(c) crown copyright Catalogue Reference:CAB/65/26/14 Image Reference:0001 THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OP HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'8 GOVERNMENT Printed for the War Cabinet. April 1942. SECRET. Copy N o . W.M. (42) 53rd Conclusions. 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 t h i s d o c u m e n t . W A R C A B I N E T 53 (42). CONCLUSIONS of a Meeting of the War Cabinet held at 10 Downing S.W. 1, on Monday, April 27, 1942, at 5 - 3 0 P . M . Street, Present: The 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 The R i g h t H o n . C. R . A T T L E E , M . P . , Secretary Affairs. of State for Dominion Chair). 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 J O H N A N D E R S O N , M . P . , L o r d P r e s i d e n t of t h e C o u n c i l . 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 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 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 were also p r e s e n t : T h e R i g h t H o n . S. M . B R U C E , H i g h Commissioner (representing Special 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 Hon. S i r K I N G S L E Y W O O D , M . P . , Chancellor 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 f o r t h e Colonies. The R i g h t H o n . A . V . A L E X A N D E R , 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 JAMES 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 Secretary of S t a t e f o r B u r m a . Right SINCLAIR, Hon. Bt., Sir M.P., ARCHIBALD Secretary of S t a t e for A i r . The R i g h t H o n . L O R D L E A T H E R S , M i n i s t e r of W a r T r a n s p o r t (Items 5-7). R i g h t Hon. President (Item 7). of 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 (Items 6 and 7). 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 . T h e R i g h t H a n . t h e E A R L OF SELBORNE, Minister of E c o n o m i c Warfare (Items 6 and 7). T h e R i g h t Hon. J A M E S STUART, M.P., The Hon. Sir ALEXANDER CADOGAN, J o i n t P a r l i a m e n t a r y S e c r e t a r y of t h e T r e a s u r y (Item 7). 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). A d m i r a l 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 Chief 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. PORTAL, (Items Chief of the Air Staff 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 . NORMAN BROOK. W A R C A B I N E T 53 (42). CONTENTS. Minute No. 1 Subject. Naval, Military a n d Air Operations Page 233 Air operations: Home Theatre. Malta. Naval operations: Shipping losses. Military operations: Burma. 2 Air Raids 233 Damage and Casualties. 8 F o r e i g n Affairs 234 Hitler's Speech. Supplies to Russia. French West Indies. 4 Naval Construction Programme 5 Supplies to Russia 6 Blockade 234 .... .... .... .... 235 285 Proposal to allow shipment of milk for children to enemy­ occupied territories. 7 Fuel Rationing 235 233 Naval, Military and Air Operations. (Previous Eeferenee: ' W.M. (42) 50th Conclusions, Minute 1.)"' Air Operations. Home Theatre. Malta. Naval Operations. Shipping Losses. Military Operations. Burma. W . M . S3 ( 4 2 ) . 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. , T h e m a i n objectives of Bomber C o m m a n d h a d been Cologne a n d Rostock, w h i c h h a d been a t t a c k e d on f o u r successive n i g h t s . A t o t a l of 1,100 t o n s of bombs h a d been d r o p p e d d u r i n g t h e week, a n d our losses h a d been below n o r m a l , l a r g e l y because t h e t a r g e t s chiefly a t t a c k e d d i d n o t involve a l o n g flight over G e r m a n y . . F i g h t e r C o m m a n d h a d flown a t o t a l of 4,100 sorties by d a y a n d 460 by n i g h t . E n e m y o p p o s i t i o n over F r a n c e c o n t i n u e d t o be s t r o n g , a n d t h e G e r m a n s seemed t o be k e e p i n g a n u m b e r of t h e i r best m a c h i n e s a n d p i l o t s for defence in t h i s t h e a t r e . T h e scale of t h e a i r a t t a c k on M a l t a , t h o u g h still severe, h a d been s l i g h t l y r e d u c e d . I n t h e l a s t few d a y s t h e r e h a d been d e l i b e r a t e a t t a c k s on h o s p i t a l s , b o t h a t M a l t a a n d i n E g y p t . I n t h e n u m b e r of a i r c r a f t destroyed, o p e r a t i o n s over M a l t a c o n t i n u e d t o be m o r e f a v o u r a b l e to u s t h a n o p e r a t i o n s over F r a n c e . I n a p e r i o d of s i x weeks w e h a d d e s t r o y e d 76 a i r c r a f t i n t h e h o m e t h e a t r e a t a cost of 75 of o u r own. I n t h e s a m e p e r i o d over M a l t a w e h a d destroyed 151 a t a cost of 90, i n c l u d i n g those d e s t r o y e d on t h e g r o u n d . A l l i e d s h i p p i n g losses for t h e week t o t a l l e d 101,000 tons. On t h e B u r m a f r o n t t h e r e h a d been l i t t l e c h a n g e except on t h e east, w h e r e p r e l i m i n a r y r e p o r t s i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e J a p a n e s e h a d a d v a n c e d r a p i d l y i n t h e l a s t five d a y s . I n L i b y a , a n d on t h e R u s s i a n front, t h e r e h a d been no c h a n g e . T h e r e w e r e s t i l l n o i n d i c a t i o n s of t h e e a r l y r e s u m p t i o n of a l a r g e ­ scale offensive' a g a i n s t R u s s i a . 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 . Air Raids. Damage and Casualties. (Previous Reference: W.M. (42) 43rd Conclusions, Minute 3.) 2. T h e W a r C a b i n e t w e r e given a d e t a i l e d r e p o r t on t h e r a i d s o n B a t h (on t h e n i g h t s of t h e 2 5 t h / 2 6 t h a n d t h e 2 6 t h / 2 7 t h A p r i l ) a n d on E x e t e r (on t h e n i g h t s of the 2 3 r d / 2 4 t h , 2 4 t h / 2 5 t h a n d t h e 25th/26th April). A t B a t h t h e n u m b e r s k n o w n to h a v e been killed i n t h e t w o r a i d s w e r e 148 (which m i g h t i n c r e a s e by a n o t h e r 2 0 - 3 0 ) , a n d t h e n u m b e r of i n j u r e d w a s e s t i m a t e d a t ^200. D a m a g e to houses h a d been extensive. One t h o u s a n d people b a d been e v a c u a t e d from r e s t c e n t r e s i n t h e t o w n t o r e s t c e n t r e s on t h e o u t s k i r t s . T h e r e h a d been t w e n t y fires, i n c l u d i n g one a t t h e C i t y F i r e H e a d q u a r t e r s . T h e r a i l w a y s t a t i o n w a s o u t of u s e a n d t h e m a i n l i n e t r a i n s h a d been diverted via Badminton. T h e r e h a d been w i d e s p r e a d d a m a g e t o b u i l d i n g s occupied b y t h e A d m i r a l t y , a n d , i n a d d i t i o n , a n u m b e r of t h e staff w e r e homeless. T h e A d m i r a l t y w e r e c o n s i d e r i n g w h e t h e r some p a r t of t h e staff should be t r a n s f e r r e d b a c k to L o n d o n . A t E x e t e r t h e t o t a l c a s u a l t i e s for t h e t h r e e r a i d s w e r e 60 k i l l e d , 21 seriously i n j u r e d a n d 36 s l i g h t l y i n j u r e d . The Prime Minister a s k e d t h a t D e p a r t m e n t s s h o u l d d o all t h e y could t o e n s u r e t h a t d i s p r o p o r t i o n a t e p u b l i c i t y w a s n o t given t o these r a i d s . O u r a t t a c k s on G e r m a n y w e r e inflicting m u c h g r e a t e r d a m a g e ; a n d i t w a s i m p o r t a n t to avoid g i v i n g t h e i m p r e s s i o n t h a t t h e G e r m a n s w e r e m a k i n g full r e p r i s 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 . Foreign Affairs. 3. The Foreign Secretary promised to circulate to the W a r a c o n s i d e r e d a p p r e c i a t i o n of H i t l e r ' s speech t o t h e R e i c h s t a g . P r e l i m i n a r y e x a m i n a t i o n of t h e speech s u g g e s t e d t h a t i t reflected some a n x i e t y a b o u t morale, n o t in t h e Army,, b u t a m o n g the civilian population. Hitler's Speech. C a b i n e t Supplies to Russia. (Previous Reference: W.M. (42) 52nd Conclusions, Minute 5.) The Foreign Secretary h a d seen M . M a i s k y , w h o w a s concerned a t t h e delay r e s u l t i n g from t h e fact t h a t fifteen s h i p s in t h e l a s t convoy h a d been forced t o t u r n back by d a m a g e from ice. H e h a d e x p l a i n e d t h e p o s i t i o n , a n d , t h o u g h he h a d m a d e n o p r o m i s e , h a d s a i d t h a t i t m i g h t be possible to a r r a n g e for thirty-five s h i p s t o sail i n t h e n e x t convoy. French West Indies. The Foreign Secretary s a i d t h a t h e h a d been t r y i n g t o p e r s u a d e t h e U n i t e d States Government to take a stronger line r e g a r d i n g t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n in t h e F r e n c h i s l a n d s of G u a d e l o u p e a n d M a r t i n i q u e . So f a r h i s r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s h a d n o t been successful. T h e W a r C a b i n e t took n o t e of these s t a t e m e n t s . Naval Construction Programme. 4. 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 a m e m o r a n d u m by 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 g i v i n g d e t a i l s of t h e A d m i r a l t y p r o g r a m m e of n e w c o n s t r u c t i o n for 1942 ( W . P . (42) 173). (Previous The First Lord of the Admiralty gave a r e v i e w of t h e p r e s e n t Reference: p o s i t i o n of t h e fleet, g i v i n g d e t a i l s of t h e n u m b e r of s h i p s a v a i l a b l e W.M. (41) 118th i n e a c h m a i n class a n d t h e losses s u s t a i n ed. Conclusions.) P o i n t s r a i s e d i n d i s c u s s i o n w e r e :—* (a) I n a d d i t i o n t o a r m o u r e d a i r c r a f t - c a r r i e r s , i t w a s p r o p o s e d t o o r d e r four ' ' i n t e r m e d i a t e ' ' c a r r i e r s i n 1942. I t w a s s u g g e s t e d t h a t i t m i g h t be possible t o o b t a i n some a s s i s t a n c e from t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , w h e r e t h e r e w e r e under construction twenty carriers and eighty auxiliary c a r r i e r s . A s o u r c a r r i e r s w e r e m o r e often a t risk, t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s m i g h t be asked t o u n d e r t a k e t o r e p l a c e from t h e i r n e w c o n s t r u c t i o n t h e n e x t t w o or t h r e e c a r r i e r s w h i c h w e lost. (b) T h e l a t e s t specifications for T a n k - L a n d i n g C r a f t w o u l d m e a n t h a t i t w o u l d t a k e m a t e r i a l l y longer to b u i l d t h e large numbers required. Efforts should be m a d e to evolve a s i m p l e r s t a n d a r d d e s i g n , w h i c h e l i m i n a t e d all non-essentials a n d w o u l d lend itself t o m a s s - p r o d u c t i o n methods. I f t h i s w e r e done, t h e w o r k could be s p r e a d more widely, u s e could be m a d e of y a r d s (e.g., i n the T h a m e s a n d t h e Severn) n o t n o w in u s e for s h i p b u i l d i n g , a n d labour could be m o r e easily p r o v i d e d , e.g., f r o m men w h o w e r e t o be released f r o m t h e C i v i l D e f e n c e Services. The W a r C a b i n e t ­ (1) A p p r o v e d t h e p r o g r a m m e s u b m i t t e d i n W . P . (42) 173. (2) I n v i t e 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 t o p r o v i d e the P r i m e M i n i s t e r w i t h m a t e r i a l on w h i c h h e m i g h t base a n a p p r o a c h t o t h e P r e s i d e n t of t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s for a s s i s t a n c e i n connection w i t h a i r c r a f t - c a r r i e r s . (3) A s k e d t h a t t h e V i c e - C h i e f s of Staff should consider a n d r e p o r t t o t h e D e f e n c e C o m m i t t e e w h e t h e r a simpler d e s i g n of t a n k - l a n d i n g c r a f t c o u l d be evolved; and i n v i t e d t h e M i n i s t e r of P r o d u c t i o n t o s u b m i t to the Defence Committee t h e memorandum which he w a s pre­ p a r i n g o n t h e p r o s p e c t s of i n c r e a s i n g t h e p r o d u c t i o n of these-craft. 235 Supplies to Russia. ^Previous Reference: W.M. (42) 48th Conclusions, Minute 4.) Blockade. Proposal to allow shipment of milk for children to enemy-occupied territories. (Previous Reference: W.M. (41) 75th Conclusions, Minute 9.) W.M. 53 (42). 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 by t h e M i n i s t e r of P r o d u c t i o n on P o s t - P r o t o c o l S u p p l i e s t o R u s s i a ( W . P . (42) 178). A f t e r a s h o r t discussion, t h e W a r C a b i n e t — A g r e e d t h a t t h i s P a p e r should be r e m i t t e d for c o n s i d e r a ­ t i o n by t h e Defence C o m m i t t e e a t t h e i r n e x t M e e t i n g . Q T h e W a r C a b i n e t h a d before them a M e m o r a n d u m by 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) 175) in r e g a r d t o a p r o p o s a l t h a t a s u p p l y of l i m i t e d q u a n t i t i e s of m i l k i n concen­ t r a t e d form, for t h e relief of c h i l d r e n only, should be allowed t o e n t e r t e r r i t o r i e s of t h e A l l i e d G o v e r n m e n t s occupied by t h e enemy, I t w a s e x p l a i n e d t h a t i t w o u l d be a c o n d i t i o n of t h e scheme t h a t n o c u r t a i l m e n t of o u r own s u p p l i e s of m i l k from t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s w a s t h e r e b y involved. I t w a s p r o p o s e d t h a t s h i p m e n t s should be m a d e i n S w e d i s h s h i p s now i n t h e B a l t i c a n d t r a d i n g for t h e enemy. F u r t h e r , o u r dollar resources w o u l d n o t be used for t h i s purpose. I t w a s e x p l a i n e d t h a t the scheme w a s p u t f o r w a r d a s b e i n g i n our i n t e r e s t s . T h u s , useful p r o p a g a n d a could be based u p o n it, a n d i t w o u l d h a v e a n effect in m a i n t a i n i n g t h e m o r a l e of t h e peoples of the overrun territories. The Minister of Economic Warfare said t h a t his Department now f a v o u r e d a scheme on the lines proposed. O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , i t w a s u r g e d t h a t , if once t h i s concession w a s m a d e , s t r o n g p r e s s u r e w o u l d be b r o u g h t t o b e a r u p o n u s by t h e A l l i e d G o v e r n m e n t s t o e x t e n d it, more especially since t h e a m o u n t of c o n c e n t r a t e d m i l k w h i c h i t w a s p r o p o s e d should be allowed t h r o u g h t h e blockade w o u l d go a v e r y l i t t l e w a y t o m e e t t h e n e e d s of the c h i l d r e n i n t h e t e r r i t o r i e s concerned. Once t h e p r i n c i p l e w a s conceded, t h e r e w o u l d be n o firm g r o u n d on w h i c h w e could resist f u r t h e r concessions. T h e a r g u m e n t s p u t f o i w a r d i n favour of t h e scheme w e r e t h e s a m e as those w h i c h h a d been u r g e d a y e a r a g o . A t t h a t t i m e w e h a d h a d g r e a t difficulty i n r e s i s t i n g t h e s t r o n g p r e s s u r e p u t o n us by t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s G o v e r n m e n t ; b u t t h e r e w a s reason t o s u p p o s e t h a t o p i n i o n i n t h a t c o u n t r y on t h i s m a t t e r h a d g r e a t l y c h a n g e d since they c a m e i n t o t h e w a r . I t w a s suggested t h a t m a n y of t h e a r g u m e n t s a g a i n s t t h e p r o p o s a l w o u l d be m e t if, w h i l e w e r e t a i n e d effective control over t h e scope a n d e x t e n t of t h e scheme, i t took t h e form of a c t i o n on behalf of t h e A l l i e d G o v e r n m e n t s for t h e benefit of the people i n t h e i r o w n t e r r i t o r i e s , occupied by t h e enemy. The W a r C a b i n e t R e c o r d e d n o decision, a n d a g r e e d to r e s u m e c o n s i d e r a t i o n of t h i s q u e s t i o n in, say, a w e e k ' s t i m e . Fuel Rationing. 7. R e f e r e n c e w a s m a d e t o t h e i n t e r e s t a r o u s e d in t h e H o u s e of C o m m o n s a n d i n t h e P r e s s by t h e a n n o u n c e m e n t m a d 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 on t h e 21st A p r i l t h a t t h e G o v e r n ­ m e n t h a d d e c i d e d t o i n t r o d u c e a comprehensive scheme of fuel r a t i o n i n g a s soon a s possible, a n d t h a t i t w a s h o p e d by t h i s m e a n s to r e d u c e t h e domestic c o n s u m p t i o n of coal by 10 m i l l i o n t o n s a year. The Prime Minister s u g g e s t e d t h a t c o n s i d e r a t i o n s h o u l d be given t o t h e a l t e r n a t i v e m e t h o d of a n a p p e a l to t h e p u b l i c t o r e d u c e consumption voluntarily. H a v i n g regard to the grave complications i n h e r e n t i n a n y scheme of fuel r a t i o n i n g , t h e r e w o u l d be g r e a t a d v a n t a g e if t h e r e q u i s i t e s a v i n g could be o b t a i n e d w i t h o u t e l a b o r a t e m a c h i n e r y , a n d b y a m e t h o d w h i c h w o u l d secure g e n e r a l assent. 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 a M o t i o n h a d been p u t d o w n for discussion i n t h e H o u s e of C o m m o n s a t a n e a r l y d a t e t o t h e effect t h a t , before a n y scheme for t h e r a t i o n i n g of fuel w a s i n s t i t u t e d , steps s h o u l d be t a k e n , i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e recommen­ d a t i o n of t h e Select C o m m i t t e e o n N a t i o n a l E x p e n d i t u r e , in t h e T h i r d R e p o r t of t h e Session, 1 9 4 1 - 4 2 , t o release m e n t e m p o r a r i l y f r o m t h e A r m y , a n d i n o t h e r w a y s t h e r e i n set o u t m a t e r i a l l y t o i n c r e a s e t h e p r o d u c t i o n of coal i n t h i s c o u n t r y . I t w a s also s t a t e d t h a t t h e r e w a s likely to be some o p p o s i t i o n t o a r a t i o n i n g scheme i n both the m a i n political P a r t i e s . T h e view w a s also e x p r e s s e d t h a t some of t h e c r i t i c i s m w a s d i r e c t e d not a g a i n s t fuel r a t i o n i n g a s such, b u t a g a i n s t w h a t t h e c r i t i c s i m a g i n e d t o be t h e e s s e n t i a l f e a t u r e s of t h e scheme d r a w n u p by S i r W i l l i a m B e v e r i d g e . A W h i t e P a p e r w o u l d b e p r e s e n t e d o n t h e following d a y s e t t i n g o u t t h e B e v e r i d g e scheme, to w h i c h , of course, H i s M a j e s t y ' s G o v e r n m e n t w e r e n o t c o m m i t t e d , a n d w h i c h w a s r e g a r d e d as a basis of discussion. F u r t h e r , 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 a s p r o p o s i n g to h a v e d i s c u s s i o n s w i t h r e p r e ­ s e n t a t i v e p o l i t i c a l bodies i n t h e c u r r e n t week. The W a r C a b i n e t ­ (1) Took note t h a t v a r i o u s m e a s u r e s w e r e i n h a n d w h i c h would r e s u l t i n a f u r t h e r e l u c i d a t i o n of o p i n i o n i n t h e H o u s e a n d a m o n g t h e p u b l i c g e n e r a l l y i n r e g a r d t o t h e fuel r a t i o n i n g scheme. (2) F a v o u r e d t h e s u g g e s t i o n t h a t t h e r e s h o u l d be a discussion i n t h e H o u s e on fuel r a t i o n i n g a t a n e a r l y d a t e , probably i n t h e following week. (3) A g r e e d t h a t for t h e p r e s e n t n o firm decision should be taken in f a v o u r of t h e a d o p t i o n of a n y p a r t i c u l a r m e t h o d of s e c u r i n g t h e n e c e s s a r y s a v i n g i n t h e c o n s u m p t i o n of domestic fuel. Great George Street, S. W. 1, April 27, 1942.