Committee of Imperial Defence
Encyclopedia
The Committee of Imperial Defence was an important ad hoc part of the government of the United Kingdom
and the British Empire
from just after the Second Boer War
until the start of World War II
. It was responsible for research, and some co-ordination, on issues of military strategy
.
Typically, a temporary sub-committee would be set up to investigate and report at length on a specific issue. A large number of such sub-committees were engered over the decades, on topics such as foreign spies (a Committee report in 1909 led to the founding of MI5
and MI6), food rationing, and aerial defence.
, then British Prime Minister, following the recommendations of the Elgin Committee, chaired by Lord Elgin
. It was intended as an advisory committee for the Prime Minister, one that would be small and flexible; it replaced the Cabinet
's decrepit Defence Committee, which had usually only met during periods of crisis.
The original concept was to create a strategic vision defining the future roles of the two military services after the military reductions in the wake of the Boer War. However, no arrangements were made for it to formally pass on its conclusions to those with the ability to translate them into actions.
This lack soon became obvious enough that a Secretariat was appointed, under Sir George Clarke
. However, far from simply acting as a communicator, he expected to actually make policy, and see it implemented. With the fall of the Balfour Government in 1906, and with the military services determined to control their own futures, Clarke's plans fell through, and with no support from the incoming Prime Minister, he left in 1907.
The Secretariat carried on, largely as a forum for communication on lesser matters between those service members who would speak to each other, and with civil servants.
The Committee slowly gained in importance under the leadership of Maurice Hankey
. He was appointed Naval Assistant Secretary to the Committee in 1908, and became Secretary to the Committee in 1912; he would hold that position for the next twenty-six years.
By 1914, the Committee had begun to act as a defence planning agency for the British Empire, consequently providing advice to the Dominion on occasion. It continued to perform these roles into the 1920s. It was effectively a peacetime defence planning system, one which only provided advice; formal authority remained with Ministers and service chiefs (which helped ensure its acceptability to the existing bureaucracy
).
Chaired by the Prime Minister, members were usually cabinet ministers, the heads of the military services, and key civil servants; Prime Minister
s from Dominion countries were de facto members of the Committee in peacetime as well.
It was shut down on the outbreak of World War II.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
from just after the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
until the start of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. It was responsible for research, and some co-ordination, on issues of military strategy
Military strategy
Military strategy is a set of ideas implemented by military organizations to pursue desired strategic goals. Derived from the Greek strategos, strategy when it appeared in use during the 18th century, was seen in its narrow sense as the "art of the general", 'the art of arrangement' of troops...
.
Typically, a temporary sub-committee would be set up to investigate and report at length on a specific issue. A large number of such sub-committees were engered over the decades, on topics such as foreign spies (a Committee report in 1909 led to the founding of MI5
MI5
The Security Service, commonly known as MI5 , is the United Kingdom's internal counter-intelligence and security agency and is part of its core intelligence machinery alongside the Secret Intelligence Service focused on foreign threats, Government Communications Headquarters and the Defence...
and MI6), food rationing, and aerial defence.
History
It was established in 1902 by Arthur BalfourArthur Balfour
Arthur James Balfour, 1st Earl of Balfour, KG, OM, PC, DL was a British Conservative politician and statesman...
, then British Prime Minister, following the recommendations of the Elgin Committee, chaired by Lord Elgin
Victor Bruce, 9th Earl of Elgin
Victor Alexander Bruce, 9th Earl of Elgin, 13th Earl of Kincardine, KG, GCSI, GCIE, PC , known as Lord Bruce until 1863, was a British statesman who served as Viceroy of India from 1894 to 1899.-Background and education:...
. It was intended as an advisory committee for the Prime Minister, one that would be small and flexible; it replaced the Cabinet
Cabinet of the United Kingdom
The Cabinet of the United Kingdom is the collective decision-making body of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom, composed of the Prime Minister and some 22 Cabinet Ministers, the most senior of the government ministers....
's decrepit Defence Committee, which had usually only met during periods of crisis.
The original concept was to create a strategic vision defining the future roles of the two military services after the military reductions in the wake of the Boer War. However, no arrangements were made for it to formally pass on its conclusions to those with the ability to translate them into actions.
This lack soon became obvious enough that a Secretariat was appointed, under Sir George Clarke
George Clarke, 1st Baron Sydenham of Combe
George Sydenham Clarke, 1st Baron Sydenham of Combe GCSI, GCIE, GCMG, GBE was a British colonial administrator and British Army officer.-Background and education:Clarke was born in Lincolnshire...
. However, far from simply acting as a communicator, he expected to actually make policy, and see it implemented. With the fall of the Balfour Government in 1906, and with the military services determined to control their own futures, Clarke's plans fell through, and with no support from the incoming Prime Minister, he left in 1907.
The Secretariat carried on, largely as a forum for communication on lesser matters between those service members who would speak to each other, and with civil servants.
The Committee slowly gained in importance under the leadership of Maurice Hankey
Maurice Hankey, 1st Baron Hankey
Maurice Pascal Alers Hankey, 1st Baron Hankey, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, PC was a British civil servant who gained prominence as the first Cabinet Secretary and who later made the rare transition from the civil service to ministerial office.-Life and career:The third son of R. A...
. He was appointed Naval Assistant Secretary to the Committee in 1908, and became Secretary to the Committee in 1912; he would hold that position for the next twenty-six years.
By 1914, the Committee had begun to act as a defence planning agency for the British Empire, consequently providing advice to the Dominion on occasion. It continued to perform these roles into the 1920s. It was effectively a peacetime defence planning system, one which only provided advice; formal authority remained with Ministers and service chiefs (which helped ensure its acceptability to the existing bureaucracy
Bureaucracy
A bureaucracy is an organization of non-elected officials of a governmental or organization who implement the rules, laws, and functions of their institution, and are occasionally characterized by officialism and red tape.-Weberian bureaucracy:...
).
Chaired by the Prime Minister, members were usually cabinet ministers, the heads of the military services, and key civil servants; Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
s from Dominion countries were de facto members of the Committee in peacetime as well.
It was shut down on the outbreak of World War II.
External links
- http://www.sourceuk.net/article/0/562/sir_maurice_hankey_and_the_origins_of_the_cabinet_office.html
- How Imperial was the Committee of Imperial Defence?
Further reading
- Johnson, Franklyn Arthur: Defence by Committee: The British Committee of Imperial Defence, 1885-1959 (Oxford University Press, London, New York, 1960)