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Printed memorandum by the Army Council regarding the supply of men for the Army, reporting that, the strength of the Army in the field cannot be maintained at an adequate level in the event of heavy fighting in April [1917] due to the inadequacy of the numbers of men provided by the Military Service Acts; suggesting the introduction of National Service. 2pp.

Memorandum by the Army Council concerning a memorandum (G174) by the Rt Hon Sir Auckland Campbell Geddes, Minister of National Service, on the problem of the maintenance of the armed forces, notably commenting on a proposal for the lowering of the age for service overseas, the effect of the reduction of the numbers of B and C category (medically unfit or wounded) men in the Home Service upon training, the possible employment of Garrison battalions in the line in France, and the availability of skilled men for service. 3pp.

Printed Army Council memorandum entitled 'Supply of men for the Army', notably outlining the comments of FM Sir Douglas Haig, Commander in Chief, British Armies in France, on the effect of the prospective shortage of men on operations on the Western Front, and the suggestion that the number of battalions in a division should be reduced, and reiterating the Army Council's earlier request that the matter should receive urgent attention from the War Cabinet. 2pp.

Memorandum, in French, by the Belgian General Staff on the material situation of the Belgian Army. 3pp.

Christmas greetings to Robertson from Pandit Dhanpat Rai. 1p.

Typed extract from a private letter from temporary Lt Gen Sir Henry Hughes Wilson to the Rt Hon Andrew Bonar Law, Secretary of State for the Colonies, strongly urging the creation of an Anglo-French Council of Six, composed of the two Foreign Secretaries, the two War Secretaries and the two Commanders in Chief in France, in order to prevent the deterioration of relations between the two countries, especially over military operations in Gallipoli and Salonika, Greece. 7pp.

Printed copy of an extract from a private letter by Robertson, commenting on the value of the New Armies being raised and trained in Britain, and recommending that the new recruits be used to keep formations already in the field at full strength. 4pp.

Extract from instructions from Robertson to Gen Sir Herbert Charles Onslow Plumer, General Officer Commanding, British Forces in Italy, on the working relationship of Plumer with the Italian Commander in Chief, Gen Armando Diaz. 1p.

Copy private letter from Robertson to Lt Col Clive Wigram, Assistant Private Secretary to HM King George V, expressing his concern regarding the Dardanelles operations, and his opinion that all available resources should be concentrated on Allied activities on the Western Front, and enclosing a paper, unsanctioned by FM Sir John Denton Pinkstone French, Commander in Chief, British Armies in France, expressing his views on the subject (not included). Includes a statement of the total number of rounds of ammunition on the Western Front. 5pp.

Copy of private memorandum sent by Robertson to FM Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl of Khartoum and Broome, Secretary of State for War, outlining his proposals on the status and duties of the Chief of the Imperial General Staff (CIGS), notably the abolition of the existing system of issuing operational orders through the Army Council and the placing of this power in the hands of the Chief of the Imperial General Staff (see 3/3/42), amended following a personal discussion between Robertson and Kitchener as to the role of the Secretary of State for War, and with substantial alterations to the paragraphs dealing with that subject. 6pp.

Copy of note given by FM Sir Douglas Haig, Commander in Chief, British Armies in France, to the Rt Hon David Lloyd George, Prime Minister, during the third meeting of the Allied Supreme War Council at Versailles, concerning the channel of communication between the Executive War Board of the Supreme War Council and himself, and the responsibility for military results. 1p.

Extracts from The Times on the creation of the Supreme War Council, and the position of French Marshal Ferdinand Foch as Generalissimo of the Allied forces. 2pp.

Copy of telegram to Robertson from FM Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener of Khartoum and Broome, Secretary of State for War, agreeing to circulate Robertson's memorandum on the future conduct of the war (see 4/3/33) to the War Council, and agreeing that the appointment of Lt Col (Henry) Cecil Lowther as Chief General Staff Officer, Home Forces should be carefully considered. 1p.

Copy of a telegram to Robertson from Maj Gen Sir John Steven Cowans, Quartermaster General to the Forces, giving the position regarding supplies of warm clothing. 2pp.

Copy of a Foreign Office telegram (1870) to the British Ambassador in Rome, proposing a conference between the French, British and Italians in light of the recent military disasters in Italy; outlining the scheme to create a Supreme War Council as proposed by the British War Cabinet. Enclosing a further telegram giving the full text of the preliminary draft proposal for the Supreme War Council. 2pp.

Handwritten copy of a memorandum by FM Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, on his career in the Peninsula, in answer to a question by the Rt Hon Philip Henry Stanhope, Viscount Mahon, Sep 1835. 3pp.