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Catalogue Reference:CAB/65/25/23
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THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT
Printed
for the War Cabinet.
February
1942.
SECRET.
Copy N o .
W . M . (42)
­
2 3 r d Conclusions.
S
"
TO
B E
K E P T
U N D E R
LOCK
A N D
KEY.
I t is r e q u e s t e d t h a t s p e c i a l 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 t h i s d o c u m e n t .
W A R CABINET 23 (42).
CONCLUSIONS
of a Meeting of the War Cabinet held at 10 Downing
S.W. 1, on Monday, February 23, 1942, at 6 P . M .
Street,
Present:
The Right Hon.
WINSTON
S.
CHURCHILL,
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.
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 . , L o r d P r i v y Seal.
The R i g h t H o n . S i r 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.
S e c r e t a r y of
Affairs.
ANTHONY
State
M.P.,
Foreign
EDEN,
for
The R i g h t H o n . 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 f o l l o w i n g w e r e also p r e s e n t :
T h e R i g h t H o n . S i r EARLE PAGE,
S p e c i a l E n v o y from t h e G o v e r n m e n t
of t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h of A u s t r a l i a
(Items 1-6).
The R i g h t H o n . S i r 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 .
T h e R i g h t H o n . H E R B E R T 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
H o m e Security.
T h e R i g h t H o n . L . S. A M E R Y , M . P . , 1 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 f o r I n d i a a n d j
S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e f o r t h e Colonies.
S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for B u r m a .
T h e 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 .
T h e R i g h t H o n . S i r JAMES
S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e f o r W a r .
The
T h e R i g h t Hon. ERNEST BROWN, M . P . ,
M i n i s t e r of H e a l t h (Items 7 and 8).
Right
Hon. Sir
ARCHIBALD
B t . , M . P . , S e c r e t a r y of
State for A i r .
SINCLAIR,
T h e 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 .
[23499T
The
Hon.
Sir
ALEXANDER
GRIGG,
CADOGAN,
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 (Items 1-6). .
44
A i r Chief M a r s h a l S j r CHARLES F . A .
P O R T A L , C h i e f of t h e A i r Staff.
Admiral
of t h e F l e e t S i r D U D L E Y
P O U N D , F i r s t S e a L o r d a n d C h i e f of
N a v a l Staff.
G e n e r a l S i r A L A N B R O O K E , Chief of t h e
I m p e r i a l G e n e r a l Staff.
Secretariat.
Sir
EDWARD
BRIDGES.
Major-General Sir
Mr.
W.
Mr.
L.
D.
F.
HASTINGS
ISMAY.
WILKINSON.
BTJRGIS.
W A R C A B I N E T 23 (42).
CONTENTS.
Minute
No.
1
Subject.
Naval, Military a n d Air Operations
Air Operations.
Naval Operations:
Shipping losses.
Military Operations:
F a r East.
Burma.
Libya.
Eussia.
....
,
—
....
Page
128
' .''
2
Australian Troop Movements
....
....
....
....
128
3
Aircraft P r o d u c t i o n
....
....
....
....
123
....
124
....
124
....
124
....
....
Production.and Repair Facilities in India.
4
R e p a t r i a t i o n of C i v i l i a n s f r o m I t a l i a n E a s t Africa
Sinking of an I t a l i a n Tanker.
5
F r a n c e : Relations w i t h Vichy Government
....
Martinique.
6
T r e a t m e n t of P r i s o n e r s a t H o n g K o n g
....
Question of Publicity.
7
H o m e D e f e n c e ....
­
....
....
....
....
....
....
125
....
....
....
125
S c h e m e for E v a c u a t i o n of Coastal Areas.
8
H o m e Defence
Role of t h e Civil Population.
Naval, Military
and Air
Operations.
1. The Chiefs
of Staff g a v e t h e following i n f o r m a t i o n
amplification of C a b i n e t W a r R o o m R e c o r d s Nos. 8 9 8 - 9 0 4 : —
in
I n t h e home t h e a t r e b a d w e a t h e r h a d i m p e d e d o u r bomber
operations.
I n t h e M i d d l e E a s t t h e enemy h a d lost 8 destroyed, 12 probably
destroyed a n d 13 d a m a g e d : w e liad lost 12.
A t M a l t a , w h i c h c o n t i n u e d t o be h e a v i l y a t t a c k e d f r o m t h e air,
t h e e n e m y h a d lost 3 p r o b a b l y d e s t r o y e d a n d 10 d a m a g e d ; w e h a d
Air Operations. lost 5 (4 on t h e g r o u n d ) a n d 11 d a m a g e d on t h e g r o u n d .
I n t h e D u t c h E a s t I n d i e s w e h a d lost 50 a i r c r a f t (25 on the
g r o u n d ) a n d t h e e n e m y 35.
I n the D u t c h E a s t I n d i e s enemy cruisers, destroyers and
t r a n s p o r t s h a d been a t t a c k e d f r o m t h e a i r on t h e 1 4 t h F e b r u a r y . I t
w a s t h o u g h t t h a t a t least 3 c r u i s e r s a n d 1 d e s t r o y e r h a d been h i t
a n d 1 t r a n s p o r t s u n k . L a t e r r e p o r t s m i g h t show a n i n c r e a s e in
these figures.
Naval
A G e r m a n c r u i s e r a n d p o c k e t b a t t l e s h i p h a d been a t t a c k e d t h a t
Operations.
m o r n i n g i n N o r w e g i a n w a t e r s by o n e of o u r s u b m a r i n e s . I t w a s
h o p e d t h a t a h i t h a d been o b t a i n e d .
Shipping Losses.
D u r i n g t h e p r e v i o u s week 164,000 t o n s of s h i p p i n g h a d been
lost, i n c l u d i n g m a r i n e c a s u a l t i e s . M o s t of o u r losses h a d occurred
i n t h e D u t c h E a s t I n d i e s a r e a a n d off t h e A m e r i c a n C o a s t .
Military
T h e C a b i n e t w e r e i n f o r m e d of t h e d i s p o s i t i o n of t h e J a p a n e s e
l a n d forces i n the F a r E a s t a n d of t h e r e i n f o r c e m e n t s d u e to a r r i v e
Operations.
i n t h e F a r E a s t a n d t h e I n d i a n Ocean a r e a .
F a r East.
(Previous
Reference:
W.M. (42) 21st
Conclusions,
Minute 1.)
Burma.
Our troops had withdrawn behind the Sittang River
fighting.
.
I n L i b y a e n e m y columns h a d a d v a n c e d on t h e 14th
but had w i t h d r a w n two days later.
R u s s i a n a t t a c k s h a d met w i t h heavier resistance.
m a r k e d p r o g r e s s m a d e by t h e R u s s i a n s w a s in t h e D o n e t s
after h a r d
f
Libya.
Russia.
February,
T h e only
area.
T h e W a r C a b i n e t took n o t e of t h e above s t a t e m e n t s .
Australian
Troop
Movements.
2. T h e W a r C a b i n e t d i s c u s s e d t h e m o v e m e n t s of a n
A u s t r a l i a n D i v i s i o n . T h e d i s c u s s i o n a n d t h e Conclusions reached
a r e r e c o r d e d i n 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.
Aircraft
Production.
3. The Minister
of Labour and National
Service s a i d t h a t t h e
r e p o r t p r e p a r e d b y t h e 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 , in
Production and a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e r e q u e s t w h i c h h e h a d m a d e a week a g o , m a d e
Repair Facilities a s t r o n g case a g a i n s t e s t a b l i s h i n g c a p a c i t y to m a n u f a c t u r e a i r c r a f t
i n I n d i a a t t h e p r e s e n t m o m e n t . T h e r e p o r t p o i n t e d out, however,
in India.
t h a t , if t h e p r o d u c t i o n of a i r c r a f t i n I n d i a w a s t o be i n c r e a s e d , it
(Previous
w o u l d be n e c e s s a r y t o e s t a b l i s h a d e q u a t e r e p a i r f a c i l i t i e s , a n d t h i s
Reference:
W.M. (42) 21st w o u l d p r o b a b l y be t h e best w a y i n w h i c h to u s e I n d i a n resources.
Conclusions,
Minute 3.)
[23499]
The W a r C a b i n e t I n v i t e d t h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for A i r to f u r n i s h a r e p o r t
on t h i s s u g g e s t i o n .
B
2
Repatriation of
Civilians from
Italian East
Africa.
Sinking of an
Italian Tanker.
(Previous
Reference:
W.M. (41) 57th
Conclusions,
Minute 7.)
4. T h e W a r C a b i n e t w e r e r e m i n d e d t h a t w e h a d r e a c h e d a n
a g r e e m e n t w i t h t h e I t a l i a n G o v e r n m e n t t h a t they s h o u l d p r o v i d e
ships, u n d e r s a f e - c o n d u c t from us, for t h e r e p a t r i a t i o n of c i v i l i a n s
to I t a l y .
U n f o r t u n a t e l y , a n I t a l i a n t a n k e r , f e t c h i n g oil u n d e r
s a f e - c o n d u c t from us as p a r t of t h i s a r r a n g e m e n t , h a d been s u n k .
The Foreign Secretary
said t h a t there were e x t e n u a t i n g cir­
c u m s t a n c e s . Nevertheless, he t h o u g h t t h a t w e should e x p r e s s o u r
regret.
I t w a s s u g g e s t e d i n discussion t h a t , w h i l e w e s h o u l d n o t offer,
c o m p e n s a t i o n for t h e s h i p w h i c h h a d been s u n k , w e m i g h t u n d e r t a k e
to p r o v i d e a q u a n t i t y of fuel oil e q u i v a l e n t t o t h a t c a r r i e d by t h i s
tanker.
The W a r C a b i n e t A u t h o r i s e d 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 a n d
t h e F i r s t L o r d of t h e A d m i r a l t y to settle t h i s m a t t e r i n
such a w a y as t o e n s u r e t h a t t h e s i n k i n g of t h i s t a n k e r d i d
n o t b r i n g t o a n e n d the scheme for t h e r e p a t r i a t i o n of
I t a l i a n c i v i l i a n s from I t a l i a n E a s t A f r i c a .
France:
Relations with
Ylchy
Government.
Martinique.
(Previous
Reference:
W.M. (42) 21st
Conclusions,
Minute 4.)
Treatment of
Prisoners at
Hong Kong.
Question of
Publicity.
(Previous
Reference:
W.M. (42) 21st
Conclusions,
Minute 9.)
5. The Foreign
Secretary
r e f e r r e d to r e p o r t s
s u b m a r i n e s h a d refuelled a t M a r t i n i q u e .
The W a r
that
enemy
Cabinet-
A g r e e d t h a t t h e F o r e i g n S e c r e t a r y should c o m m u n i c a t e
this information to the U n i t e d States Government, u r g i n g
t h e m t o t a k e s t r o n g action.
6. T h e W a r C a b i n e t h a d u n d e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n t h e q u e s t i o n of
p u b l i c i t y a b o u t t h e t r e a t m e n t of p r i s o n e r s a t H o n g K o n g .
I t w a s p o i n t e d o u t in discussion t h a t m a n y of t h e a l l e g a t i o n s
h a d n o t been verified. B u t i t seemed u n l i k e l y t h a t w e s h o u l d be able
to v e r i f y some of t h e r e p o r t s u n t i l a f t e r t h e w a r . H o w could t h e
m a t t e r be k e p t q u i e t u n t i l t h e n ? I n a n y case, t h e J a p a n e s e , by
r e f u s i n g t h e i r c o n s e n t t o t h e v i s i t t o H o n g K o n g of r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s
of the I n t e r n a t i o n a l R e d Cross C o m m i t t e e or of t h e P r o t e c t i n g
P o w e r , h a d l a i d themselves o p e n t o t h e g r a v e s t s u s p i c i o n t h a t
atrocities h a d taken place.
Some p u b l i c i t y on t h i s m a t t e r c o u l d n o t be a v o i d e d .
In
p a r t i c u l a r , t h e Foreign Secretary s a i d t h a t i t w o u l d be v e r y difficult
to a s k t h e C h i n e s e G o v e r n m e n t t o s u p p r e s s p u b l i c i t y o n t h i s m a t t e r ,
T h e r e w a s also r e a s o n to believe t h a t t h e best w a y t o s t o p
a t r o c i t i e s w o u l d be t o g i v e t h e m full a n d e a r l y p u b l i c i t y . T h i s h a d
been t h e l i n e w h i c h t h e C h i n e s e h a d a l w a y s t a k e n , e.g., i n r e g a r d t o
t h e N a n k i n g o u t r a g e s . I t w a s essential, however, t o g i v e p r o m i n e n c e
to t h e i l l - t r e a t m e n t of A s i a t i c s a s w e l l as E u r o p e a n s .
F o r these r e a s o n s t h e b a l a n c e of a r g u m e n t w a s felt t o be i n
f a v o u r of p u b l i c a t i o n . B o t h G e n e r a l W a v e l l a n d t h e G o v e r n o r of
B u r m a h a d , however, o p p o s e d p u b l i c a t i o n of t h e a t r o c i t i e s a t H o n g
Kong.
I t w o u l d t h e r e f o r e be r i g h t t h a t t h e y s h o u l d b o t h he
c o n s u l t e d before a final decision w a s r e a c h e d .
125
W.M. (23 (12).
Accordingly, the W a r Cabinet—
I n v i t e d t h e S e c r e t a r i e s of S t a t e for W a r a n d B u r m a t o
send s h o r t t e l e g r a m s to G e n e r a l W a v e l l a n d S i r R e g i n a l d
D o r m a n S m i t h s u m m a r i s i h g t h e p o i n t s m a d e i n discussion,
d r a w i n g a t t e n t i o n to those i n f a v o u r of p u b l i c i t y w h i c h
had weighed w i t h the W a r Cabinet, and inviting a n early
expression of t h e i r views.
Home Defence.
Scheme for
Evacuation \of
Coastal Areas.
(Previous
Reference:
W.M. (41) 21st
Conclusions,
Minute 6.)
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
H o m e S e c r e t a r y a n d M i n i s t e r of H o m e S e c u r i t y ( W . P . (42) 91)
c o v e r i n g a r e p o r t by t h e C i v i l Defence C o m m i t t e e , p r o p o s i n g c e r t a i n
modifications of t h e S c h e m e for t h e c o m p u l s o r y e v a c u a t i o n of
c e r t a i n t o w n s a t or n e a r t h e coast of S o u t h - E a s t E n g l a n d if i n v a s i o n
was imminent.
T h e m a i n p o i n t d i s c u s s e d w a s w h e t h e r t h e B r i g h t o n g r o u p of
t o w n s should be i n c l u d e d i n a n y scheme for t h e e v a c u a t i o n of coastal
towns.
T h e serious d i s a d v a n t a g e s of t h i s course from t h e civil p o i n t
of v i e w w e r e p o i n t e d o u t ; in p a r t i c u l a r , t h a t most of t h e i n h a b i ­
t a n t s of t h i s g r o u p of t o w n s w o u l d h a v e to be e v a c u a t e d i n t o C e n t r a l
London.
T h e W a r C a b i n e t w e r e i n f o r m e d t h a t , if t h e p o s s i b i l i t y of
e v a c u a t i n g t h e B r i g h t o n g r o u p of t o w n s w a s to be faced, i t w o u l d
be "necessary t o c a r r y o u t a r e g i s t r a t i o n scheme i n t h e t o w n s
c o n c e r n e d , a n d to m a k e t h e necessary a r r a n g e m e n t s for b i l l e t i n g i n
various London boroughs.
T h i s w o u l d i n e v i t a b l y involve some
publicity.
T h e W a r C a b i n e t w e r e also i n f o r m e d t h a t t h e F r e n c h scheme
for t h e e v a c u a t i o n of L i l l e , R o u b a i x a n d T o u r c o i n g , c o n t a i n i n g a
p o p u l a t i o n of 800,000 people, h a d w o r k e d s a t i s f a c t o r i l y i n 1940,
a l t h o u g h i t s r e s u l t s h a d been nullified by t h e G e r m a n forces g e t t i n g
r o u n d to t h e - r e a r of t h e s e t o w n s a n d c a u s i n g the people w h o h a d
been e v a c u a t e d t o r e t u r n .
A f t e r a s h o r t d i s c u s s i o n , t h e W a r C a b i n e t a g r e e d a s follows :—
(1) P l a n s for t h e e v a c u a t i o n of t h e t h i r t y - o n e t o w n s should be
f r a m e d o n t h e b a s i s t h a t t h e W a r C a b i n e t w i l l be asked
t o a u t h o r i s e e v a c u a t i o n to b e g i n t w e n t y - o n e d a y s before
t h e e n e m y ' s p r e p a r a t i o n s for i n v a s i o n a r e likely to be
completed, i t b e i n g u n d e r s t o o d t h a t t h e W a r C a b i n e t
w i l l decide, i n t h e l i g h t of a l l t h e r e l e v a n t c o n s i d e r a t i o n s
at the time, whether to authorise evacuation.
(2) A scheme on t h e s a m e b a s i s s h o u l d also be p r e p a r e d for t h e
e v a c u a t i o n of t h e B r i g h t o n g r o u p of t o w n s on t h e u n d e r ­
s t a n d i n g t h a t , w h e n t h e t i m e c a m e for t h e W a r C a b i n e t
to c o n s i d e r w h e t h e r c o m p u l s o r y e v a c u a t i o n s h o u l d be
effected, t h e n e e d for p u t t i n g i n t o force e a c h section
(e.g., t h e B r i g h t o n g r o u p of towns) should receive
separate examination.
Home Defence.
Role of the Civil
Population.
(Previous
Eef erence:
W.M. (40) 213th
Conclusions,
Minute 10.)
8. The Home
Secretary
and Minister
of Home
Security
r e f e r r e d t o a M o t i o n p u t d o w n by L o r d M o t t i s t o n e : " T o call
a t t e n t i o n t o t h e s t a t u s of c i v i l i a n s i n t h e event of i n v a s i o n i n
a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e l a w o f t h e l a n d a n d t h e p r o v i s i o n s of T h e
H a g u e C o n v e n t i o n of 1907, especially A r t i c l e s I a n d I I of Conven­
t i o n 4, a n d t o r e q u e s t H i s M a j e s t y ' s G o v e r n m e n t to issue p r e c i s e
i n s t r u c t i o n s ; a n d to move for P a p e r s . " M r . L i p s o n also h a d p u t
d o w n a Q u e s t i o n t o t h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r on t h e s a m e subject.
T h e H o m e S e c r e t a r y a n d M i n i s t e r of H o m e S e c u r i t y s a i d t h a t ,
i n t h e l i g h t of t h e e x p e r i e n c e of g u e r r i l l a w a r f a r e i n R u s s i a , h e
t h o u g h t t h a t t h e r e w a s a case for e x a m i n i n g w h e t h e r a n y a m e n d ­
m e n t w a s called for i n t h e p r e v i o u s i n s t r u c t i o n s i n t h i s m a t t e r ,
w h i c h h a d been i n c l u d e d in t h e leaflet a p p r o v e d b y t h e W a r C a b i n e t
i n J u l y 1940 ( W . P . (G) (40) 197).
The W a r Cabinet—
I n v i t e d t h e L o r d P r e s i d e n t of t h e Council t o e x a m i n e , i n
c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h t h e H o m e S e c r e t a r y a n d M i n i s t e r of
H o m e S e c u r i t y a n d a n y o t h e r M i n i s t e r s concerned, t h e
q u e s t i o n w h e t h e r t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s issued o n t h i s m a t t e r
required amendment.
Great
George Street, S. W. 1,
February 23, 1942.