A file containing multiple drafts of the British government’s White Paper on defence from 1949, along with correspondence and memoranda suggesting amendments and additions. The paper summarises the strength, readiness and capabilities of the British armed forces as they recovered from the Second World War and began to adapt to the Cold War. Amongst the subjects covered in it are problems with manpower due to post-war demobilisation; alterations to the length of national service to remedy this; the involvement of the Royal Air Force in the Berlin airlift; the completion of repairs to and reconstruction of large parts of the Royal Navy; the need for cooperation with the United States of America and the Commonwealth for defence; the coordination of the production of military supplies and munitions; the division of the defence budget between the various services; military research and development; and problems with the disposal of wartime equipment and munitions.