(c) crown copyright
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5S
T H I S D O C U M E N T I S T H E P R O P E R T Y OP H I S B R I T A N N I C M A J E S T Y ' 8 G O V E R N M E N T "
Printed
for the War Cabinet.
February
1944.
SECRET.
Copy
W . M . (44)
14th Conclusions.
WAR
CABINET
14 (44).
CONCLUSIONS
of a Meeting of the War Cabinet held at 10 Downing
S. W .1, on Tuesday,
1st February,
1944, at 5-30 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 K C H I L L , M . P . , P r i m e M i n i s t e r (in the
T h e R i g h t H o n . C. R. A T T L E E , M . P . ,
L o r d P r e s i d e n t of the Council.
Chair).
The Right Hon. ANTHONY EDEN, M.P.,
Secretary of S t a t e for F o r e i g n
Affairs.
The R i g h t Hon. Sir JOHN ANDERSON,
M . P . , Chancellor of t h e E x c h e q u e r .
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.
The' R i g h t H o n . O L I V E R L Y T T E L T O N ,
M . P . , M i n i s t e r of P r o d u c t i o n .
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.
The Right Hon. LORD WOOLTON,
M i n i s t e r of Reconstruction.
T h e following w e r e also p r e s e n t :
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 D o m i n i o n
Affairs.
T h e R i g h t H o n . L O R D BEAVERBROOK,
L o r d P r i v y Seal.
T h e Right Hon. 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
(Items 2-5).
The R i g h t H o n . 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
(Items 2 - 5 ) .
The
The R i g h t Hon. THOMAS JOHNSTON,
M . P . , S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for Scotland
(Items 2 - 5 ) .
Right
SINCLAIR,
Hon.
Bt.,
Sir
M.P.,
ARCHIBALD
Secretary
of
S t a t e for A i r .
T h e R i g h t H o n . S i r STAFFORD C R I P P S ,
K . C . , M . P . , M i n i s t e r of A i r c r a f t
P r o d u c t i o n (Items 2 - 5 ) .
The
T h e R i g h t H o n . H . U. W I L L I N K , K G . ,
T h e R i g h t H o n . R, S. H U D S O N , M . P . ,
M.P.,
2-5).
Minister
of
Health
(Items
R i g h t Hon.
H U G H DALTON,
P r e s i d e n t of t h e B o a r d
(Items 2 - 5 ) .
of
Minister
of
Agriculture
F i s h e r i e s (Items 2 - 5 ) .
M.P.,
Trade
and
The Right Hon. ' LORD LEATHERS,
M i n i s t e r of W a r T r a n s p o r t
(Items
2-5).
Colonel t h e R i g h t H o n . J . J . L L E W E L L I N ,
M . P . , M i n i s t e r of Food (Items 2-5).
T h e R i g h t Hon. LORD PORTAL, Minister
M a j o r t h e R i g h t H o n . G . LLOYD
GEORGE, M . P . , M i n i s t e r of F u e l a n d
P o w e r (Items 2-5).
of W o r k s (Items 2 - 5 ) .
The R i g h t Hon. E R N E S T BROWN, M.P.,
Chancellor of t h e D u c h y of L a n c a s t e r
(Item 1).
The R i g h t Hon. RICHARD LAW, M.P.,
M i n i s t e r of S t a t e (Items
2-5).
The R i g h t Hon. LORD CHERWELL,
P a y m a s t e r - G e n e r a l (Items 2-5).
The
The R i g h t Hon.
M r . DUNCAN SANDYS, M . P . ,
Joint
P a r l i a m e n t a r y Secretary, M i n i s t r y
of S u p p l y (Items 2 - 5 ) .
W . WHITBLEY,
Joint
Parliamentary
T r e a s u r y (Item 1).
M.P.,
Secretary,
Right Hon.
J A M E S STUART,
Joint
Parliamentary
T r e a s u r y (Item 1).
M.P.,
Secretary,
Secretariat:
Sir E D W A R D B R I D G E S .
M r . W . S. M U R R I E .
W A R C A B I N E T 14 ( 4 4 ) .
CONTENTS.
Minute
No.
1
2
Subject.
P a r t y Truce in Bye-Elections
....
M a n - P o w e r a n d R e l a t e d Q u e s t i o n s ....
....
....
....
....
....
....
Page
65
65
Man-Power Allocations for Industries and Services in Groups I I
and I I I in 1944.
3
E m p l o y m e n t of P r i s o n e r s of W a r i n t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m
66
4
Government Building Programme
....
....
....
67
5
B u i l d i n g P r o g r a m m e ....
....
—
....
....
Requirements for " Crossbow " Dispersals.
....
68
Party Truce in
Bye-Elections,
1. T h e W a r C a b i n e t h a d a discussion about t h e P a r t y T r u c e
i n r e l a t i o n t o Bye-Elections. T h e discussion is recorded in t h e
S e c r e t a r y ' s S t a n d a r d F i l e of W a r C a b i n e t Conclusions.
M a n - P o w e r and
2. T h e W a r C a b i n e t h a d before them a
Related
Chancellor of t h e E x c h e q u e r ( W . P . (44) 52)
Questions.
allocations settled, u n d e r the supervision
M e m o r a n d u m by t h e
g i v i n g the d e t a i l e d
of t h e M i n i s t e r i a l
Man-Power
C o m m i t t e e on M a n - P o w e r , for the i n d u s t r i e s a n d services i n
Allocations for G r o u p s I I a n d I I I , other t h a n those i n d u s t r i e s for w h i c h d e t a i l e d
Industries and allocations h a d a l r e a d y been made.
Services in
yAe Chancellor of the Exchequer e x p l a i n e d t h a t the M i n i s t e r i a l
Groups I I and Q
i t t e e h a d m a d e a full e n q u i r y , a n d w e r e satisfied t h a t t h e
I I I m 1944.
allocations proposed were t h e best t h a t could be m a d e w i t h i n t h e
(Previous
e x i s t i n g l i m i t a t i o n s . T h e M i n i s t e r s concerned h a d been consulted
Reference:
^ a l t h o u g h it h a d not been possible to meet all t h e i r p o i n t s , t h e
W.M. (43)
p p
i i the M e m o r a n d u m h a d been generally accepted.
Conclusions.)
- j , ^ f i j g p o i n t s w e r e m a d e in discussion : —
o m m
a n ( C
1 6 4 t n
r 0
O S a
s
n
w
o w
n
(a) The Minister of War Transport
pointed out t h a t , since t h e
allocations h a d been made, he h a d f o u n d i t necessary to ask for
9,000 a d d i t i o n a l w o r k e r s to meet t h e d e m a n d s on t r a n s p o r t in t h e
n e x t six m o n t h s .
(b) The Secretary of State for War said t h a t the allocation for
W a r Office i n d u s t r i a l staffs fell f a r short of W a r Office r e q u i r e ­
m e n t s . H e would, of course, do the best h e could w i t h t h e allocations
proposed, b u t it would be necessary to have recourse to t h e emergency
m a c h i n e r y recently a p p r o v e d by t h e C a b i n e t to meet u r g e n t " Over­
l o r d " r e q u i r e m e n t s for w h i c h staff could not be provided w i t h i n
t h e allocations.
(c) The Minister of Food p o i n t e d o u t t h a t since he h a d a c c e p t e d
t h e allocation for food m a n u f a c t u r e , t h e r e h a d been a very l a r g e
increase in t h e m i l i t a r y d e m a n d s for c a n n e d meat.
(d) The Minister of A gricidture
and Fisheries e m p h a s i s e d t h e
serious effect which the proposed allocation would h a v e on a g r i c u l ­
t u r a i p r o d u c t i o n i n 1944. H e recalled t h a t a n a d d i t i o n a l 700,000
a c r e s h a d been ploughed u p a n d t h a t he h a d b e e n asked to increase
t h e a c r e a g e of potatoes to over 1 million. I f it were n o t possible
t o meet a very much h i g h e r p r o p o r t i o n of his r e q u i r e m e n t s , he w o u l d
be compelled to reduce the acreage of potatoes a n d t h e r e would also
h a v e to be some reduction in the o u t p u t of milk. T h e M i n i s t e r i a l
C o m m i t t e e h a d suggested t h a t h i s difficulties m i g h t be met by t h e
employment of a d d i t i o n a l p r i s o n e r s of w a r , but t h e r e w a s no
p r o s p e c t of h i s g e t t i n g a sufficient number of p r i s o n e r s to m a k e u p
t h e difference between his r e q u i r e m e n t s a n d t h e allocation proposed.
I t w a s p o i n t e d out t h a t t h e s h o r t a g e of a g r i c u l t u r a l w o r k e r s
w a s n o t l a r g e w h e n c o m p a r e d w i t h t h e t o t a l number of w o r k e r s in
t h e i n d u s t r y , and t h a t to some e x t e n t t h e d e m a n d for a d d i t i o n a l
w o r k e r s w a s designed to enable t h e w o r k i n g week to be reduced, a
m e a s u r e which could; h a r d l y be justified a t t h e present time.
The Prime Minister
s a i d t h a t he accepted the w a r n i n g given
b y t h e M i n i s t e r of A g r i c u l t u r e a n d Fisheries, b u t t h a t h e hoped t h a t
h e would do e v e r y t h i n g possible t o keep p r o d u c t i o n a t the h i g h e s t
level w i t h t h e resources available to him.
(e) Reference w a s m a d e to the r i s k t h a t , if,
r e s u l t of
s e c u r i t y measures i n connection w i t h " Overlord," the movement of
w o r k e r s to a n d from I r e l a n d w a s i n t e r r u p t e d , the difficulties of t h e
A g r i c u l t u r a l D e p a r t m e n t s in m a i n t a i n i n g p r o d u c t i o n would be
increased.
The Prime
Minister
s a i d t h a t this m a t t e r clearly
r e q u i r e d careful e x a m i n a t i o n ; a n d t h a t any difficulties in r e g a r d
to i t should be b r o u g h t to t h e Committee, u n d e r his c h a i r m a n s h i p ,
on " Overlord " p r e p a r a t i o n s .
The W a r C a b i n e t ­
(1) A p p r o v e d the allocation proposed i n t h e M e m o r a n d u m by
t h e Chancellor of t h e E x c h e q u e r ( W . P . (44) 52).
(2) A g r e e d t h a t a n y necessary a d j u s t m e n t s i n t h e allocations
to meet emergency conditions should be dealt w i t h by t h e
M i n i s t e r of P r o d u c t i o n a n d t h e 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 u n d e r t h e scheme a p p r o v e d by t h e W a r
C a b i n e t on t h e 2 4 t h J a n u a r y , a n y p o i n t s of difficulty
w h i c h emerged, b e i n g r e f e r r e d to' t h e C o m m i t t e e on
" Overlord " P r e p a r a t i o n s p r e s i d e d over by t h e P r i m e
Minister.
E m p l o y m e n t of
3. T h e W a r
Prisoners of
L o r d P r e s i d e n t of
War in t h e
United
Kingdom.
C a b i n e t t h e n considered t h e M e m o r a n d a by t h e
t h e Council ( W . P . (44) 36) a n d by t h e M i n i s t e r
f A g r i c u l t u r e a n d F i s h e r i e s ( W . P . (44) 44) on t h e employment of
p r i s o n e r s of w a r in t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m .
0
(Previous
General
Policy.
Eeference:
j y Prime Minister said t h a t he agreed generally t h a t n o t h i n g
W.M. (43) 128th would b g a i n e d by b r i n g i n g a d d i t i o n a l I t a l i a n p r i s o n e r s i n t o t h i s
Conclusions,
c o u n t r y a t t h i s stage of t h e w a r if t h i s led t o s u b s t a n t i a l d e m a n d s
Mmute 1.)
m a t e r i a l s a n d labour for b u i l d i n g n e w camps a n d hostels t o
accommodate them.
H e suggested, however, t h a t i t m i g h t be
possible t o d o more t h a n t h e L o r d P r e s i d e n t ^ M e m o r a n d u m
contemplated i n t h e w a y of u s i n g existing! accommodation.
i e
e
o
n
The Secretary
of State for War p o i n t e d o u t t h a t u n d e r t h e
Geneva Convention we w e r e b o u n d t o p r o v i d e for I t a l i a n p r i s o n e r s
of w a r t h e same s t a n d a r d of accommodation a s for our o w n troops.
T h e W a r C a b i n e t took t h e view t h a t o u r general policy should
be to b r i n g as m a n y I t a l i a n p r i s o n e r s as possible to t h i s country, a n d
t h a t t h e M i n i s t e r of W a r T r a n s p o r t should n o t r e g a r d himself a s
r e s t r i c t e d to t h e figure of 32,500 m e n t i o n e d i n the L o r d P r e s i d e n t s
paper.
Allocation.
W i t h reference t o p a r a g r a p h 7 of t h e M e m o r a n d u m by t h e
M i n i s t e r of A g r i c u l t u r e a n d F i s h e r i e s ( W . P . (44) 44) the Lord
of the Council p o i n t e d o u t t h a t p a r a g r a p h 7 (a) of h i s
President
M e m o r a n d u m ( W . P . (44) 36) w a s n o t m e a n t to i m p l y t h a t t h e
D e p a r t m e n t s possessing a v a i l a b l e a c c o m m o d a t i o n should necessarily
have t h e prisoners.
The Minister of A griculture and Fisheries r e f e r r e d t o w h a t h e
h a d said a b o u t t h e effect on a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t i o n of t h e allocation
of labour given by t h e M i n i s t e r i a l Committee on M a n - P o w e r .
W h e r e a s t h e M i n i s t e r i a l C o m m i t t e e h a d suggested t h a t i t m i g h t
be possible t o ease t h e position by t h e u s e of I t a l i a n p r i s o n e r s of
w a r , t h e A g r i c u l t u r a l D e p a r t m e n t s h a d been allocated only 8,600
o u t of 32,500 p r i s o n e r s of Avar w h o w e r e likely to be available. H e
w a s satisfied t h a t h e could find accommodation for a d d i t i o n a l
p r i s o n e r s , a n d h e e m p h a s i s e d a g a i n t h a t unless a considerable p a r t
of t h e deficiency i n labour w a s m e t by t h e allocation of a d d i t i o n a l
p r i s o n e r s , t h e r e would be a serious fall in o u t p u t .
The Minister
of Labour and National
Service s a i d t h a t t h e
allocation of I t a l i a n p r i s o n e r s of w a r h a d been m a d e by a
Committee of Officials convened by t h e M i n i s t r y of L a b o u r . H e
p r o m i s e d t o look i n t o t h e possibility of v a r y i n g t h e allocation w i t h
a view t o i n c r e a s i n g t h e n u m b e r s available for t h e Agricultural
Departments.
Conditions
of
Employment.
The Parliamentary
Secretary
to the Ministry
of Supply a s k e d
w h e t h e r steps could n o t be t a k e n to enable more profitable u s e to be
m a d e of I t a l i a n p r i s o n e r s of w a r a l r e a d y i n t h i s c o u n t r y by g i v i n g
t h e m incentives to w o r k h a r d e r a n d by r e l a x i n g p r e s e n t r e s t r i c t i o n s
on t h e i r movements.
The Secretary of State for War s a i d t h a t h e t h o u g h t t h a t t h e r e
would be considerable difficulty i n d o i n g t h i s , b u t t h a t h e w o u l d
e x a m i n e t h e p o i n t in c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h the S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for
F o r e i g n Affairs.
T h e W a r C a b i n e t ' s conclusions w e r e as follows :—
(1) F o r t h e t i m e being the M i n i s t e r of W a r T r a n s p o r t should
b r i n g a s m a n y I t a l i a n p r i s o n e r s a s possible to t h i s
country, a n d should n o t r e g a r d himself as r e s t r i c t e d t o
t h e figure of 32,500.
(2) A t t h i s s t a g e of the w a r we should not use m a t e r i a l a n d
labour in b u i l d i n g n e w c a m p s a n d hostels for I t a l i a n
p r i s o n e r s ; b u t D e p a r t m e n t s should t r y to m a k e t h e
m a x i m u m use of e x i s t i n g a c c o m m o d a t i o n .
(3) N o t e w a s t a k e n t h a t the 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 would e x a m i n e t h e possibility of i n c r e a s i n g t h e
n u m b e r of p r i s o n e r s allocated to t h e A g r i c u l t u r a l
Departments.
(4) N o t e w a s t a k e n t h a t t h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for W a r , i n
consultation w i t h 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, would e x a m i n e w h e t h e r m e a n s could be f o u n d
to m a k e m o r e profitable use of t h e labour of I t a l i a n
prisoners.
4. 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
Government
M i n i s t e r of P r o d u c t i o n ( W . P . (44) 42) s e t t i n g o u t t h e proposed
Building
labour allocations for t h e G o v e r n m e n t B u i l d i n g P r o g r a m m e for t h e
Programme.
six m o n t h s J a n u a r y - J u n e 1944, T h e M i n i s t e r e x p l a i n e d t h a t he
(Previous
proposed to t a k e stock of t h e s i t u a t i o n in t h r e e m o n t h s ' time.
Reference:
T h e following p o i n t s were m a d e in discussion : —
W.M. (43) 142nd
^
Secretary
of State for Air said t h a t t h e M i n i s t e r of
Conclusions,
Minute 7.)
P r o d u c t i o n h a d allocated 14,000 men to t h e A i r M i n i s t r y for
m a i n t e n a n c e . T h i s w a s based o n the n u m b e r of men employed on
m a i n t e n a n c e by t h e A i r M i n i s t r y in t h e previous summer, a t a t i m e
w h e n t h e n u m b e r of men on m a i n t e n a n c e h a d been reduced to a n
a b n o r m a l l y low level i n order t o employ as m a n y men as possible
on n e w construction. F u r t h e r , 100 n e w airfields were now in use
a n d t h i s called for a l a r g e r m a i n t e n a n c e force.
(b) The First Lord of the A dmiralty said t h a t t h e A d m i r a l t y ' s
allocation r e p r e s e n t e d a c u t of over 11 p e r cent. F u r t h e r m o r e , since
t h i s c u t h a d been proposed, there h a d been new o p e r a t i o n a l d e m a n d s
c a l l i n g for 1,500 men. H e also t h o u g h t t h a t w h e n . " Overlord "
s t a r t e d it would be necessary to h a v e a pool of 30O or 400 men
available to m a k e good d a m a g e from enemy a i r a t t a c k s a t
e m b a r k a t i o n points.
T
(Previous
Reference:
W.M.(44)10th
Conclusions,
Minute 5.)
h
g
The Minister
of Production
said t h a t h e t h o u g h t t h i s should
be dealt w i t h u n d e r t h e emergency a r r a n g e m e n t s w h i c h h a d been
a p p r o v e d by t h e W a r C a b i n e t .
(c) The Parliamentary
Secretary
to the Ministry
of
Supply
said t h a t " Phoenix " w a s now o c c u p y i n g not 14,000 b u t 20,000 men.
O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h e number of men employed on " M i n i s t r y of
S u p p l y (Other W o r k s ) " w a s n o t 30,000 b u t 26,000 men. As a result,
a r r e a r s of u r g e n t w o r k u n d e r t h i s h e a d w e r e a c c u m u l a t i n g .
He
t h o u g h t it would be verv difficult to reduce t h e allocation for
" M i n i s t r y of S u p p l y (Other W o r k s ) " from 30,000 t o 29,000 in
J u n e next, a s proposed by the M i n i s t e r of P r o d u c t i o n .
The Prime Minister
said t h e p o i n t s r a i s e d in discussion could
a p p r o p r i a t e l y be t a k e n into account iii the a d j u s t m e n t s w h i c h
inevitably h a d to be m a d e in a m a t t e r of t h i s k i n d . I n h i s view
t h e M i n i s t e r of P r o d u c t i o n ^ proposed allocations should be
approved.
fit
The W a r C a b i n e t ­
(1) A p p r o v e d t h e allocations of b u i l d i n g labour set out in theM e m o r a n d u m by t h e M i n i s t e r of P r o d u c t i o n .
(2) A g r e e d t h a t a n y necessary a d j u s t m e n t s in t h e allocations,
to meet emergency conditions, should be dealt w i t h
by t h e M i n i s t e r of P r o d u c t i o n a n d t h e 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 u n d e r the scheme approved
by t h e W a r Cabinet on t h e 2 4 t h J a n u a r y , a n y p o i n t s of
difficulty w h i c h emerged being r e f e r r e d to t h e Committee
on " Overlord " P r e p a r a t i o n s p r e s i d e d over by the P r i m e
Minister.
Building
Programme.
Requirements
for
" Crossbow "
Dispersals.
5. I n connection w i t h the p r e c e d i n g item, 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 P r o d u c t i o n
( W . P . (44) 43) a s k i n g w h e t h e r provision should be m a d e for c e r t a i n
b u i l d i n g proposals p u t f o r w a r d by t h e M i n i s t r y of A i r c r a f t
P r o d u c t i o n in r e l a t i o n to " Crossbow."
A f t e r a s h o r t discussion the W a r C a b i n e t reached t h e following
conclusions :—
(1) T h e p r o p o s a l to erect t h e six reserve factories, i n t h e form
of p r e f a b r i c a t e d h a n g a r s , r e f e r r e d to in A n n e x I (a) of
W . P . (44) 4 3 should n o t be proceeded w i t h .
(2) A u t h o r i t y w a s given for t h e following :—
(a) t h e p r o p o s a l to proceed m o r e quickly, on account
of '"' Crossbow," w i t h t h e erection of t h r e e r a d i o
valve f a c t o r i e s w h i c h formed p a r t of a long-term
e x p a n s i o n of t h e r a d i o valve i n d u s t r y ;
(b) c e r t a i n smaller extensions a n d modifications of
e x i s t i n g b u i l d i n g s , for w h i c h labour would be
found from t h e M i n i s t r y of A i r c r a f t P r o d u c t i o n ^
bulk allocation.
Offices of the War Cabinet, S.W. 1,
1st February, 1944.