ABSTRACT
The Report of the Royal Commission on the Supply of Food and Raw Material in Time of War, 19015, was the foundation of the preparations for securing the economic position of the country in time of war. The Admiralty and War Office, however, were to make their own mobilization arrangements direct with the companies concerned. Provision was made for reference in the last resort to the Cabinet as a final Court of Appeal in the event of conflicting demands from the naval, military and civil authorities. An important work of concentrating the minds of many Ministers, Civil Servants and experts outside the Government on the economic problems that would confront them in the event of war. Cargoes were to be insured through a State Insurance Office to be set up on the outbreak of war, and, here again, full provision was made for co-operation with the interests concerned and for safeguarding the interests of the State.
