On June 8 1936, Mr. R. V. Vernon of the Colonial Office drafted a
Memorandum, of which the following is an extract:
The sentence in the draft Report under discussion was as follows: "Mr.
Ormsby Gore[1] dwelt upon the strategic and economic importance of the
Colonies". Sir Edward Harding[2] thought it was very unwise to say anything
about the strategic importance of the Colonies. If anyone were to look at a
map of the Colonies he might find out where Singapore was, and who could
say what that would lead to? He proposed to strike out the word
"strategic". Mr. Vernon agreed.
Sir Harry Battersbee[3] thought that it was very dangerous to refer to the
economic importance of the Colonies. Any such reference would direct the
mind of the reader to the claims of Germany for the restoration of her past
colonial empire upon purely economic grounds. He thought the word should be
omitted. Mr. Vernon agreed.
Sir Rupert Howorth[4] did not like emphasis being laid on the importance of
the Colonies. We were already to a large extent the object of envy and
suspicion of the world on account of our possession of colonies. The best
line for us to take now was to minimise their importance, and even to
underrate them. He suggested that the word "importance" should be omitted.
Mr. Vernon agreed.
The sentence in the Draft now read: "Mr. Orsmby Gore dwelt upon the
Colonies". Mr. Archer[5] thought that this was a rather unhappy expression
in that it suggested a lingering, continued exposition of the colonial
aspect of inter-imperial affairs, which might very easily provoke jealously
on the part of the Dominions. Mr. Vernon pointed out that the report would
probably be read by a large number of agents of foreign governments who
might be imperfectly acquainted with the English language. There was a
grave risk that they would interpret the words "Mr. Ormsby Gore dwelt upon
the Colonies" as meaning "Mr. Ormsby Gore dwelt in the Colonies". This
would not be true. He suggested the substitution of the words "referred
to". Sir Edward Harding pointed out that these words had already appeared
in every sentence of the draft Report which had so far been passed, and he
thought it would be a good thing to find another expression this time. Sir
Harry Battersbee suggested the words "alluded to". Mr. Vernon agreed.
The sentence thus revised read: "Mr. Ormsby Gore alluded to the Colonies".
Sir Rupert Howarth enquired whether it would not really be better to leave
the sentence out altogether. If the Report merely stated that Mr Ormsby
Gore alluded to the Colonies, it might excite suspicion on the part of
foreign readers that the real gist of his remarks had been of quite a
different character, and that this was nothing more than a screen or a
disguise. Sir Harry Battersbee pointed out that Mr. Ormsby Gore's name
would in any case appear as one of those present, and that as he was
Secretary of State for the Colonies, it might probably arouse some
jealously in the minds of Dominion statesmen if they considered that he had
talked about the Dominions just as if they were colonies. It therefore
seemed wiser to leave the sentence in. Mr. Vernon agreed, but suggested
that the addition of the word "furtively" before "alluded to" might be an
improvement. This was negatived without a division.
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[1] Later Lord Harlech, Colonial Secretary, 1936-38.
[2] Permanent Under-Secretary, Dominions Office.
[3] Assistant Under-Secretary of State, Dominions Office.
[4] Administrative Assistant Secretary, Imperial Conferences.
[5] As above.