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T H I S D O C U M E N T IS T H E P R O P E R T Y OF H I S B R I T A N N I C M A J E S T V S
Printed
for the War Cabinet.
GOVERNMENT
May 1941.
Copy No.
SECRET.
W.M. (41)
49th Conclusions.
TO B E K E P T
UNDER
LOCK A N D K E Y .
It is requested that special care may be taken to
ensure the secrecy of this document.
W A R C A B I N E T 49 (41).
CONCLUSIONS
The Right Hon.
of a Meeting of the War Cabinet held at 10 Downing
S.W. 1, on Monday, May 12, 1941, at 5 P . M .
Street,
Present:
;
M.P., Prime Minister (in the Chair).
W I N S T O N S. CHURCHILL,
The Right Hon. C. R. A T T L E E , M.P., The Right Hon. Sir J O H N A N D E R S O N ,
Lord Privy Seal.
M.P.,- Lord President of the Council.
The Right Hon. A N T H O N Y E D E N , M.P., The Right Hon. A . GREENWOOD, M.P.,
Secretary of State for Foreign
Minister without Portfolio.
Affairs.
The Right Hon. L O R D BEAVERBROOK, The Right Hon. Sir K I N G S L E Y W O O D ,
Minister of State.
M.P., Chancellor of the Exchequer.
The Right Hon. E R N E S T B E V I N , M . P
Minister of Labour and National
Service.
The following were also present:
The Right Hon. H E R B E R T M O R R I S O N , The Right Hon. V I S C O U N T CRANBORNE,
M.P., Secretary of State for the
Secretary of State for Dominion
Home Department and Minister of
Affairs.
Home Security.
The Right Hon. L O R D M O Y N E , Secre- The Right Hon. A . V . A L E X A N D E R ,
tary of State for the Colonies.
M.P., First Lord of the Admiralty.
The Right Hon. H . D. M A R G E S S O N , The Right Hon. Sir A R C H I B A L D
M.P., Secretary of State for War.
SINCLAIR,
Bt., M.P., Secretary of
State for Air.
The Right Hon. A . D U F F COOPER, M.P., The, Right Hon. J A M E S STUART, M.P.,
Minister of Information.
Parliamentary Secretary, Treasury.
The
Hon.
Sir
ALEXANDER
CADOGAN,
Admiral of the Fleet Sir D U D L E Y
Permanent Under-Secretary of State
P O U N D , First Sea Lord and Chief of
for Foreign Affairs.
Naval Staff.
General Sir JOHN D I L L , Chief of the A i r Chief Marshal Sir C H A R L E S F. A .
Imperial General Staff.
P O R T A L , Chief of the A i r Staff.
Secretariat.
Sir
EDWARD BRIDGES.
Major-General Sir H A S T I N G S
Mr.
[22514]
L.
F.
116 ISMAY.
BURGIS.
B
44
W A R C A B I N E T 49 ( 4 1 ) .
CONTENTS.
Minute No.
1
Subject
Naval, Military and A i r Operations
Page
21
Air Operations. Naval Operations. Military Operations: Libya. Iraq. 2
The Middle East
21
3
Spain
21
4
Air Raids
22
Casualties and damage. 5
Parliament
....
....
....
....
....
22
Meeting Place. 6
Man-Power
....
22
Requirements of Fighting and Civil Defence Services. 7
Conscription
....
....
....
23
Application to Northern Ireland. 8
Civil Defence
23
Fire Brigade Services. i
Naval, Military
and Air
Operations.
(Previous
Reference:
W . M . (41) 48th
Conclusions,
Minute 1.)
Air Operations.
1. The Chiefs of Staff made the following reports in amplifi­
cation of Cabinet W a r Room Records Nos. 614-617 :—
Summary of aircraft losses since the 8th May.
theatre the enemy had lost—
In the home
By day—
19 destroyed. 7 probable. 7 damaged. . By
night—
59 destroyed. 9 probable. 24 damaged. Our losses had been : by day, 6 fighters (2 pilots safe); by
night, 1 fighter (pilot safe). W e had also lost 25 bombers. Our
losses in bombers had decreased since they had flown at a greater
height.
In the overseas theatres the figures (excluding the Fleet A i r
Arm) had been :—
Enemy—
14 destroyed. 3 probable. Our Own—
7 fighters.
I t was perhaps significant that on the previous night the enemy
had concentrated the larger part of his attack against our bomber
aerodromes. Practically no damage had been done.
Naval
Operations.
Shipping casualties since the 8th May had been : Ships lost, 8 (6 by submarine, 2 by aircraft)—33,000 tons.
Shipping damaged amounted to 30,000 tons.
The amount of shipping damaged at Liverpool and Belfast in
recent raids had been 30,000 tons.
During a daylight attack on a convoy on the 9th May a
successful attack had been made against one U-Boat and very
promising attacks against two others.
MilitaryOperations.
Libya.
Iraq.
Tobruk.—Patrols had been active and 32 prisoners had been
taken.
Rutba was in our hands.
The Middle
East.
(Previous
Reference:
W.M. (41)48tb
Conclusions,
Minute 2.)
2. The Cabinet, were given the latest information regarding
the Middle East. ( T L u l A-hU*jL*c)
Spain.
,p
.
The W a r Cabinet took note of the above statements.
3. The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs said that the
changes in the Spanish Government which had taken place seemed
be to our advantage. I t was still most necessary that the Press
to
47th should not comment on these changes.
Reference
W.M. (41)
Conclusions,
Minute 4.)
[22514] ^
/
-
^
y
'
Air Raids.
Casualties and
Damage.
(Previous
Reference:
W . M . (41) 48th
Conclusions,
Minute 8.)
Parliament.
Meeting Place.
(Previous
Reference:
W . M . (41) 41st'
Conclusions,
Minute 5.)
Man-Power.
Requirements of
Fighting and
Civil Defence
Services.
(Previous
References:
W . M . (41) 20th
Conclusions,
Minute 6, and
W . M . (41) 33rd
Conclusions,
Minute 8.)
4. The Home Secretary and Minister
, the following information:—
of Home Security gave
Night of 9th/10th May-Enemy
activity had been below
normal.
Night of 10th / 11th.—London had been the object of a
heavy attack by about 340 aircraft. Damage to factories was
not serious, but all other types of property had suffered heavily,
including the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Hall,
Westminster Abbey and the British Museum. I t was feared
that casualties would be high. A provisional estimate was
600 killed and 1,000 seriously injured.
The Mayors of
Westminster and Bermondsey had been killed.
I t was agreed that these casualties of Civil Authorities in
the performance of their duty should be announced publicly.
The Civil Defence Services as a whole, and the Fire
Brigade Services in particular, had done admirable service in
dealing with the widespread fires and damage in this heavy
raid.
Night of 11th/ 12th.—Raids had been widespread, but,
for the most part enemy activity had been directed against
coastal districts and aerodromes.
5. I n view of the very serious damage to the Houses of
Parliament buildings, where the Commons Chamber, the Members'
Lobby and the Whips' accommodation had been destroyed, the
meetings of Parliament would, for the present, take place in the
House of Commons Annex.
The W a r Cabinet invited the Home Secretary and Minister of
Home Security to enquire whether the arrangements for the protec­
tion of the Palace of Westminster against damage by fire had been
adequate.
6. The W a r Cabinet had before them a Memorandum by the
Minister of Labour and National Service reporting the arrange­
ments proposed for the provision of men for the A r m y and general
service during the June quarter ( W . P . ( G ) (41) 46).
Points made in discussion :—
(i) The Secretary of State for War said that, while it seemed
possible that, he might obtain the number of men upon
which he was counting in the current quarter, it was.
clear from the Minister of Labour 's paper that, instead
of receiving 100,000 men in the..September quarter, he
would receive less than 40,000. A s a result normal
wastage (55,000 a quarter) could not be replaced; still
less could the Army strength be brought up to the figure
of 2,195,000 laid down in the Prime Minister's Directive
( W . P . (41) 69).
I n addition, the Army plan had reckoned on
replacing over 100,000 men in A D . G . B by women. A t
present adequate numbers of women were not coming
forward.
(ii) Requirements of men for Smoke-screen unitsi-^The
Prime
Minister said that, at a Meeting on Night A i r Defence
held that morning, the Minister of State had been
invited to report whether the advantages of smoke­
screens justified the calls made for materials and
man-power, and generally as to the scale on which we
should provide smoke-screen units. For the time being
the demand for additional personnel for smoke-screens
must be regarded as in suspense.
The War C a b i n e t Took note of the Memorandum by the Minister of Labour
and National Service, and invited him to report to the W a r
Cabinet in due course the measures which he proposed to
take to meet the Army requirements as laid down in the
Prime Ministers Directive (W.P. (41) 69), and to confer
with the Secretary of State for War as to the requirements
of the Auxiliary Territorial Service.
Conscription.
Application to
Northern
Ireland.
7. The Minister of Labour and National Service, who pointed
out that a Bill was being introduced for the conscription of Allied
nationals in this country, suggested that further consideration
should now be given to the application of conscription to Northern
Ireland.
The W a r C a b i n e t Invited the Minister of Labour and National Service to
submit a Memorandum on this matter, after consultation
with the Ministers concerned.
Civil Defence.
Fire Brigade
Services.
(Previous
Eef erence:
W . M . (41) 48th
Conclusions,
Minute 10.)
8. The Home Secretary and Minister of Home Security said
that since the last Meeting of the War Cabinet he had had a
discussion with representatives of the Local Authorities, who had
responded well to the proposals made. H e was anxious that the Bill
(which should be a very short Enabling Bill) should be introduced
almost immediately and passed through all stages as quickly as
possible.
I t was pointed out that, as a Financial Resolution was
necessary, all stages of the Bill could not be taken in a single day.
The War Cabinet—
Agreed that the Second Reading of the Bill should be
taken on Tuesday, the 20th May, and all stages completed
on the following day.
Great George Street, S. W. 1, May 12, 1941. !
Air Raids.
Casualties and
Damage.
(Previous
Reference:
W.M. (41) 48th
Conclusions,
Minute 8.)
Parliament.
Meeting Place.
(Previous
Reference:
W . M . (41) 41st'
Conclusions,
Minute 5.)
Man-Power.
Requirements of
Pighting and
Civil Defence
Services.
(Previous
References:
"W.M. (41) 20th
Conclusions,
Minute 6, and
W . M . (41) 33rd
Conclusions,
Minute 8.)
4. The Home Secretary and Minister
the following information :—
of Home Security gave
Night of 9th/10th May.—Enemy activity had been below
normal.
Night of 10th/ 11th.—London had been the object of a
heavy attack by about 340 aircraft. Damage to factories was
not serious, but all other types of property had suffered heavily,
including the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Hall,
Westminster Abbey and the British Museum. I t was feared
that casualties would be high. A provisional estimate was
600 killed and 1,000 seriously injured.
The Mayors of
Westminster and Bermondsey had been killed.
I t was agreed that these casualties of Civil Authorities in
the performance of their duty should be announced publicly.
The Civil Defence Services as a whole, and the Fire
Brigade Services in particular, had done admirable service in
dealing with the widespread fires and damage in this heavy
raid.
Night of 11th112th.—Raids
had been widespread, but
for the most part enemy activity had been directed against
coastal districts and aerodromes.
5. In view of the very serious damage to the Houses of
Parliament buildings, where the Commons Chamber, the Members'
Lobby and the Whips' accommodation had been destroyed, the
meetings of Parliament would, for the present, take place in the
House of Commons Annex.
The W a r Cabinet invited the Home Secretary and Minister of
Home Security to enquire whether the arrangements for the protec­
tion of the Palace of Westminster against damage by fire had been
adequate.
6. The War Cabinet had before them a Memorandum by the
Minister of Labour and National Service reporting the arrange­
ments proposed for the provision of men for the A r m y and general
service during the June quarter ( W . P . (G) (41) 46).
Points made in discussion :—
(i) The Secretary of State for War said that, while it seemed
possible that he might obtain the number of men upon
which he was counting in the current quarter, it was
clear from the Minister of Labour's paper that, instead
of receiving 100,000 men in the.September quarter, he
would receive less than 40,000. A s a result normal
wastage (55,000 a quarter) could not be replaced; still
less could the Army strength be brought up to the figure
of 2,195,000 laid down in the Prime Minister's Directive
( W . P . (41) 69).
In addition, the Army plan had reckoned on
replacing over 100,000 men in A.D.G.B. by women. A t
present adequate numbers of women were not coming
forward.
( i i ) Requirements of men for Smoke-screen units.--The
Prime
Minister said that, at a Meeting on Night A i r Defence
held that morning, the Minister of State had been
invited to report whether the advantages of smoke­
screens justified the calls made for materials and
man-power, and generally as to the scale on which we
should provide smoke-screen units. For the time being
the demand for additional personnel for smoke-screens
must be regarded as in suspense.
The War C a b i n e t Took note of the Memorandum by the Minister of Labour
and National Service, and invited him to report to the W a r
Cabinet in due course the measures which he proposed to
take to meet the Army requirements as laid down in the
Prime Ministers Directive (W.P. (41) 69), and to confer
with the Secretary of State for War as to the requirements
of the Auxiliary Territorial Service.
Conscription.
Application to
Northern
Ireland.
7. The Minister of Labour and National Service, who pointed
out that a Bill was being introduced for the conscription of Allied
nationals in this country, suggested that further consideration
should now be given to the application of conscription to Northern
Ireland.
The War C a b i n e t Invited the Minister of Labour and National Service to
submit a Memorandum on this matter, after consultation
with the Ministers concerned.
Civil Defence.
Fire Brigade
Services.
(Previous
Reference:
W . M . (41) 48th
Conclusions,
Minute 10.)
8. The Home Secretary and Minister of Home Security said
that since the last Meeting of the W a r Cabinet he had had a
discussion with representatives of the Local Authorities, who had
responded well to the proposals made. H e was anxious that the Bill
(which should be a very short Enabling Bill) should be introduced
almost immediately and passed through all stages as quickly as
possible.
I t was pointed out that, as a Financial Resolution was
necessary, all stages of the Bill could not be taken in a single day.
The W a r C a b i n e t Agreed that the Second Reading of the Bill should be
taken on Tuesday, the 20th May, and all stages completed
on the following day.
Great George Street, S. W. 1, May 12, 1941. - MOST SECRET -
ANNEX. (See Minute 2.) THE MIDDLE BAST. ^Operation
L';Tiger".
[Previous
Reference:
W.M.(41) 48th
Conclusions,
Minute 2.)
THE PRIME MINISTER said that Operation "TIGER" had
now been successfully completed, with the exception of
one ship (EMPIRE SONG) which had struck a mine and sunk.
This ship had by no means had the most valuable cargo .
He was sure that the War Cabinet would wish to congratu­
l a t e the Navy and the R.A.F. on the very successful
arrangements which they had made for the escort of this
convoy, which had been sighted, by the enemy at an early
stage i n i t s voyage.
The result would be greatly to increase General
Wavell*s strength in heavy tanks, for which he already
had ample personnel. As soon as the tanks had been
"run i n " , General Wavell would have a great opportunity,
and for this reason i t was essential to maintain the
s t r i c t e s t secrecy as to the extent of the reinforcements
in materiel which had been carried in this convoy.
During the movements of the F l e e t to es cort this
convoy, Benghazi had been bombarded. Ships had been
sunk in the harbour, and two ships on t h e i r way to
Benghazi, including an annumition ship, had been sunk.
The Prime Minister added that further operations
were on foot regarding additional a i r reinforcements to
the Middle East.
In Iraq, things were b e t t e r , but progressing slowly.
General Wavell was anxious to meet C i n - C . India, and.
i t was proposed that he should f l y to Basra to meet
him.
THE FOREIGN SECRETARY referred to a telegram from
Aleppo,(No. 12 of 10th May) reporting that three German
Heinkel a i r c r a f t had. landed in Syria, escorted by a
small French plane. Among the passengers was a German
General, who had been receiving members of the German
colony a l l day. This information was disquieting.
THE PRIME MINISTER also read to the War Cabinet a
personal l e t t e r from President Roosevelt, dealing with
the situation generally and, in p a r t i c u l a r , with the
military position in the Middle East. The terms of this
message were very s a t i s f a c t o r y .
0
r Great George Street, S.W.1,
12th May, 1941.