02 Mar 1936 - Ministry of Defence

[Diarist]

The first question Winston asked was whether I was ready for the Council meeting.
"Pretty much. Depends on what we shall be discussing but I believe I am ready. I've read dozens of reports this morning and I talked with several people yesterday. There has been a lot of progress in the last month."
"I agree, Bob. There will be questions about Palestine and the relative high priority it is being given."
"On Thursday too I gather."
"Yes. There are concerns."
"It's wonderful to be back. What's the story about moving TRADOC to London? Can't it stay where it is?"
"It's under consideration."
"For the record I'm against it."
"So am I," John Gort added.
"Noted. Another matter is Archibald's successor. He's retiring as CIGS later this month. What do you think of Cyril Deverell as his successor. John?"
"An excellent choice. He supports the need for a strong expeditionary force which we shall definitely require sooner or later."
Winston looked at me. "I concur. Who else is under consideration?"
"General Ironside, General Dill and General Jeffreys."
"Of the three Jeffreys would make a good Vice-Chief but isn't he in India?" John replied.
"He's been there for three years, time to bring him home and time for us to start walking to the conference room."

[Diarist]

"The name Ironside rings a bell. What can you tell me about him, John?" I asked while walking to the conference room.
"He's relatively young and mentor of Fuller and Liddle-Hart."
"He'll be taking over Eastern Command," Winston added. "Why do you ask, Bob?"
"We need a training unit that is equipped and fights like a Soviet force to oppose our forces. Any reason why we can't place it in Eastern Command? We could add a company from the Parachute regiment to this Opposing Force because the Russians appear to be training airborne units."
"Ironside likes a challenge and complains about the lack of modernization in the British Army."
"He appears to be the right person for the job, Winston."
"I recall that he wrote an excellent book about Tannenberg."
"Any objections, Winston?"
"None at all."
We arrived and I spent at least 15 minutes greeting people. I arranged to meet Anthony Eden soon to talk about his Far East trip. John introduced me to General Ironside who has just returned from India as the Quartermaster General. We arranged to meet this evening. I grabbed a couple of sandwiches and a bottle of orange juice then sat between John and Edward. The PM, Anthony and Winston were at the opposite side of the table.
Stanley Baldwin opened the meeting, "At the last meeting of the Defence Council Anthony Eden had just returned from the Far East he gave us a detailed report of his travels. Today Robert Carter has just returned from the Middle East and will hopefully be able to answer the questions which many of us have. Sir Robert, please begin."
Thankyou, Prime Minister. I would like to report from events before my recent visit so that everyone present has background knowledge." I started with the Italian conflict and my activities with ADM Keyes' Combined Operations including the memorandum about training forces from occupied nations and those under threat of invasion by Italy or Germany. "ADM Keyes liked the idea so Combined Operations started recruiting volunteers from Arab and Jewish organisations for operations against the insurgents and terrorists in Palestine. The unit was under British command in Alexandria. The Foreign Office confirmed that they had no peace plan for Palestine and because it had now become a military problem and since I speak fluent Arabic (and my wife fluent Hebraic) we were sent to Palestine with others from TRADOC to investigate the situation and propose a solution. I had talks with local leaders and ended up arranging a secret truce between the Jewish and Arab para-military organizations with a promise that I would return with a peace proposal in the new year." I paused but nobody said anything so I continued.
"The Rhineland crisis and the death of King George delayed my return but 4 weeks ago I returned at the request of Prime Minister Baldwin. I had explained previously that in my opinion war was inevitable and that we should act from a position of strength. I proposed that the bulk of 5th Infantry Division be transferred to Palestine and renamed the 5th Armoured Division. Cadres of the battalions would be sent back to England to reform the 5th Infantry Division. Also the 51st Highland Division should move from Eritrea/Abyssinia to southern Palestine and the brigade in Palestine receive more units from the UK. Within a couple of months the British troops in Palestine would be expanded from a few battalions to a whole Corps. The Royal Air Force and Royal Navy would receive a similar increase. These proposals were approved by the MoD then later by the Prime Minister."
I drank some orange juice then continued. "In Alexandria I met with General Weir then proceeded to Jerusalem where I detailed the proposal to General Howard and his immediate staff. Just before I arrived an Arab settlement called Mukhamas had been raided because intelligence had reported that a large arms shipment had been received there. Almost a thousand weapons and considerable ammunition had been captured as well as evidence that the Grand Mufti had been involved with the shipment. I would like to add that this same Mufti had been receiving support from Italy and Nazi Germany so there was no way he can be considered a reliable Arab partner for peace in the Mandate. A meeting with the Grand Mufti later that evening wasn't very pleasant and I made it clear in no uncertain terms that his friends must turn in all their weapons or there will be more Mukhamas-style raids if weapons were found."
The following day in Tel Aviv I met the Irgun, a breakaway faction of the Haganah, and told them that they should rejoin the Haganah because they are allowed to have weapons so there would be no consequences if weapons were found in Jewish settlements. He agreed to accompany me to meet David Ben Gurion, the leader of the Jewish Community in Palestine. I managed to convnce both parties that my proposal has the best chance of creating a Jewish state in Palestine. One that is supported by the government in London."
"That still has to be decided, Sir Robert," the PM interjected.
"Of course, Sir. That's why I have told them to expect an invitation to London in the not too distant future. I also had talks with Emir Abdullah of Jordan and he has been offered the same invitation. We have been transferring captured Italian equipment to the Arab Legion which now has expanded to four brigades although I cannot judge the level of their training. France has also transferred the Golan Heights to our Palestine together with a battalion of Circassian infantry."
"Let me stop you there, Sir Robert and I thank you for your detailed report. I am sure you have heard of concerns here that too much priority is being given to Palestine. In particular all our modern armour. The 1st and 2nd Infantry Divisions were stripped of their ISV battalions and they were reassigned to the 5th Armoured Brigade in Palestine complete with all their personnel."
"I have several replies to those concerns, Prime Minister. Firstly, do I really need to emphasize the importance of the Suez Canal for the defence of the Empire? Secondly, during the FTX in October I was surprized to see that 2nd Infantry Division was treating their ISV battalion as an artillery battalion and was organized accordingly. In the 5th Armoured Brigade they are organized and utilized as armoured battalions. Thirdly, the ISV's are not modern armour, just a stopgap solution until the Crusaders arrive. And finally, our resolve in Palestine has prevented a situation like the French have created in Syria. Compared to them we have a picnic in Palestine. We now have a potential pro-British Jewish state coupled with a pro-British Jordan. Possibly our only real friends in the Middle East."
"So you are advocating a partition?"
"Yes, Sir. The two groups cannot live peacefully together. Both states would need to be British Protectorates for several years because most of the Arab neighbours would object to such a solution."
"Who are these Circassians and what exactly is a Mukhamas-style raid?" Winston asked.
They are Muslims who originally lived in the Caucasus but Russian expansion in the region forced them to migrate to the Golan Heights. They are not Arabs and don't want anything to do with Damascus. In Mukhamas those with weapons were executed and the remainder were driven across the border to Syria then Jewish settlers moved into the village. I would like to add that many Jews and police had been captured by these people. To my knowledge not one was ever seen again alive. They are getting a dose of their own methods."
"So Jewish controlled territory is already expanding?"
"That is correct, Prime Minister."
"How many settlements are we talking about here?"
"When I left ten days ago I believe the total was five. They weren't expecting such a swift response and because the Grand Mufti and his top leaders were all expelled to Syria they appear to be without an organized leadership."
"The partition is already in progress the way I see it."
"Actually we are rooting out the Arab terrorists, General."
"Then grabbing their land. Very convenient."
"The Jewish Community is cooperating, Sir. The Arabs aren't."
"You are aware of an influential Jewish group in London?"
"I am, Sir and if they wish some say in a future Jewish State they should be in Palestine not drinking sherry in London. David Ben Gurion is our man, Anthony."
With that the meeting was adjourned while the PM made a telephone call.

[Diarist]

When the meeting resumed we no longer mentioned Palestine but dealt with domestic issues. I was a little surprised to hear that Supermarine was designing a twin-engine version of the Spitfire. The last thing we need is another aircraft that needs the Merlin engine but I said nothing. I'll save it for my visit there later this week. Good news is that the Westland twin-engine fighter is nearing completion and the maiden flight will hopefully take place this month.
I could report that the 6-pdr tank gun tests are ahead of schedule, also that Germany is very interested in procuring it for their Mk. III Panzer. They would have to produce it under licence though because we won't have the capacity. General Ironside asked if this gun is also destined for anti-tank regiments and I confirmed it, also that a 3" AT-gun is on the drawing board to replace the 6-pdr.
"There appears to be a lot of emphasis on armoured warfare at TRADOC," he replied.
"There is," John Gort stepped in. "We consider mobile warfare the best way to overcome the stalemate of trench warfare but ideally combined with infantry, artillery and air support. The Germans and Soviets are thinking along the same lines."
"With the same emphasis?" General Ironside returned.
"Yes. We can discuss that later this evening though."
Great news is that we finally have a design for a new aircraft-carrier tentatively named HMS Ark Royal. It is very similar to the American design the prime difference being the more heavily armoured deck giving it a "battle" displacement of ca. 35,000 standard tons. A new feature is deck-edge elevator (which has proven successful on USS Wasp) in addition to two inboard elevators. All we need now are modern naval aircraft for the Fleet Air Arm.
After the meeting was over I went to my MoD office, brewed some coffee and started reading the stack of paperwork which had accumulated during my absence. After a while I decided to ask COL Thomson if I could have a secretary and much to my surprise it was no problem at all. In fact he was wondering why I hadn't asked for one earlier. Five minutes later Alice knocked on my office door and introduced herself as my new secretary. A pleasant lady, married (important) and very adaptable to my unconventional methods. She even made a few suggestions which I immediately agreed to. I like people who show initiative.
At 13:00 I decided to take a late lunch at the Army and Navy Club then return to Saffron Walden early. I had a mass of documents to read and accompanied with a glass of beer it would go down better.