-4-
 
difficulties of which the greatest is that it might involve 
the United Kingdom in increased Eurpean responsibilities 
with results which would seriously affect the relationship 
of the United Kingdom to the Dominions.
 
REGIONAL SECURITY.
 
     Under all these circumstances it would appear
 
the minimum form of political co-operation needed for the
 
essential political objectives of the peace settlement,
 
would be secured through the creation of Regional Pacts.
 
     There might at the outset be four regions: (i) Europe,
 
including the Mediterranean; (ii) The two Americas; (iii)
 
U.S.S.R; (iv) A Pacific Regional Pact.
 
       At a later stage it might prove desirable to see a fifth 
region constituted consisting of the countries of the Near 
and Middle East but this development will probably follow 
the achievement by India of full Dominion status and India 
having gained some years of experience in complete self-
government.             
 
     The basis of regional co-operation would be complete
 
national disarmament (save for closely defined and lightly
 
armed police forces), and the assumption by the whole
 
region of responsibility for security against external attack 
 
and the outlawry of war within the region.    
 
     In each area a regional council would be established
 
consisting of orepresentatives of each national State
 
within the region.
 
 
      This Council would be responsible for supervising
 
national disarmamount and the suppression of national pro-
 
duction of armaments; for inspection of factories to prevent 
 
clandestine re-armament; for the recruitment and 
 
maintenance of a regional force, consisging mainly of an 
 
air force and probably a navy with conceivably, so far as 
 
Europe is concerned, a highly-mobile mechanized land force.
 
     The Council would also undertake wiyhin its own region 
 
all the political functions ascribed under the
 
                                        Covenant