The economic priorities in this prewar argument are the balance of trade and the flow of materials. Britain still depends on industry, with raw materials arriving by sea and manufactured goods moving outward. Lloyd George's interest in those flows could make coordination with Dominion navies part of his Admiralty reforms. A general staff would help persuade them to buy ships and equipment, supplying orders for British industry while expanding imperial naval capacity. The counterfactual carries the priorities he pursued at the Board of Trade into the department responsible for naval policy, supported by a reforming mandate.
Notable Point · 41:12-43:27
Trade economics reshape imperial naval coordination
Lloyd George's focus on trade flows and industrial strength could make imperial naval coordination an economic policy as well as a defence policy.