§ 48. Commander BELLAIRSasked the Prime Minister whether he has now inquired into the position existing in the secretariat of the War Cabinet where there are seven military officers and no naval officers of the combatant branches; and whether he will take steps to secure the presence of an active list executive officer acquainted with the conduct of naval and amphibious operations, and of one or more familiar with both the maritime and economic aspects of the blockade and local Scandinavian and Dutch conditions, with a view to the assistance of the War Cabinet?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI have looked into this matter. It is not the duty of the Secretary and Assistant Secretaries of the War Cabinet to offer advice to the Cabinet on matters of policy. The constitutional advisers of the Government on naval and military matters are the Chief of the Naval War Staff and the Chief of the Imperial General Staff, respectively. The inclusion of one naval and certain military officers in the secretariat, in addition to the Civil Assistant Secretaries, is due to the fact that it has been found very useful that one or more should be possessed, in addition to other qualifications, of a good know- 1423 ledge of the two Services. The War Cabinet is, therefore, unable to adopt the suggestion of my hon. and gallant Friend.
§ Commander BELLAIRSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the one naval officer belongs to the Paymasters' branch, and is not a combatant officer? Is he aware that in practice the War Cabinet do rely on the advice of the officers of the Secretariat?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI do not think that that is so. This Paymaster has been employed as Paymaster-Secretary for a number of Commanders-in-Chief, and has had a considerable amount of experience. We do not rely upon the Secretaries for advice.
§ Mr. PRINGLEWere the Military Secretaries combatant officers originally?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThree of them belong to the Regular Army.