The net result of the discussions on defence is that there will be a Defence or Supply Ministry but there will be a Minister of Civil Defence. The home front comes under Sir John Anderson for air-raid precautions and the registration of the nation for war duties. The civil arrangements made had no ce-ordination and a score of different authorities were making appeals to the nation for personnel and materials.
This seems a small outcome from the crisis but, as the Prime Minister stated, the Services side would not have been found ill-prepared for war, as some critics have suggested. The Navy was all right, the field army was ready but the R.A.F. needed more planes and the T. A. more anti-aircraft guns, We are on a five year armament plan and mid-way through it. Things are to be speeded up. The general impression is that a Supply Ministry with special powers is badly needed.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.