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THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT Printed
for the War Cabinet.
June
1942.
SECRET.
Copy N o .
W . M . (42)
70th C o n c l u s i o n s .
TO
B E
K E P T
U N D E R
LOCK
A N D
K E Y .
I t is r e q u e s t e d t h a t special c a r e m a y be t a k e n to
e n s u r e t h e secrecy of this d o c u m e n t .
W A R C A B I N E T 70 ( 4 2 ) .
CONCLUSIONS
of a Meeting of the War Cabinet held at 1 0 Downing
S. W. 1, on Monday, June 1 , 1 9 4 2 , at 6 P . M .
Street,
Present:
T h e R i g h t H o n . W I N S T O N S. C H U R C H I L L , M . P . , P r i m e M i n i s t e r (in the
Chair).
T h e R i g h t H o n . C. R . A T T L E E , M . P . ,
S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for D o m i n i o n
Affairs.
The R i g h t H o n . Sir STAFFORD C R I P P S ,
K . C . , M . P . , L o r d P r i v y Seal.
The R i g h t Hon. Sir JOHN ANDERSON,
M . P . , L o r d P r e s i d e n t of t h e Council.
The Right Hon. ANTHONY EDEN, M.P., S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for
Foreign Affairs. The Right Hon. ERNEST BEVIN, M.P.,
M i n i s t e r of L a b o u r a n d N a t i o n a l
Service.
T h e following w e r e also p r e s e n t :
The
Right
Accredited
Government
of A u s t r a l i a
H o n . S. M . B R U C E ,
R e p r e s e n t a t i v e of t h e
of t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h
(Items 1 - 6 ) .
The Right Hon. Sir KINGSLEY WOOD,
M . P . , C h a n c e l l o r of t h e E x c h e q u e r .
The R i g h t Hon. HERBERT MORRISON,
M . P . , S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for t h e
H o m e D e p a r t m e n t a n d M i n i s t e r of
Home Security.
T h e R i g h t H o n . L . S. A M E R Y ,
and
T h e R i g h t H o n . V I S C O U N T CRANBORNE,
S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for t h e Colonies.
The R i g h t H o n . A . V. ALEXANDER,
M . P . , F i r s t L o r d of t h e A d m i r a l t y .
The Right Hon. Sir J A M E S GRIGG,
M . P . , S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for W a r .
The
The
M.P.,
S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for I n d i a
S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for B u r m a .
Right
SINCLAIR,
Hon.
Bt.,
Sir
M.P.,
ARCHIBALD
Secretary
of
State for A i r .
T h e R i g h t H o n . R . S. H U D S O N , M . P . ,
Minister
of
F i s h e r i e s (Item
[23900]
Agriculture
7).
and
R i g h t Hon.
P r e s i d e n t of
(Item 8).
H U G H DALTON,
the Board
of
M.P.,
Trade
The R i g h t Hon. LORD WOOLTON,
M i n i s t e r of F o o d (Item 7).
44
The R i g h t H o n . BRENDAN BRACKEN,
M . P . , M i n i s t e r of I n f o r m a t i o n .
The Right Hon. Sir WILLIAM JOWITT,
K.C.,
M.P.,
Paymaster-General
(Item 5 ) .
Mr. D . R. GRENFELL, M.P.,
The R i g h t Hon. S i r DONALD SOMERVELL,
K.C.,
M.P.,
Attorney - General
(Item 6 ) .
Secretary
for M i n e s (Item 8 ) :
The
T h e R i g h t H o n . J A M E S STUART, M.P.,
Hon.
Sir
ALEXANDER
CADOGAN,
Secretary,
P e r m a n e n t U n d e r - S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e
for F o r e i g n Affairs.
A d m i r a l of t h e Fleet S i r D U D L E Y
P O U N D , F i r s t Sea L o r d a n d C h i e f of
N a v a l Staff (Items 1 - 6 ) .
A i r Chief M a r s h a l S i r CHARLES F . A .
Joint
Parliamentary
T r e a s u r y (Item 8 ) .
PORTAL,
(Items
Chief
of
the
Air
1-6).
G e n e r a l S i r A L A N B R O O K E , C h i e f of t h e I m p e r i a l G e n e r a l Staff (Items
1-6). Secretariat.
Sir EDWARD BRIDGES.
Major-General Sir HASTINGS ISMAY.
. M r . N O R M A N BROOK.
M r . L. F . BURGIS.
W A R C A B I N E T 70 ( 4 2 ) .
CONTENTS.
Minute
No.
1
Subject.
Naval, Military a n d Air Operations
Page
55
Air Operations:
Home theatre.
Libya.
Naval Operations:
Shipping losses.
.
Australia.
Military Operations:
Libya.
Russia.
2
Supplies to Russia
3
China
....
....
55
....
55
Loans from the United States and Great Britain.
Air Raids
56
Casualties, and damage.
Reconstruction Problems
....
....
....
56
Functions of-the Chairman of the Committee.
The Press
The Daily
Food
.... '
....
....
57
Worker.
....
....
....
....
57
Milk marketing and distribution.
Coal P r o d u c t i o n a n d F u e l R a t i o n i n g
57
Staff
Naval, Military
and Air
Operations.
1. The Chiefs of Staff r e p o r t e d t h e p r i n c i p a l events of t h e
p a s t week.
I n the Home Theatre during the past six days the weather had
(Previous
been b a d , except for t w o n i g h t s , on w h i c h t h e G n o m e a n d R h o n e
Reference:
w o r k s a n d Cologne h a d been bombed. T h e p h o t o g r a p h s of t h e r a i d
W.M. (42) 68th' o n t h e G n o m e a n d R h o n e w o r k s s h o w e d good r e s u l t s . T h e r e w a s
Conclusions, l i t t l e t o a d d to t h e s t a t e m e n t s i n t h e P r e s s a b o u t t h e r a i d on
Minute 1.) Cologne by over 1,000 bombers.
Air Operations. Home Theatre. The Foreign Secretary s a i d t h a t he h a d been i n f o r m e d by t h e
R u s s i a n A m b a s s a d o r t h a t t h e r a i d h a d h a d a very good m o r a l effect
i n R u s s i a . I t w a s clear t h a t , if these v e r y l a r g e r a i d s could be
r e p e a t e d p e r i o d i c a l l y , t h i s w o u l d have more effect o n o u r A l l i e s t h a n
a s u s t a i n e d effort on a lower scale.
C o a s t a l C o m m a n d h a d m a d e t w o n i g h t a t t a c k s on convoys off
t h e D u t c h coast, h i t t i n g 17 ships, 6 of w h i c h w e r e set on fire. A
U - b o a t h a d been a t t a c k e d i n t h e B a y of Biscay.
D u r i n g t h e p r e v i o u s six d a y s B o m b e r C o m m a n d h a d lost
51 a i r c r a f t , F i g h t e r C o m m a n d 12 a n d C o a s t a l C o m m a n d 13. E n e m y
losses a m o u n t e d t o 26 m a c h i n e s c e r t a i n , 7 p r o b a b l e a n d 29 d a m a g e d .
Libya.
I n t h e L i b y a b a t t l e now in p r o g r e s s we h a d lost 31 m a c h i n e s
a n d t h e e n e m y 32.
Naval
A l l i e d s h i p p i n g losses for t h e p r e v i o u s seven d a y s a m o u n t e d t o
Operations.
165,000 tons. T h i s figure i n c l u d e d t h e s h i p s lost in t h e o u t w a r d ­
Shipping Losses. b o u n d R u s s i a n convoy.
Australia.
T h r e e J a p a n e s e m i d g e t s u b m a r i n e s h a d succeeded i n e n t e r i n g
S y d n e y H a r b o u r . O n e small d e p o t s h i p h a d been sunk.
Military
D e t a i l s w e r e given of t h e b a t t l e p r o c e e d i n g in L i b y a .
The
Operations.
enemy w a s now e n d e a v o u r i n g to w i t h d r a w t h r o u g h t w o g a p s i n o u r
Libya.
minefields.
A l t h o u g h i t w a s early to f o r m a j u d g m e n t , t h e
s i t u a t i o n a p p e a r e d to be s a t i s f a c t o r y .
Russia.
T h e s i t u a t i o n on t h e R u s s i a n F r o n t w a s s o m e w h a t obscure, b u t
G e r m a n a t t a c k s a r o u n d K h a r k o v a p p e a r e d t o h a v e ceased.
T h e W a r C a b i n e t took note of these s t a t e m e n t s .
Supplies to
Russia.
(Previous
Reference:
W.M. (42) 69th
Conclusions,
Minute 2.)
2. T h e W a r C a b i n e t w e r e g i v e n p a r t i c u l a r s of t h e l a t e s t
convoy t o R u s s i a . Of 35 ships i n t h e convoy, 27 h a d r e a c h e d p o r t .
D u r i n g a t t a c k s on t h e convoy, a t least t w o enemy a i r c r a f t h a d been
d e s t r o y e d by t w o H u r r i c a n e a i r c r a f t , c a t a p u l t e d from s h i p s i n t h e
convoy. Of the t w o p i l o t s of these H u r r i c a n e a i r c r a f t , one h a d been
killed a n d t h e o t h e r i n j u r e d . F o u r U - b o a t s h a d also p r o b a b l y been
damaged.
T h e W a r C a b i n e t took n o t e of t h i s s t a t e m e n t .
China.
(Previous
Reference:
W.M. (42) 13th
Conclusions,
Minute 1.)
3. The Foreign Secretary
s a i d t h a t he h a d h a d a discussion
w i t h t h e Chinese A m b a s s a d o r , t h e r e c o r d of w h i c h w o u l d be
circulated.
T h r e e m a i n p o i n t s h a d a r i s e n from t h e i n t e r v i e w : T h e first
w a s t h a t t h e r e w a s some r i s k t h a t t h e C h i n e s e w o u l d t h i n k t h a t w e
w e r e n o t a s i n t e r e s t e d i n fighting t h e J a p a n e s e as w e w e r e i n
fighting
t h e G e r m a n s . H e t h o u g h t i t w o u l d be of t h e g r e a t e s t
a s s i s t a n c e if t h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r w o u l d see D r . W e l l i n g t o n Koo a n d
d i s a b u s e h i m of t h i s view. I n t h i s connection i t w a s p o i n t e d o u t
t h a t t h e p o s i t i o n of A u s t r a l i a afforded one very p o t e n t reason w h y
w e could n o t afford t o i g n o r e t h e J a p a n e s e menace.
The Prime
Minister
said t h a t he w o u l d see D r . W e l l i n g t o n Koo.
T h e second p o i n t w a s t h a t the Foreign Secretary t h o u g h t t h a t
i t m i g h t h e l p t o a b e t t e r u n d e r s t a n d i n g of o u r p o s i t i o n by C h i n a if
D r . W e l l i n g t o n K o o w e r e now to r e t u r n t o C h i n a o n a visit.
B 2
[23900]
Loans from the
United States
and Great
Britain.
(Previous
Reference:
W.M. (42) 14th
Conclusions,
Minute 3.)
T h e t h i r d p o i n t concerned t h e l o a n s w h i c h w e a n d t h e U n i t e d
States h a d made to China. H e thought t h a t the Chinese now
r e c o g n i s e d t h a t o u r p o s i t i o n i n r e g a r d to these l o a n s w a s different
f r o m t h a t of t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . B u t t h e p u b l i c s t a t e m e n t s w h i c h
h a d been m a d e on t h e m a t t e r i n C h i n a h a d g i v e n r i s e t o a s o m e w h a t
a w k w a r d s i t u a t i o n . T h e F o r e i g n S e c r e t a r y t h o u g h t t h e best course
w o u l d be t h a t he a n d t h e C h a n c e l l o r of t h e E x c h e q u e r s h o u l d first
d i s c u s s t h e m a t t e r , a n d t h a t t h e y s h o u l d t h e n see D r . W e l l i n g t o n
Koo together.
M e n t i o n w a s also m a d e of t h e f a c t t h a t c e r t a i n R . A . F . g r o u n d
personnel h a d retreated into China w i t h the Chinese troops. This
h a d r a i s e d h o p e s t h a t w e i n t e n d e d to send R . A . F . u n i t s i n t o C h i n a .
T h e t r a n s p o r t difficulties i n t h e w a y of t h i s course w e r e e x p l a i n e d .
T h e W a r C a b i n e t took note of t h i s s t a t e m e n t .
Air Raids.
Casualties and
Damage.
(Previous
Reference:
W.M. (42) 56th
Conclusions,
Minute 5.)
4. The Home Secretary and Minister
of Home Security
said
t h a t t h e m a i n e v e n t of t h e p a s t week h a d been t h e a t t a c k o n
Canterbury the previous, night.
T h e r e h a d been c o n s i d e r a b l e
d a m a g e to t h e business p a r t of t h e city. A n u m b e r of fires h a d been
s t a r t e d , b u t w e r e n o w u n d e r c o n t r o l . T h e c a s u a l t i e s so f a r r e p o r t e d
w e r e 22 killed a n d 50 seriously i n j u r e d , b u t these figures m i g h t well
be i n c r e a s e d l a t e r . Some d a m a g e h a d been d o n e t o t h e C a t h e d r a l .
T h e W a r C a b i n e t took note of t h i s s t a t e m e n t .
Reconstruction
Problems.
5. T h e W a r C a b i n e t h a d before t h e m a M e m o r a n d u m b y t h e
S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for F o r e i g n Affairs ( W . P . (42) 205).
T h i s M e m o r a n d u m d e a l t w i t h t h e question w h e t h e r t h e P a y ­
Functions of the
chairman of the m a s t e r - G e n e r a l ' s functions, a s C h a i r m a n of t h e C o m m i t t e e on
R e c o n s t r u c t i o n P r o b l e m s , s h o u l d e x t e n d to t h e s t u d y of s u c h m a t t e r s
Committee.
a s a r m i s t i c e t e r m s , m e a s u r e s of c o n t r o l t o p r e v e n t c l a n d e s t i n e
r e a r m a m e n t , a n d o t h e r m i l i t a r y issues w h i c h w o u l d affect o u r policy
after the war.
The Secretary
of State for War s a i d t h a t t h e W a r Office h a d
a l r e a d y g i v e n some c o n s i d e r a t i o n to t h e p r o b l e m s of m i l i t a r y
a d m i n i s t r a t i o n i n d e v a s t a t e d a r e a s in t h e w a k e of a n a d v a n c i n g
a r m y . H e a s s u m e d t h a t t h e p r o p o s a l before t h e C a b i n e t w o u l d be
subject t o discussion between M i n i s t e r s as r e g a r d s the-scope.of t h e
f u n c t i o n s t o be u n d e r t a k e n b y t h e staff u n d e r t h e P a y m a s t e r G e n e r a l . T h i s w a s a g r e e d to.
T h e p o i n t w a s also m a d e t h a t t h e d u t i e s of t h e P a y m a s t e r G e n e r a l a n d h i s staff w e r e to c a r r y o u t e n q u i r i e s i n b r o a d o u t l i n e ,
a n d to co-ordinate the p r e p a r a t o r y work now in progress in D e p a r t ­
ments, and t h a t there was no intention t h a t he should assume
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y for a n y f u n c t i o n s p e r f o r m e d by D e p a r t m e n t s .
T h e W a r Cabinet agreed t h a t the Paymaster-General
s h o u l d be a u t h o r i s e d , i n concert w i t h t h e Service M i n i s t e r s
a n d C h i e f s of Staff, t o m a k e such a r r a n g e m e n t s a s ' t h e y
s a w fit t o e n s u r e t h a t t h e i n f o r m a t i o n w h i c h a l r e a d y
e x i s t e d should be p r o p e r l y s i f t e d a n d p r e s e n t e d i n s u c h a
f o r m as w o u l d assist those responsible for d e c i d i n g policy,
M i n i s t e r s a n d Service C h i e f s alike, w h e n t h e t i m e for
d o i n g so a r r i v e d .
The Press.
The Daily
Worker.
(Previous
Eef erence: W:M. (41) 72nd
Conclusions,
Minute 6.)
Food.
Milk Marketing
and
Distribution.
(Previous
Reference:
W.M. (41) 12th
Conclusions,
Minute 8.)
6. T h e W a r C a b i n e t h a d before t h e m a M e m o r a n d u m by t h e H o m e S e c r e t a r y ( W . P . (42) 230). T h e discussion a n d C o n c l u s i o n s a r e r e c o r d e d in t h e S e c r e t a r y ' s S t a n d a r d File of W a r C a b i n e t Conclusions. 7. T h e W a r C a b i n e t h a d before t h e m a M e m o r a n d u m by t h e
M i n i s t e r of F o o d ( W . P . (42) 228) c o v e r i n g t h e d r a f t of a W h i t e
P a p e r on the m a r k e t i n g a n d d i s t r i b u t i o n of milk. T h e scheme
o u t l i n e d i n t h e W h i t e P a p e r w a s d e s i g n e d t o enable t h e M i n i s t r y
of F o o d t o g u a r a n t e e s u p p l i e s of m i l k t o t h e p r i o r i t y classes a n d also
t o secure economies i n t h e m a n - p o w e r a n d t r a n s p o r t used in m i l k
distribution.
T h e essence of t h e scheme w a s t h a t e x i s t i n g c o n t r a c t s between
t h e m i l k p r o d u c e r s a n d d i s t r i b u t o r s w o u l d be cancelled; t h e
M i n i s t r y w o u l d become m o m e n t a r i l y t h e o w n e r of all m i l k (except
t h a t used by p r o d u c e r r e t a i l e r s for t h e i r o w n businesses) a n d would
direct its distribution.
T h e scheme h a d t h e s u p p o r t b o t h of t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l i n t e r e s t s
concerned a n d also of v a r i o u s sections of t h e d i s t r i b u t i v e t r a d e . I t
h a d been a p p r o v e d b y t h e L o r d P r e s i d e n t s C o m m i t t e e ( L . P . (42)
3 2 n d M e e t i n g , M i n u t e 2).
T h e W a r C a b i n e t a p p r o v e d t h e t e r m s of the d r a f t W h i t e
P a p e r a n d took n o t e t h a t i t w o u l d be p r e s e n t e d to P a r l i a ­
ment forthwith.
Coal Production.
Fuel Rationing,
(Previous
Reference:
W.M. (42 ) 69th
Conclusions,
Minute 1.)
8. T h e W a r C a b i n e t h a d before t h e m a N o t e by t h e P r e s i d e n t
of t h e B o a r d of T r a d e ( W . P . (42) 231 ( R e v i s e ) ) covering the d r a f t
of a W h i t e P a p e r c o n t a i n i n g a s t a t e m e n t of the G o v e r n m e n t ' s
policy for i n c r e a s i n g t h e p r o d u c t i o n , a n d r e s t r i c t i n g t h e consumpt i o n , of coal, a s a p p r o v e d by t h e W a r C a b i n e t a t t h e i r m e e t i n g on
the 29th May.
T
h
e
W
a
r
C
a
b
i
n
e
t
­
(1) A p p r o v e d t h e d r a f t W h i t e P a p e r in p r i n c i p l e .
(2) I n v i t e d t h e L o r d P r e s i d e n t a n d t h e P r e s i d e n t of t h e B o a r d
of T r a d e t o consider c e r t a i n d r a f t i n g p o i n t s w h i c h h a d
been r a i s e d i n t h e discussion a n d to settle t h e final t e r m s
of t h e d r a f t .
(3) Took n o t e t h a t t h e L o r d P r i v y Seal w o u l d announce in t h e
H o u s e of C o m m o n s t h e following d a y t h a t the W h i t e
P a p e r w o u l d be p l a c e d i n t h e V o t e Office d u r i n g t h e
a f t e r n o o n of W e d n e s d a y , t h e 3 r d J u n e , a n d t h a t
a r r a n g e m e n t s w o u l d be m a d e for a debate to take p l a c e
d u r i n g t h e f o l l o w i n g week. T w o d a y s would be allowed
for t h e d e b a t e , w h i c h w o u l d t a k e p l a c e on a G o v e r n m e n t
Motion inviting the House to approve the proposals
outlined in the W h i t e P a p e r .
Great
George Street, S.W.
June 1, 1942.
1,
MOST SECRET. -
NO CIRCULATION.
W.M. (42) 70th CONCLUSIONS, MINUTE 2. Monday, 1st June
b P L I E S TO
JSSIA.
T
1942 6.0 p.m. 1
THE PRIME MINISTER said that owing to another operation, not specified to the War Cabinet (the relief *evious srence: ^.(42) 69th nelusions, nute 2.) of Malta), it would be necessary to postpone the next convoy to Russia for ten days or a fortnight.
He thought that the question of getting extra air support to accompany the convoy should be considered. THE CHIEF OP THE NAVAL STAFF said that the postpone­
ment for ten days or a fortnight would still make it ee also .0.S.(42) 66th Meeting, possible for us to adhere to the schedule of three convoys st June, 1942, inut e 3 .) in two months. We simply could not provide escorts simultaneously for the Russian convoy and the Malta convoy.
THE FOREIGN SECRETARY said that if the convoy was to be postponed, it would help matters very much if we could send some additional tanks over and above the normal quota. THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR said that if the convoy was postponed he might be able to make available some additional A.22's. THE PRIME MINISTER said
that a definite decision should be taken to postpone the next convoy by ten days or a fortnight, and the Admiralty should hove the necessary latitude in this matter.
The Secretary of State for War should, report what he could do in the way of making available an additional consignment of A.22's, and the
Foreign Affairs
Secretary of State for/$HKK should inform the Soviet
Government of the decisions which we had reached when we
knew, what we could do in the Way of making available
an additional cons ignment of tanks.
Great George Street, S.W.I.