Catalogue description Cabinet and War Cabinet: War Trade Advisory Committee: Minutes and Memoranda

By former file reference

The War Trade Advisory Committee was appointed by Treasury minute of 20 September 1915 to advise on the restriction of enemy supplies, to co-ordinate the administration of the War Trade Department and several committees controlling the export of various raw materials. It also advised the Cabinet on policy questions arising from these activities. It was chaired by Lord Crewe.

In January 1917 some of the Committee's work was taken over by the Ministry of Blockade. At this point a sub-committee recommended that the Committee's terms of reference should be "to consider and advise the War Cabinet upon any inter-departmental questions relating to supplies and trade as affected by the War, which the War Cabinet or any government department may refer to it." In June 1917 the War Cabinet agreed that the Committee should remain in existence, but only a few of its papers date after this.