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ML (895

o TQVB1 Ul iaER L O C K A N D K E Y .

It is requested that special care may be taken to ensure the secrecy ol this document.

W A R ' CABINET.. 8

CONCLUSIONS of a Meeting of the War Cabinet held at 19 DowningStreet, S. W. 1, on Friday, September 8, 1939*, at 11 - 30 A . M .

Present: The Right Hon. NEVILLE CHAMBERLAIN, M.P.,. Prime Minister (in the Chair), The Right Hon. Sir JOHN SIMON, K.C., The Right Hon. VISCOUNT HALIFAX,

M.P., Chancellor of the Exchequer. Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs!

Admiral of the Fleet the Right Hon. The Right Hon. WINSTON S. LORD CHATFIELD, Minister for Co- CHURCHILL, M.P., First Lord of ordination of Defence. . the Admiralty.

The Right Hon. L. HORE-BELISHA, The Right Hon. Sir KJNGSLEY WOOB, M.P., Secretary of State for War. M.P;, Secretary of State for Air.

The Right Hon. Sir SAMUEL HOARE, The Right Hon. LORB HANKEY, Bt, MP. , Lord Privy Seal. Minister without Portfolio.

[ifi The following were alsp present J

The fRight Hon. Sir JOHN ANDERSON, The Right Hon. ANTHONY EDEN, M.P., MjP., Secretary of State' for the Secretary of State for Dominion Home Department and Minister for Affairs. Home Security.

The Right Hon. WALTER ELLIOT, M.P., The Right.' Hon. H. RAMSBOTHAM, Minister of Health (Item 5). M.P., First Commissioner of Works

(Item 5). Sir HORACE J. WILSON, Permanent Air Chief Marshal Sir CYRIL L. N .

Secretary to the Treasury. NEWALL, Chief of the Air Staff (Items 1-4).

Admiral of the Fleet Sir DUDLEY General Sir W. EDMUND IRONSIDE, POUND, First Sea Lord and Chief of Chief of the Imperial General Staff N a v a l " S t a l p g ^ s ; i ^ . " . (Items 1-4)1

W. S. DOUGLAS, Under-Secretary, Treasury (Item 5). -

Secretariats . Sir/ErawARD-BRIBJGES.: :,

1 ­ Air'Operations... ' . . . . . . . . . . . . ... V.

2 The Naval Situation ... ... ... ... ... ... 3 The Army Situation ..... ... ... h ... ... ... 4 Assistance from India... ... ... ... :5 Evacuation of Government Departments ... 6 Turkey ... *. ... ... . ... ... ... v 7 Italy: Internal Political Situation ... ... ... ... 8 Naval Operations. f .... . ... . . . . . .

Question of despatch to Gibraltar of certain units from the, Home , a Fleet. '

9- Italy: Commercial Contacts ... 10 The Balkans ... ... ... ... ...

12 United States Naval Patrol in the Western Atlantic '.. 13 The Far Eastern Situation ... . . . . . . . . . . .. 14 Poland: the Military Situation ... ... ... .. 15 ObscuratiM of Lightihg ... . . . . . . . . . . .

: 16 Acti0 ? taken by the Dominions ... ... 17 Eire: Representation of the UnitedKihgdomin... 18 Meetings of the WarGabmetoh Sundaysi ... ;,. .

E l

' SSmimte'lilt.,;, .-!.,

Sitnationu . (Previous

W.M. (39), 7th Conclusions, Minute 2.)

. A diseusjkia Loot LJ,]L'C. n to i m t h m i h o d i ' K M k w ' &k I c 2 3 ^ - ' sd: , - on H m m

- - - .- ' . l o u i S - f i e c o D k a t o f c t ^ ou. i k u j p ^ k\ OD ojiwa Jam­V ffis good rease^ ; : - r - f e . . xn " ! i . ities fe - I &hs eneet ot our propaganda, £in. J - Ias'j that our; T xsraffi were able .to fly with, impunity .^1 over &e North-West of Germany would" have a depressing effect oh"'the;-morale Of; the German peopkv. :

, -% " I t "was;generally; agreed that -the Material which should be incorporated in theieaiets was a matter, which could best be left to the discretion of the. Ministry;f of; Information, but: that the suggestion that the- Prime. Ministers Broadcast. to the^ German people would form a suitable leaflet should be brought to the notice

1Of V m - M i t i M ^ y p ' ' - ' (V'.I - T. ,

The War Cabinet agreed :— That the distribution of propaganda leaflets by the Boy al Air Porce was a -"valuable operation which shbulttbe repeated from time to time as and when - oppbr^unfty

2. The First Lord of the Admiralty reported that, in the previous twenty^four hburs, four British merchant ships had been 8n^;.'oat'of/a-:fplal,.(if. eight attacked; There had been no loss of life, as the ships had been sunkby; gunfire after the crewshad been removed. .He(proppsed to prepare;a would enable a comparison to be made between the present losses and those sustained at the height of the German submarine campaign in 1917 W rektipn to the total tonnage involved in each case. This, he thought, would show that the present campaign, "though- intense, was not- comparable in its results;to: the previ'Qus';bhe.

- possible';'steps were being taken-'fo introduce the convoy system, and' the Admiralty were proposing' to' restrict the sailings of valuable fast ships until they had been'armed. There were numerous n srorts of attacks on enemy suhia; nes by our Destroyers' though n : , c i a could,not Be assessed wife cjftainty. '

It, wag proposed, subject-to THE-concurrence of the A i r Ministrv Jhat iwo'-;.'-'8qiuadrons-: "of:': iohg^ange'- !lyiW-b0ts- now -in:

M ^ - ' - - - ' - - - 2 c t / 3 ;t e ' i) z they could ;asilst Z J 2

TLa GIzwl of, ike Ait &Cc J ozgrnSed his ^neuifence " T I I H this

TT5e T / / i v Cabinet; n^ ie of iiuc ' zjrs State-ncnt.

CONTENTS.

No. -Subject. I Air Operations... ... ... ... . . . . . . 2 The Naval Situation ... . . . . . . ... ... 3 The Army Situation ... ... ... 4 Assistance from India... . . . . . . \.. . . . . . . 5 Evacuation of Government Departments ... ... ,... 6 Turkey ... * ... . . . . . . . . . . :.. ... ... 7 Italy: Internal Political Situation ... ... ... ... 8 Naval Operations .... ; ... ... .... .... ...

Question of despatch to Gibraltar of certain units from the Eome

u-;.;.. Fleet; : . ; / '.'.

9 Italy: Commercial Contacts 10 The Balkans ... ... . . . . . . ... I I Egypt ... ... ... ... . . . . . . . . . . .. 12 United States Naval Patrol in the Western Atlantic '.. 13 The Far Eastern Situation ... . . . . . . ... . ... 14 Poland: the Military Situation ... ... . . . . . 15 Obscuration of Lighting ... ... ... ... .. 16 Aption taken by the Dominions ... 17 Eire: Representation of the United Kingdom in '..\ ; 18 Meetings of the War Cabinet on Sundays . . . .

Fj O T ^ W D D D ' - . ' T j - r i J&J uL " * H A D ;

i- ^ S C A - O - : - uL - .A 3 i.

S H O A L S ME E O A I D I U A O D . IIG \ o : i , i OWN, TIJMII i " . , L S W A C a^ionf F E S L K J G H A S O M E (QIMAATARS IHC,u it, ; ; S A O T R I G I A E D " A A , - \ A D D A Pad^AA

7 : - - i - - - , j L j . i I . ; A :

E O N F K D A JC B I S .1 - , i : : ' A . 0a ( A X - A D I N A N D "S

to flv v^th ihiounrtv a l^ORFCH-^^est-. - O F -Gei^MMv W O I X L D D '

have a depressing effect' oh -thedmpiMe of the"-German-pspple.. : ^4 ' It- wasgenerally - agreed that the material which should he ^incorporated' in the -leaflets -was a-matter which---could bestfoeleft to the discretion of the -Ministry 'o£. Information,-* but; that tha suggestion that the Prime Ministers Broadcast to the German people would form a suitable leaflet should be brought to the notice

1

-.

of the Ministry. , . The War Cabinet agreed :—-

That the distribution of propaganda leaflets by the-Royal A i r Force was a valuable operation which should ,foe repeated from time to time as and When opportunely

o n $ * $ - : ' : " " ' ':';'!.''-;;;;:-' 1 -d;/d'-'-''d'':i!'l'd',d, a ;

2. The First Lord of the Admiralty riepprted that, in the previous twenty^four hours, four British merchant ships had been sunk out of a tot,al of eight attacked; There had been no loss of life, as the ships had been sunk,by gun-fire after the crews had been removed. He proposed to prepare a calculation which would enable a comparison to be made between the present losses and those sustained at the height of the German submarine campaign in-1917, in relation to the total tonnage involved in each case. This, he thohght, would show that -the present-campaign,(though intense, was not comparable in its results, to the previous..bne.

. A l l possible steps were Being taken to introduce the convoy - system, "and5-the "Admiralty were proposing-to restrict the sailings­

of valuable F A S T ships until they had-"been1 armed. There were n ; U M E R O U S reports of &ttacks.-pn e^^yvsubm^rin^''bj our Destroyers,

-monin Ihe "resu^^ It,was proposed, subject.t0'the concurrence of the Air Ministry,

. that two Squadrons o f ' long-range flying-boats, now in the "MedyisrraiQieand S H O E I D - b e moved -to stations wb "they could- assist.

- 14 ' LHA pirflii&GDDA/OF laa-ds O H the Boatk-Wssdidaapproaekes and O N

liz c^ssl O L C :aia

The. Cfcief of ike Ah\ SLicff cignilietahis ccncarrencs with this v.-.- suggestion;;--- a-.- - -;:.:-:: ', .. - - ;'..- ... .;. -..',-(.d.'-:\d' d dd

D r A ^ D I A S D A C : J - ,

India. -

Emanation of

Departments. (Previous Reference: W.M. (39), 6th Conclusions, Minute 2.)

' On Armies had

fiiw^acesBtjW^ e . r j n

o/f Inreplytb ap-:ehqMry -hyi^-Erime- l^aj^^^the - ChiCTr?if-, s -Iihperial-i j&ener^ Staffi:saM^tiMt Y T H S Y ^ ^ N ^ i ^ E T E , fully /f^R^r$& agaiast a possible turning movement tlirougb-HdHand and-B^gjuj^n.

! L : !The W ' C ^ I ^ ^ W C ^ A I I ' iifo^lifcatemeiii " f ­

4. The Chief of; the Imperial General Staff read to the War Cabinet a telegram which had been received by,,the Secretary of State for India: from the Indian Government, a copy of which is annexed to these Minutes (Annex).,

The War Cabinet agreed : -That an expression of their appreciation of this generous offer of assistance should be conveyed to;the Government of India.

5. The War Cabinet had under consideration a Note by the Minister of Home Security on the Evacuation of Government Departments (W.P. (39) 10).

The Minister of Home Security said that the Inter-Depart­mental Committee, which had.been set up by the desire of the War Cabinet to consider the moves of certain special staffs in advance of the general move, had now reported. Their recommendations were given in his Note, and he drew particular attention to their views :— . ..

. (a) that first priority should be given to the m o v e s of the Supply organisations of the Air Ministry and Admiralty to HarrOgate and Bath respectively,

- (6) that none of the moves should be ordered before the Office Of Works reported that arrangements were ^reasonably

' ready.' ' " - . . . . The First Commissioner of Works reported that instructions

had been issued on Wednesday night to carry pht the requisitioning of the premises required for the whole move.- As regards the move of the Air Ministry. tP Harrpgate, accommodatipn would be available on Monday, the ilth September, but under conditions which might be somewhat chaotic, and he Would prefer that the move should be postponed, at least until Wednesday, the J.3ihs September.

The accommodation for the Adhliraliy aiJ Bmh could also be got ready by Monday, but here again he would p r e f e r to postpone it until later : n e x t week. In that event, however,-owing to railway difficulties,, the. move could not, take,place.before Thursday, and would then h a v e to be carried butIff^o^ejcEwpn^' extending over-. Friday. The 1,500 Ministry of Supply staff f r o n t Woolwich, which was second' on the list of priority, was an entirely new demand, which had not been included in the original scheme, and he asked to foe given a;.few, days grace,;to',find. t h e , necessary a c c o i E E i i o d a t i o n . :

The Minister of Health reported that biUeting,noticss were now ­being served, and that he was satisfied that the necessary room was everywhere available, though in certain cases it might at first be cramped and involve clcphg on ifora.

A -"dh^cuissioh^en^il^ ^ 1 ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ % V I ^ TN M

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I f I S S I I f ' i

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led a sufficient tge -'of preparation: to - enable;' the stiffe/csoa:- ­cerned tosi ^ ... ^ 3e(lc c j ^ I U ' : l o iv LL " ­

?$&ir ' rjjs lBcswyf^i TO-ar jwfoa (Lh (T) ( V rr id (TD) c" V/ P, (tB) ;0), Sk? l i t e £ e Hoao C o

; / a : - v ' & ! p p l ^ ^ -. ':';;l::'tMs" : M f i i s i i ^ (a) that it was imdadisble Shaft pmbMeity ahorfd be given to - thio m^tte-by questions m Parliament,, &ad feat fcSp1

acyasct of the isa&Csr. shonld fee careMly watched. (The Prime Minister undertook to bear this point in mind.)

' '^deeS /^r'': ;;vlV-l?V.v;:v/-:^.

F r , 3Q. Secretary of SiaAe fzv Foreign A fairs said "that, ia (Previous accordance with the d oir e^c of the Wk Z jinet noted M iim Preferences: ms gin, he L sle -d 'o Hie I I? i " b 7 5 c Aiatessadc1 iLdkara,, o

W.M. (89), 5th

Stifr-Conclusion^ I0pqte$ ) * i,. .;regard-4o-film feflS/iMb/sao qaes&ion, - ^-Tlae^jabassadoi1 had-since.

- reposied (Tebr 2 13c &oo£ A cslj^ t^st !he Ih&d seea ihe- Ti^Msh - - -.' M'3LrS-& W(m%g%'h&SMm-mi hs^^-ssi^^md- him tfo3&"*m.-m&&­

j.ros t h e i s o i C i : oan fcbe iLif: : I: a " : . / c . . C'-.LC x. T 1,. Tibs

'-- ' -'; Tev^fe" yfjalsfesr; for ; - i^eiga-. A k i f e -kadk-..wmk%3&-- MmmiiiZ/m­n'J T l ' i C-^o f; /-G the

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v. ' " , - I/. - - vdppoaT -vii: ^ A ^ a s s a d o ^ a t

tm * . K - * q . ' - ; \ - - - - - - , / i i , i!,,)^;.

- ^ ' - - - " V H i

Question' of des­patahlto;

/Ssli-Q - ' l , - - - - - ­vfebreltM'' of - -: 1

certain units'­ 1 ^ T ^ ^ g & S S -* **** * from the Home The War Cabinet a g r e e d ­t P e e i " ^ ^ ' l f '

W-Mi: "(39), 7th Conclusions, Minute 2.)

Si T h e C U n c e l l m ' : o f t h e E w f a q v e r informed the -WOE OfflbraeJ Italy: GommraB­t othat the d i W J t o J ^ ; fe F^tacatoMto/.,^

(previous establishing c m m i m ^ - m ^ ^ lt,aly rshpwed:- v . Reference (1) That as refolds possible p u t a , the Befenee M . W ­ (39), .5th -Conohjisipns, ' - - to A t - i M i t f f t f t BJe3y and *to.Mm*add lipnute 5-) be jflfpsw., it TO dihicult Awr £hem to e?y whoi ttey-"of3

: ^ ' ^ - p f f ^ ^ 1 ' I B Mat Si i^m^Mm^:^:. ' * . f l i f : ­

r ; - v ! - - y^WmMmM- W e ^ a h B l i g P B ^

1s f . , - i . ; - : v j , - : im;'"iiisiili^SilBsfe - i p a M s i e s ; : : : ; ^ l ^ f ;

1- ;^ired'to'nmke v ' m ^ a e l u ^ -x -1 ^ S - 2

; :r a a - . a & s 7 a IKIB

(PreviousReference:W.M. (39), 7thConclusions,Minute 4.)

STEAL PATEOL to THE WESTERN MANMO. '

THE FAS EASTERN US&NGSISOH.'

t

I M DD '- R -'; . a v i a r j ^ a . i ^ a a

^ T & * v *

^KHT - % s m & m f . : - d he T

ddressed a telegram TO u r % ^ n r s i i u i z t i t z e ito eadb ml fcfine Balkan countries s d d i a g f o r d l i B T u d a s- da J:gaiM'!to-fee pi^etieabiMty of establish-­$PGDSIDJN^ ddV- dv / ad '-V '.'d d

ThedWarCabinet took note of this statement.

11; The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs informed the War Cabinet that he had received a telegram from His Majesty's Ambassador, Cairo,reporting that he bad received an intimation

from the Egyptian Government that, if he was to inform them in writing that the measures so far taken, including the declaration

0 f martial law, were not sufficient, they would declare a state of war between Egypt and Germany. Action was accordingly being taken on these lines.

The War. Cabinet took note of the above statement.

E12. The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs informed the

War Cabinet that a. telegram had been received from His Majesty's Ambassador, Washington, giving particulars regarding the naval atrol in the Western Atlantic which the United States Government ad decided to establish. The Admiralty had been asked to consider

the information supplied, and to inform the Foreign Office whether they were satisfied with the action proposed to be taken by the United States in this matter.

Tine War Cabinet took mote of the above statement.

13. The Secretary of State for Foreign AffairsmioiMeA the War Cabinet that two or three days previously the Japanese Government had addressed a note to theBritjs^iEjcench and United States Governments, suggesting that to "preventincidents in China during the present conflict in Europe each of those Governments should withdraw their military forces and their warships, and offering, if this suggestion were adopted, to look after the interests in China of the Governments concerned. Previous to the outbreak of war, consideration had been given to the practicability of withdrawing, these- forces, but with the exception of the General Officer Commanding, Hong Kong, the local authorities had all been opposed to such a course. The garrisons in Tientsin and Peking had been in existence since -1901, and that hithe International Settlement in Shanghai since 1927.' In each case the size of the garrison had been progressively reduced, and in his (the Secretary of State's) opinion these garrisons, would have to be withdrawn whenever the time eanmito secure a general se^emept of the posi^on.,.:in,Cl&i&.

" ' pjfe ffhe ^prjjii^ tkeaSepretary \of; .S^e*. rdjepatelr^ "

MVM& : - & i . a . . ^ a - . . . '

4 77 , dWf . ;A"D-AFE:V C,

(Previous Reference: W.M. (39), 7th Conclusions, Minute 3.)

iat

a f t e r 'BfelfeEDl fatoaaMaTJai'

nurify toot (m) A Koto to £ £ 3 Efcs

and stating ffiaft sa les O e j ( a a d ( £ 3 Illfcntoa1 States (BaBCTSgi—-v^g) ipqpnns f l to t i d to a ^ g o r : woold be no akanaMfics to sslzt jII

safe

ttofl li ifto coo1 erf t&3 Wsar all H fiT-nft;, sjsa 511 ^^EPB to­on ded.de om wi thdrasHodlr f s n ^ o f a n r Sa t£to IFar 1£B&\ -me should mot concede o u r leg^liE^^fiffiiffio^nc^pssiA

(a) That the Swistaury off States far ffferaajsn AUnss should

j a o s Sa t f t o JFEJT ffitok to ( £ t o J q p c c s s a t o l I&Sffidh , o tSto 15=33 a£ Ibis sflrfisrszl to W a r

w i s e of ft&e MriiftiBi&i w w " n ^ j - imillBM^iify farces i n t h e Far Easfi A w M Dsn tanaa anttaaat f sn r i t e r B t f e r enee to the W a r CGS3EtoL

14. 7*ftff tffrmmry erf rdrfmr Wrr iwfia - i i j t h r W a r TVMnH that an emissary had jg&it ffapn faadk fiai Inland! uralfcfa at message from General CaBtan die Waasd, m^pa&zg osa t£be TViSisEb sniSItaiy ELtoatioB, which n r r ' - ^w i t l y aggssBSBs, a i d aa gggesdaiig that Great Britain aadTXfcaaee atanlil lane to find, atrto Jnnagivlftf conveying mil£tarj: aa^pDfss tarJMandb; tian anse tas t naloB^lwBre aarop lanss , mae&iiEs gaas and anaaahntiaau HlriBasaaoe mas also-MSIDLS to prifaKs a^tofza Sa ffi^ktl ozjsr tSto cCitoj ^aafia Ito.il tofea place HtstaESiiL Gito (Etoaaaa itototoa to? tStoto ( E rac t o j azi. feto­pTn^jCTtatiofi o£ the ^fctSiiiafe MBBniMaBiiiiiii

. Members of iflte Wa r CSaaJaet an^ f c t o i 3a. t h e least TOJuimiwgi^r cM&atL n^-ttsnae was­easily sees oay. £d y ^S s q csszllfl

'"" TheCMgf&ef Staff tos- YTnrr (Danfant "4 CartaedeWfefc;

i

tlsa-BemMosss. (Previous ' Reference: \ "W.M. (39), 2nd -exclusions, Minute 4.) :

Eire:. ;,Renie­sakafion of the Mr. de Valera had mow espm^^i Mssaself as willing to receive a United Kingdom representative of the United Kingdom Government in Dublin. He in. had proposed that this representative should have the title of (Previous Ambassador, but it had been intimated that this was impossible Reference: from our point of view and the title " Representative " had been W.M. (89), 3rd agreed. Conclusions,Minute 6.)

Meetings of the "Mas Cabinet on Sundays. (Previous Reference: WM. (39), 7th -Conclusions, Minute 16.)

Jmyif'

a^d Minister

\Jtlrvto; . .mmsider' the in crafiSffllftatsGsa-i withj$ie., Ijlome;?Secrefeary ;Home Security a l^ w JS6p!HPk^&B' War

IS. The War Cabinet took notei of a Memorandum by the Secretorj .o£StatefmlA^m^JkM^^ (WJ?. (Gi)"$l9):5) covering :a statement showing the,nf^cip^-ac^ taken by the Dominions, Newfoaaiiidlahd" and. Sm Afegm iMnbdesia, in regard to defence measures immediately preceding and since the outbreak of war up to the 4th September, 1939.

17. The Secretary of State for Dm&immAffairsr reported that

The Secretary of State thought that, until our representative had been appointed to JMfeMm, it would be undesirable that the

Defence Departments should raise with the Eire Government, the grant of any major defence facilities (e.g., the use of Berehaven).

The War (DaMffi s thnrlk wmfkB casff fiM$ statement.

18. Some further disEanssoini teziz place on this matter. It was pointed out that although only three Ministers would normally be on dhmty each Sunday under the arrangement proposed, the remaining Ministers would not be far away and would be available at short notice. There was every adtemteflgg in an areangememt which would enable members of the War Cabinet, while available at short notice, to spend two Sundays in three out of JLendon.

The Prime Minister said that the three groups of Ministers which he proposed were as follows:—

: Group ! . Group III. The IPteiiiime EBiaiDfcai?. g a i s - g ^ ^ w a f c t r of the The Lord Pr ivy SeaL T h e ; SsBV^a^-of iEttpte ' The. Secretary of

The:': " ( S 3 ­amusser -: on iaMtoaaf

The £ f r e t , . % a a A o f the Irks Onafcib-ai.'

Portfolio.

it Group'iH- should be on duty on Sunday,

ANNE5L

Decipher of Telegram dated September-6^193% from Gqpernment of India, , . Defence Department, to Secretary

^Immediate. Wo. 2$!^/6/9.) ' ' V' NOW that we are at war, we are anxious to take timely steps to render

further aid to His Majesty's Government to meet certain eventualities which, in bur judgment, may well have to be met by India from time to time during the course of the war. As a first-step in this direction, we have already arranged to increase output of our munitions factories to maximum extent possible dniorder not only to meet our own probable needs but, if possible/ all outside "demands? which, judging from our recent experiences, are likely to be considered %sie]si\considerable. We now propose to take immediate action, with such material resources as we have at our disposal, to carry out the fbllbwihg :--- ;

(a) to form two additional Srigade groups for external defence purposes. The first suitable for reinforcing Burma, and second for employment for protection of Anglo-Iran oilfields or elsewhere where conditions of role are similar.

: (6) to simultaneously replace such troops, as arerequired for (a) aboye^by form­ing equivalent number of new units for our own needs. . ..