorandum in
P.R.0.
C.A.S. Chief of the Air Staff.
C.C.R. Committee of Civil Research.
Cd. and Cmd. Command Papers.
C.F. Council of Four (at Paris Peace Conference).
C.I.D. Committee of Imperial Defence (followed by
symbols indicating series).
C.I.G.S. Chief of Imperial General Staff.
C-in-C. Commander-in-Chief.
C.N.S. Chief of Naval Staff.
c.o.s.
Chiefs of Staff Sub-Committee of C.I.D.
C.P. Cabinet Memorandum of series indicated.
D.B.F.P. Documents on British Foreign Policy.
D.M.O. Director of Military Operations.
D.P.C. Disarmament Policy Committee of 1931.
D.R.C. Defence Requirements Committee of 1933-35.
E.A.C. Economic Advisory Council of 1929-30.
P.O. Foreign Office document in P.R.O.
F.S. Fighting Services' Committee of 1929-30.
G.H.Q. General Headquarters.
G,O,C, General Officer Commanding.
ABBREVIATIONS
G.T. Cabinet Memorandum in series indicated.
H.A.C. Home Affairs Sub-Committee of C.I.D.
H.P.D.C. Home Ports Defence Sub-Committee of C.I.D.
I.C. International Conference series in P.R.0.
I.LC. Industrial Intelligence Centre.
Foreword and Acknowledgements
I.R.A. Irish Republican Army.
I.W.C. Imperial War Cabinet series in P.R.O.
L.N.C. London Naval Conference 1930.
N.M.M. National Maritime Museum.
O.D.C. Overseas Defence Sub-Committee of C.I.D.
Parl. Deb. Parliamentary Debates (Han!a,.d, Lords or SEVERAL considerations have contributed to the decision to end this
Commons as indicated). All in 5th series. second volume of the biography of Lord Hankey at the political and
P.M. Prime Minister (British). economic crisis of 1931, and to devote a third volume to the final
Premier Correspondence of Prime Ministers in P.R.O. phase of his career. In the first place a number of important private
P.R.O. Public Record Office. collections of papers, which undoubtedly contain much Hankey
R.A. Royal Archives, Windsor Castle.
material covering the years 19p-4z, are not yet available for research.
R.G. Record Group, U.S. National Archives.
It seems very undesirable to attempt to 'describe authoritatively his
R.I.C. Royal Irish Constabulary.
s.w.c. Supreme War Council of Allies. work and influence during that period without having studied his
correspondence with, for example, Mr. Neville Chamberlain and Lord
U.P. University Press.
w.o. War Office document in P.R.O. Avon. Secondly the official archives for the years 1939-42, when Lord
Hankey was a member of Neville Chamberlain's War Cabinet and of
Churchill's administration, will not be wholly open until 1972. Thirdly
when I had completed the story as far as the end of 193 l I realised that
a vast amount of important material dealing with the next decade
existed in Lord Hankey's papers and in other collections made avail
able to me; and that if I adhered to my original intention of completing
my task in two volumes I would have to cut down drastically or totally
omit much that the historically minded reader would wish to have
presented to him. And, lastly, I hope it will not be considered immodest
if I admit that the very generous reception accorded to my first volume
encouraged hopes that the general reader would prefer me to continue
to give Hankey's life and work the same full scope. His position at the
centre of British politics lasted so long, and his encounters with the
statesmen, politicians and service men of foreign countries, as well as
those of the British Empire and Commonwealth, were so numerous
and frequent that I make no apology for the fact that his biography is in
some degree a history of the period. Indeed I cannot see in what other
manner his life and work can be given adequate treatment.
Publication of my first volume brought me a very large correspon
dence from men and women who may reasonably be said to represent a
ABBREVIATIONS
G.T. Cabinet Memorandum in series indicated.
Home Affairs Sub-Committee of C.I.D.
H.A.C.
Home Ports Defence Sub-Committee of C.I.D.
H.P.D.C.
International Conference series in P.R.O.
I.C.
I.LC. Industrial Intelligence Centre. Foreword and Acknowledgements
LR.A. Irish Republican Army.
I.W.C. Imperial War Cabinet series in P.R.O.
L.N.C. London Naval Conference 1930.
N.M.M. National Maritime Museum.
O.D.C. Overseas Defence Sub-Committee of C.I.D.
Parl. Deb. Parliamentary Debates (Hansard, Lords or SEVERAL considerations have contributed to the decision to end this
Commons as indicated). All in 5th series. second volume of the biography of Lord Hankey at the political and
P.M. Prime Minister (British). economic crisis of l 9 3l , and to devote a third volume to the final
Premier Correspondence of Prime Ministers in P.R.O. phase of his career. In the first place a number of important private
P.R.O. Public Record Office. collections of papers, which undoubtedly contain much Hankey
R.A. Royal Archives, Windsor Castle. material covering the years 193.z-42, are,not yet available for research.
R.G. Record Group, U.S. National Archives.
It seems very undesirable to attempt to describe authoritatively his
R.I.C. Royal Irish Constabulary.
work and influence during that period without having studied his
s.w.c. Supreme War Council of Allies.
correspondence with, for example, Mr. Neville Chamberlain and Lord
U.P. University Press.
w.o. War Office document in P.R.O. Avon. Secondly the official archives for the years 1939-42, when Lord
Hankey was a member of Neville Chamberlain's War Cabinet and of
Churchill's administration, will not be wholly open until 197.z. 1birdly
when I had completed the story as far as the end of 1931 I realised that
a vast amount of important material dealing with the next decade
existed in Lord Hankey's papers and in other collections made avail
able to me; and that if I adhered to my original intention of completing
my task in two volumes I would have to cut down drastically or totally
omit much that the historically minded reader would wish to have
presented to him. And, lastly, I hope it will not be considered immodest
if I admit that the very generous reception accorded to my first volume
encouraged hopes that the general reader would prefer me to continue
to give Hankey's life and work the same full scope. His position at the
centre of British politics lasted so long, and his encounters with the
statesmen, politicians and service men of foreign countries, as well as
those of the British Empire and Commonwealth, were so numerous
and frequent that I make no apology for the fact that his biography is in
some degree a history of the period. Indeed I cannot see in what other
manner his life and work can be given adequate treatment.
Publication of my first volume brought me a very large correspon
dence from men and women who may reasonably be said to represent a
12 HANKEY: MAN OF SECRETS FOREWORD AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
broad spectrum of British and Commonwealth politics and public first volume is reprinted. To those who have disagreed with me on
affairs during the first half of this century. Most of my correspondents matters of historical interpretation I would say that I fully accept their
had known Hankey personally, or had dealings with him in one or entitlement to do so, and lay no claim whatever to having said the
other of the many fields of his official activities. Their letters contri final word on my subject.
buted greatly to my understanding of the subject of this biography, Having received such universal kindness and consideration from all
and to my knowledge of the events of the period. The majority of my those whom I have pestered for information it may seem invidious to
correspondents may justly be described as admirers of Hankey, who single out a few for special mention. But I must particularly thank The
believed that, even though he was certainly not always right, his Right Hon. the Earl of Avon, The Right Hon. the Earl of Swinton,
judgement was generally so sound, and based on such wide experience, The Right Hon. the Baron Casey, Frances, Countess Lloyd George,
that the history of this country would have taken a happier course had Wing-Commander Sir Archibald James, Sir Graham Vincent, Sir
his advice been followed more often. A few were critical of his attitude Colin Coote, Sir Harry Batterb ee, Sir Keith Officer, J. Burgan Bicker
to particular issues in which he was involved, and a still smaller steth, Dr. A. L. Rowse, Montgomery Belgion and Ronald Wells for
minority were in some degree critical of him as a person. For example the trouble they took to answer my importunities, for the hospitality
the 'self praise' to which he gave voice in his diary evidently aroused the many of them have shown me in their homes, and for the letters and
distaste of some readers. To those critics I would reply that such a papers they have lent or given to me. 'J;'he Right Hon. the Viscount
trait is by no means uncommon among political diarists, and that even Simon and The Right Hon. the Viscount Trenchard have provided me
Samuel Pepys indulged in it quite frequently. Moreover Hankey was with much valuable material from their fathers' papers, and I have been
far too astute not to realise that publication of such remarks would particularly fortunate in my contacts with a number of Hankey's
lay him open to criticism. Yet, unlike Charles Fulke Greville, he left his erstwhile assistants in the offices of the Cabinet and C.I.D. In particular
diary untouched, knowing full well that it would some day be published Lord Casey, Air Chief-Marshal Sir William Elliot, Wing-Commander
exactly as he wrote it. I could of course easily have omitted such Sir John Hodsoll, Vice-Admiral A. D. Nichol and Captain A. W.
passages; but I have throughout this work been deeply conscious of Clarke, R.N., all of whom worked in Whitehall Gardens in between the
the danger that besets every biographer - namely to allow himself to wars, have allowed me to exploit their memories.
be seduced into what Iris Origo has so aptly stigmatised as 'the smooth My research has brought me into contact with a large number of
ing-out and the touching up', with the result that 'in the end a portrait historians who have been working on some particular aspect of the
is built up: slick, vivid, convincing-and false'.1 Instead I have tried, same period, and I must acknowledge my debt to Mr. Christopher
a5 I am sure Hankey himself would have wished, to combine what Thome and Mr. Keith Middlemas, both of the University of Sussex,
Virginia Woolf called 'the granite-like solidity of truth' with 'the Dr. David Carlton of the North-Western Polytechnic, Mr. Larry
rainbow-like intangibility of personality'. If in Hankey's case the Pratt of the London School of Economics and Mrs. Rosemary Righter,
personality as here revealed does not appeal to some readers I can only formerly of the University of Warwick. I hope that in all these cases
express the hope that he or she will accept that there is a good deal in the information I have been able to give has been as helpful as that
Dr. Johnson's remark that 'If nothing but the bright side of characters which I have received. The debt for research I owe to Commander
should be shown, we should sit in despondency, and think it utterly Geoffrey Hare, and to my daughter-in-law Mrs. Nicholas Roskill
impossible to imitate them in anything'. increases with the passage of every year and the production of every
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my correspondents book, as does my dependence on Miss Edith Bales for her devoted
for their letters, and to assure the few who have corrected me on and careful secretarial work. Once again Mr. Richard Ollard, of
matters of fact that I have noted their corrections for use when the Collins & Co. has given me far more than any writer is entitled to
expect of his Publisher's editor. Not only is his historical training and
lFrom a lecture Biography-True and Faire. Quoted in Imager and Shadowr (Murray.
experience far superior to my own, but his encouragement and friend-
i970) P· 4·
-:~ .. ~.:;·.·.. • : • ..: . • • : ~·· • • ••. .. : .. -·. " • ·-. • • • - ' •I--' •\.' •• ... ~· - ·"' ... '4i..,
14 HANKEY: MAN OF SECRETS FOREWORD AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
jointly-Papers of ist Earl Lloyd George not held by the Beaverbrook
ship have constantly helped me through the periods from which I
Library.
suppose all writers suffer - when nothing seems to go right and even
The Right Hon. the Viscount Scarsdale - Papers of Marquess Curzon.
the grasshopper has become a burden. Without the encouragement of
The Right Hon. the Earl Balfour - Papers of ist Earl Balfour.
his frequent company and the uncomplaining support of my wife I am
C. and T. Publications and Mr. Winston Churchill-Papers of Sir Winston
quite sure this work would never have seen the light of day.
Churchill.
I must thank my colleagues at Churchill College, Cambridge most
The Right Hon. the Viscount Esher - Papers of 2nd Viscount Esher.
warmly for their generosity and understanding in providing me over A. R. B. Haldane, Esq. - Papers of Viscount Haldane.
so many years with exceptionally favourable conditions under which to Baroness White and Mr. Tristan Jones - Papers of Dr. Thomas Jones and,
work, and with the constant stimulus of their company. And when at where published in Mr. Keith Middlemas's Whitehall Diary (Oxford U.P.,
last I passed the age at which the University of Cambridge regards one 2 Vols., 1969) to the editor and publisher.
as superannuated my college greatly eased the change by electing me The Right Hon. Malcolm MacDonald - Papers of Mr. Ramsay MacDonald.
into a Life Fellowship. I must also acknowledge my debt to the The Warden and Fellows, New College, Oxford - Papers of Viscount Milner.
The Right Hon. the Earl Baldwin - Papers of ist Earl Baldwin.
Trustees of the Leverhulme Foundation for their generous grant of
The Right Hon. the Viscount Bridgeman - Papers of ist Viscount Bridge-
an Emeritus Fellowship for the year 1970-71 and to the American
man. ,
Philosophical Society for support which enabled me to pay a visit to
Henry Borden, Esq. - Papers of Sir Robert Borden.
the United States in 1969 to search for Hankey material in the official
Sir Geoffrey Keynes - Papers of I st Baron Keynes.
archives and the numerous private collections of papers held in that
Paul E. Paget, Esq. - Papers of ist Viscount Templewood.
country. The Right Hon. the Earl of Birkenhead - Papers of ist Earl of Birkenhead.
In addition to the Libraries, Universities, museums and individuals The Right Hon. the Viscount Trenchard - Papers of Marshal of the Royal
to whom I acknowledged my debt for access to papers in their charge Air Force Viscount Trenchard.
in my first volume I would add the following:- Mrs. William T. Gossett-Papers of Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes.
Lawrence Burgis, Esq. - His own letters to Lord Hankey.
The University of Cambridge Library-Papers of 1st Earl Baldwin and 1st
Viscount Templewood.
All quotations from British official documents held in the Public
The British Museum - Papers of 1st Viscount D'A bernon.
Record Office are C_rown Copyright and are reproduced by kind
The Right Hon. Malcolm MacDonald and Mr. David Marquand - Papers
permission of The Controller, Her Majesty's Stationery Office. I must
of Mr. Ramsay MacDonald.
The Right Hon. the Viscount Bridgeman - Papers of ist Viscount Bridge- also acknowledge the constant help received from Mr. T.]. Donovan
of the Public Record Office and his staff, who have piloted my course
man.
The Right Hon. the Earl Beatty-Papers of Admiral of the Fleet Earl Beatty. through the vast collection of British Cabinet papers and have con
The Right Hon. the Viscount Trenchard - Papers of Marshal of the Royal stantly helped me to find what I need.
Air Force Viscount Trenchard. Perhaps I should here add a note on the system I have followed in my
For permission to publish copyright material I am indebted to the source references to Cabinet papers. Wherever in the footnotes two
figures are shown separated by a diagonal stroke thus Cab. z.1/z.12. or
following:-
Cab. z.f5 the reference is to the Public Record Office's numeration.
H.M. The Queen - Papers of King George V and official papers of Lord
But I have thought it advantageous to the student to give in most
Stamfordham as Private Secretary to King George V.
cases the original Cabinet Office references as well, since otherwise he
Sir Michael Adeane - Private papers of Lord Stamfordham.
or she may have to search through a large amount of paper in order to
The First Beaverbrook Foundation - Papers of 1st Earl Lloyd George and
find the document in question. Under Hankey's system Cabinet
of Mr; A. Bonar Law held by the Beaverbrook Library.
The First Beaverbrook Foundation and the National Library of Wales Minutes were numbered seriatim in every year, and the number indi-
14 H.ANKEY: M.AN OF SECRETS FOREWORD .AND .ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 15
ship have constantly helped me through the periods from which I jointly-Papers of 1st Earl Lloyd George not held by the Beaverbrook
suppose all writers suffer - when nothing seems to go right and even Library.
The Right Hon. the Viscount Scarsdale - Papers of Marquess Curzon.
the grasshopper has become a burden. Without the encouragement of
The Right Hon. the Earl Balfour - Papers of 1st Earl Balfour.
his frequent company and the uncomplaining support of my wife I am
C. and T. Publications and Mr. Winston Churchill - Papers of Sir Winston
quite sure this work would never have seen the light of day.
Churchill.
I must thank my colleagues at Churchill College, Cambridge most
The Right Hon. the Viscount Esher - Papers of znd Viscount Esher.
warmly for their generosity and understanding in providing me over
A. R. B. Haldane, Esq. - Papers of Viscount Haldane.
so many years with exceptionally favourable conditions under which to
Baroness White and Mr. Tristan Jones - Papers of Dr. Thomas Jones and,
work, and with the constant stimulus of their company. And when at where published in Mr. Keith Middlemas's Whitehall Diary (Oxford U.P.,
last I passed the age at which the University of Cambridge regards one .i Vols., 1969) to the editor and publisher.
as superannuated my college greatly eased the change by electing me The Right Hon. Malcolm MacDonald - Papers of Mr. Ramsay MacDonald.
into a Life Fellowship. I must also acknowledge my debt to the The Warden and Fellows, New College, Oxford-Papers of Viscount Milner.
Trustees of the Leverhulme Foundation for their generous grant of The Right Hon. the Earl Baldwin - Papers of 1st Earl Baldwin.
an Emeritus Fellowship for the year 1970-71 and to the American The Right Hon. the Viscount Bridgeman - Papers of 1st Viscount Bridge-
man. ,
Philosophical Society for support which enabled me to pay a visit to
Henry Borden, Esq. - Papers of Sir Robert Borden.
the United States in 1969 to search for Hankey material in the official
Sir Geoffrey Keynes - Papers of 1st Baron Keynes.
archives and the numerous private collections of papers held in that
Paul E. Paget, Esq. - Papers of 1st Viscount Templewood.
country. The Right Hon. the Earl of Birkenhead - Papers of 1st Earl of Birkenhead.
In addition to the Libraries, Universities, museums and individuals
The Right Hon. the Viscount Trenchard-Papers of Marshal of the Royal
to whom I acknowledged my debt for access to papers in their charge Air Force Viscount Trenchard.
in my first volume I would add the following:- Mrs. William T. Gossett - Papers of Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes.
Lawrence Burgis, Esq. - His own letters to Lord Hankey.
The University of Cambridge Library-Papers of 1st Earl Baldwin and 1st
Viscount Templewood.
All quotations from British official documents held in the Public
The British Museum - Papers of 1st Viscount D'Abernon.
The Right Hon. Malcolm MacDonald and Mr. David Marquand - Papers Record Office are Crown Copyright and are reproduced by kind
permission of The Controller, Her Majesty's Stationery Office. I must
of Mr. Ramsay MacDonald.
J.
The Right Hon. the Viscount Bridgeman - Papers of 1st Viscount Bridge- also acknowledge the constant help received from Mr. T. Donovan
man. of the Public Record Office and his staff, who have piloted my course
The Right Hon. the Earl Beatty - Papers of Admiral of the Fleet Earl Beatty. through the vast collection of British Cabinet papers and have con
The Right Hon. the Viscount Trenchard - Papers of Marshal of the Royal stantly helped me to find what I need.
Air Force Viscount Trenchard. Perhaps I should here add a note on the system I have followed in my
For permission to publish copyright material I am indebted to the source references to Cabinet papers. Wherever in the footnotes two
following:- figures are shown separated by a diagonal stroke thus Cab. z1/zu or
Cab. zf5 the reference is to the Public Record Office's numeration.
H.M. The Queen - Papers of King George V and official papers of Lord
But I have thought it advantageous to the student to give in most
Stamfordham as Private Secretary to King George V.
cases the original Cabinet Office references as well, since otherwise he
Sir Michael Adeane - Private papers of Lord Stamfordham.
or she may have to search through a large amount of paper in order to
The First Beaverbrook Foundation - Papers of 1st Earl Lloyd George and
of Mr. A. Bonar Law held by the Beaverbrook Library. find the document in question. Under Hankey's system Cabinet
The First Beaverbrook Foundation and the National Library of Wales Minutes were numbered seriatim in every year, and the number indi-
16 HANKEY: MAN OF SECRETS FOREWORD AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 17
eating the meeting had the last two figures of the year printed after it further was heard I assumed that either the 'Magnum Opus' had been
in round brackets. Thus 'Cabinet z8(zo)' refers to the Minutes (after destroyed during the process known as 'weeding' to which all official
August 1919 called the Conclusions) of the z8th Cabinet meeting held records are subjected, or that it was classed among those papers which
in 1920.1 The original C.P. series of Cabinet Memorartda started i~ were to remain closed under the Public Record Act for longer periods
November 1919 and ended with C.P. 4379 of 30th December 192z. than 30 years. To my great surprise I discovered in November 1970
Thereafter Hankey started the C.P. series afresh at the beginning of that the 'Magnum Opus' files, or 191 of them, had turned up in the
every year. Thus C.P. l(z3) is the first memorandum of 1923; C.P. Public Record Office and been given P.R.O. numbers Cab. 63/1-191.
l 8 1(3 l) the l 8 l st memorandum of l 9 3 l and so on. The memoranda Unfortunately this volume was by that time already typed; but I have
submitted to the C.l.D. retain throughout the period covered by this been through this new collection as quickly as possible and have made
volume the numbers in the (A), (B), (C) and (D) series with which the additions and insertions at various points. Fortunately copies of a
reader of my first volume will be familiar.2 And the memoranda sub great many of the papers in the 'Magnum Opus' exist in one or other
mitted to the numerous sub-committees of the C.I.D. and the Cabinet, of the series of Cabinet documents which I had already studied.
and those prepared for Imperial and International conferences, are still Finally I must once again acknowledge my gratitude to the Rev. S.
given self-evident symbols, such as C.O.S. for Chiefs of Staff Com B.-R. Poole for the great trouble he has taken over compiling the
mittee, and are numbered consecutively on the well-tried system which Index.
·,
dates to the early days of the C.l.D. When a C.I.D. memorandum was STEPHEN ROSKILL
brought before the Cabinet for consideration or decision, as happened Blounce, South Warnborough, Hants.
in a great many cases, it would be reprinted with a C.P. number. Thus Churchill College, Cambridge.
C.l.D. 388D also became C.P. 22(23). In the case of C.l.D. and Cabinet 1969-71.
memoranda in these special series I have also usually given the original
C,I.D. or Cabinet Office reference, as well as that given to the document
in question by the Public Record Office. My object has been to try and
make it as easy as possible to trace the documents to which I refer in
the text. As in my first volume all documents not given source references
are in the Hankey papers.
One other point must be explained. Very early in my study of the
Hankey diaries and papers I realised that much of his correspondence
and many memoranda written by him had been placed in special files
which he always referred to as his 'Magnum Opus'.3 These files were
not to be found among the Cabinet papers transferred to the Public
Record Office and opened under the new 'Thirty Year Rule'. As they
were obviously of prime importance to Hankey's biographer I enquired
of the Cabinet office in 1967 whether the 'Magnum Opus' still existed.
In reply I was told that investigation would be made to see whether
any more material held in that office could be released. As nothing
11n the headings to Cabinet Minutes or Conclusions Hankey always wrote the
word 'Cabinet' in full. The same p~ctice has been followed here - partly to avoid
confusion with P.R.0. references in which the abbreviation 'Cab.' ·is always used.
1See Vol. I, pp. 91-2.. 8See Vol. I, p. 140, note z.