Castex on national defence councils

Castex presents France's national defence council and Britain's Committee of Imperial Defence as attempts to give governments competence, stability, and continuity. Such institutions should coordinate departments and prepare industry, transport, communications, and administration for war. Their responsibilities must extend to operational questions at the level of government and nation. They need to identify national interests, decide where to expand or preserve existing positions, assess threats, and develop plans for those aims. Disconnected national planning provides the explanation of France's collapse offered here.