From “Outsiders” to “Insiders”: Industry and the Rehabilitation of the Supply Planning Framework

This chapter covers the Japanese invasion of Manchuria in 1931, and the impact it had upon British defence. It discusses the government’s understanding of ‘defensive deficiencies’ and the measures taken to remedy them via the cancellation of the Ten Year Rule and investigations in the Committee of Imperial Defence, all occurring in a time of severe political and financial constraints. The second part of the chapter covers the role of businessmen such as James Lithgow and their attempt to rationalise the bloated shipbuilding industry through the National Shipbuilders Security scheme.