A new Fifth Sea Lord would give intelligence its own representative at the board. Intelligence estimates would go to cabinet members and the Committee of Imperial Defence as appropriate. Other departments could circulate monthly accounts of their work, with fuller papers for ministers and reduced versions for Parliament. Political ministers would supply covering explanations. Most of the staff already existed, so the proposal redistributes Naval Intelligence's accumulated functions and probably promotes Battenberg to the new post. Giving the First Sea Lord direct responsibility for strategy and mobilization would also require that office to produce and discuss its plans.
Notable Point · 31:14-34:00
A Fifth Sea Lord separates secret intelligence from public explanations
A dedicated intelligence Sea Lord could preserve restricted estimates while the wider Admiralty explained its work regularly to cabinet and Parliament.