BRITISH CABINET

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 255, 23 July 1919, Page 7

BRITISH CABINET

i BROAD OUTLINES SETTLED

A NEW DEPARTURE Bx Telezraph-PrcEE Asaooiation-ConyrlsM London, July 21. It is understood that Mr 'Lloyd George has settled the broad outline of tho new British Cabinet; which will probably consist of twelve members. A notable feature will be the retention of the secretariat as developed under the AVar Cabinet, enabling a record to be taken of all tho deliberations and decisions ot Cabinet.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. [The secretariat of the War Cabinet was instituted in 1917, as one of several notable new features in the British Governmental system. Lieut.-Colonel Sir Maurico Hankey, 1v.C.8., was at its head, as secretary to tho AVar Cabinet. The chief function of tho new secretariat, according to "The Times" History of the AVar, was to ensure that the Government Departments wero kept in close touch with the policy of the Cabinet, and conversely, that tho members of the War Cabinet wero kept in touch with the policy and aotion of the various departments. To this end, the rule which had persisted through centuries of change, that no minutes should be taken .of Cabinet meetings, was abandoned, and the Prime Minister instructed the secretariat that its first duty was to report the proceedings of the AVar Cabinet. Secondly, it had to transmit the decisions of the AA T ar Cabinet to those Departments which were concerned in giving effect to.them, or were otherwise interested.]