Evening star., 1940-01-04
Permanent Committee
For Defense Seen
AsU. :. Need

Maj. Eliot Points
To Coordination in
British Setup
By MAI. GEORGE FIELDING
ELIOT.
In observing the course of the war
from day to day, one does not al
ways stop to ask oneself why or how
or by whom the decisions are taken
which produce the events which
make our headlines. We know, for
example, that Great Britain is gov
erned by a Parliament elected by
the people, with the executive pow
ers confided to a cabinet represent
ing the majority of the House Of
Commons, which can continue to
hold Office only while it retains the
confidence of the House. But how
do the British people, with this gov
eminent, run war? How does
the government arrive at decisions
on what is to be done, and how are
these decisions carried into effect?
What is the connection between
government and armed forces?
Like all British constitutional
functions, the control of war policy
has been a matter of evolution and
compromise. In the last war there
was a good deal of friction, lost mo-
ton and in one or two instances
real danger as result of imperfect
machinery of control. In time OF
peace, questions of defense are IN
the hands of the Committee OF I'M
perial Defense, of which the Prime
Minister is chairman, and which
includes the responsible ministers
of the three defense departments
(war, air and navy, the foreign
minister, the chancellor OF the ex-
chequer, the home secretary the
secretaries for the dominions, the
colonies and India, and the chiefs
of staff of the three fighting serv-
ices. Certain other ministers and
officials may be called upon to SIT
as part of the committee when
necessary.
Defense Co-ordinator Added.
During the last war the functions
of this committee were ABSORBED py
the war council, and today 1t is
nrobable that the war cabinet Is
taking over duties performed by the
committee in time of peace. At any
rate the membership OF the war
cabinet, as far as ministers go, Is
identical with it. In 1896 minister
for coordination OF defense was
added to the cabinet, to be the
deputy chairman Of the Commlttee
of Imperial Defense, and to ACT as d
general co-ordinator in defense
matters, particularly those relating
to supply. This task has now oeen
confided to Admiral of the Fleet
Earl Chatfeld, one of Britalns most
distinguished sailors, former nrst
sea lord and Beatty's flag captain
at Jutland.
The Committee of Imperial De-
fense possesses a permanent secre-
tariat, drawn partly from the hgnt,
ing services and partly from the civll
service. It has as an adjunct the
imperial Defense College, WIN a
small, carefully selected student
body of senior officers OF all three
services (and a few civilians) VINO
study problems OF broad natlonal
and imperial defense. The commltVee
10 an elastic and flexible organlza-
tion. without any executive au-
thority save that which flows nat
urally from the nature OF lls
personnel. 1t is a planning ana
advisory body rather than an ex-
ecutive staff. 1t has a great many
suhcommittees for the study OF
various phases of its work, the most
inportant of which in war is the
chiefs of staff subcommittee, con-
sisting of the chief of the Imperial
general staff General Sir Edmuno
Ironside), the first sea loro anu
chief of the naval staff Admlral OF
the Fleet Sir Dudley Pound ana tne
chief of the air staff (Air Chief Mar
shal Sir Cyril NewalD. The minister
for coordination OF defense some
times presides over the meetings Oh
this subcommittee, but normally
the three chiefs of staff meet alone
IJnon this subcommittee rests tne
responsibility for the giving OF mill
tary and strategical advice to tne
war cabinet. They are assisted oy
a Joint planning subcommittee con-
sistine of the chiefs of their respec.
tive war plans sections, reinforced
bv three permanently detailed
officers who must be graduates OF
the Imperial Defense College, ana
q Joint intelligence subcommittee
consisting of the chiefs OF ntel-
ligence of the three services, aloeo
as NAV be necessary by represent
atives Of the foreign office, the de-
nartment of overseas trade and the
department of economic warfare.
Advise on Naming Commanders.
The appointment of commanders
In chief for forces in the field OF
at sea is a responsibility OF the gov
eminent. undertaken with the ad-
vice of the chiefs of staff. Co
ordination of action between lano'
sea and air forces, and the ques-
ton of unified command either be-
tween land, sea and air units
where necessary, or between the
forces of Great Britain and her
allies, are likewise decided upon by
the government with the appro-
pirate military advice to guide it.
In France the function OF COM
mand and war planning is some
what differently adjusted. The Pre-
mier, M. Daladier, is also the min
lister for national defense. Undel
him are three sub-departments-
war, air and marine navy)-each
headed by a minister of cabinet
rank. Under him also Is the chief