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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 Y ' S G O Y E R N M E N T
Printed
for the War Cabinet.
March 1 9 4 1 .
SECRET.
Copy No-
W.M.(41)
25th Conclusions.
TO BE K E P T
UNDER
LOCK
A N D KEY.
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 25 (41).
CONCLUSIONS
of a Meeting of the War Cabinet held at 10, Downing Street^
S.W.1, on Thursday, March 6, 1 9 4 1 , at 6 P.M.
Present:
The Right Hon. W I N S T O N S. C H U R C H I L L , M.P., Prime Minister (in the Chair).
The Right Hon. Sir J O H N A N D E R S O N ,
M.P., Lord President of the Council.
Lord Privy Seal.
The Right Hon. Sir K I N G S L E Y W O O D ,
The Right Hon. A . GREENWOOD, M.P.
M.P., Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Minister without Portfolio.
The Right Hon. E R N E S T B E V D I , M.P.,
Minister of Labour and Minister of
National Service.
The Right Hon. C . R. A T T L E E , M.P.
;
The following were also present:
The Right Hon. R. G. M E N Z I E S , K.C.,
M.P.,
Prime
Minister
of the
Commonwealth of Australia.
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/
Secretary of State for Dominion
M.P.
Secretary of State f o r the.
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 ,
M.P., First Lord of the Admiralty.
tary of State for the Colonies.
The Right Hon. H . D. MARGESSON, The Right Hon. Sir A R C H I B A L D
SINCLAIR, Bt., M.P., Secretary of
M.P., Secretary of State for W a r .
State for A i r .
The Right Hon. R. H. CROSS, M.P.,
The Right Hon. A . D U F F COOPER,
Minister of Shipping (Item 3 ) .
M.P., Minister of Information.
The Right Hon. H U G H DALTON, M.P., The
Right
Hon.
Sir
DONALD
Minister
of Economic
Warfare
SOMERVELL, K.C., M.P., Attorney­
(Item 4 ) .
General (Item 3 ) .
;
The Right Hon. R. A . BUTLER, M.P.,
The
Hon.
Sir
ALEXANDER
CADOGAN.
Permanent
Under-Secretary
of
Parliamentary
Under-Secretary,
State for Foreign Affairs.
Foreign Office.
Admiral of the Fleet Sir D U D L E Y A i r Chief Marshal Sir CHARLES F. A .
PORTAL, Chief of the A i r Staff.
POUND, First Sea Lord and Chief of
Naval Staff.
Lieut-General Sir ROBERT H A I N I N G ,
Vice-Chief of the Imperial General
Staff.
Secretariat.
RIDGES.
dr-General Sir H A S T I N G S T S M A Y .
mr.
W . D: W I L K I N S O N
L. F. B U R G I S .
44
W A R C A B I N E T 25 (41).
CONTENTS.
Minute
No.
1
Subject.
The Balkans and the Middle East
Page
129
Future Military Policy.
2
The " Spitfire" Fund
....
129
Proposed contributions to Service Benevolent Funds.
3
The Allies
129
Proposed legislation in respect of Allied Seamen.
4
Blockade
130
Application to Japan:
The Asaka Maru.
5
Jamaica
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
130
Constitutional Changes.
6
Air Raids
130
Publicity regarding the dropping of Parachute Mines.
7
United States of America
131
Lease of Bases in British Territory.
S
Air Operations
Air attack on Malta.
....
...
....
....
....
....
131
The Balkans
and the
Middle East.
Future Military
Policy.
1. The War Cabinet had before them certain further telegrams
from Athens.
A record of the discussion and of the Conclusions reached is contained in the Secretary's Standard File of W a r Cabinet Conclusions.
(Previous
Reference:
W . M . (41) 24th
Conclusions.
The " Spitfire "
Fund.
2. The War Cabinet had before them a Memorandum by the
Minister of Aircraft Production ( W . P . (G) (41) 26) asking approval
for a proposed statement, on the allocation of money from the
Spitfire Fund to Service benevolent funds.
Proposed
Contributions to
Service
Benevolent
Funds.
(Previous Reference:
W . M . (41) 10th Conclusions, Minute 9.)
The War Cabinefs decision was as follows :—
(1) The Merchant Navy should rank^equally-with the three/.
Fighting Services in the division of the money to be
^
diverted from the Spitfire Fund. (2) A proposal was put forward that a share in the money
diverted to benevolent funds should be allocated to meet the needs of members of the Police Forces and of the Civil Defence Services. This proposal was not approved,
the general view of the War Cabinet being that if the
scheme was further widened it would be impossible
to know where to draw the line.
(3) The second sentence of the proposed public statement should
be amended to read as follows : —
" Without any appeal by the Government, the
sum of ten million pounds has been sent to us for the
provision of aircraft for the defence of this island
and for our offensive operations overseas."
(4) The words " the benevolent funds of the three Fighting
Services " in the proposed public statement should be
amended to read " the benevolent funds or Service
charities of the three Fighting Services."
(5) Subject to these points, the proposal in W . P . (G) (41) 26
was approved.
The AUies.
Proposed
legislation in
respect of
Allied Seamen.
3 ^he War Cabinet had before them a Joint Memorandum by the Foreign Secretary, the Minister of Labour and National Service, the Home Secretary and the Minister of Shipping ( W . P . ( G ) (41)
28).
The main proposals in the Memorandum were :—
(1) To pass legislation :—
(a) Empowering
Allied
Governments
to
enforce
discipline in this country, under their own laws,,
on their merchant seamen, and to deal with offences
committed on their ships if committed outside
British ports or territorial waters.
(b) Authorising Allied Governments to enforce upon
their nationals who were seamen or who had
previously served as seamen, the obligation to serve
in their respective Allied mercantile marines.
These powers should be enforced by Allied
Courts.
(2) Pending any representations from General de Gaulle, which
would be considered on their merits, it was not proposed
that this legislation should make special provision for
the case of Free French merchant seamen.
[ 2 2 2 9 8 - 1 ]
B 2
^g^i,
The War C a b i n e t Approved the preparation of a Bill on the lines proposed
in W.P. (G) (41) 28, with a view to its introduction in
Parliament at a very early date.
Blockade.
Application to
Japan.
The Asaka
Maru.
(Previous
Reference:
W . M . (41) 20th
Conclusions,
Minute 3.)
4. The First Lord of the Admiralty asked for a decision on
the case of the A saka Maru. The War Cabinet were familiar with
the arguments for and against intercepting this vessel. The recom­
mendation of the Board of Admiralty was on the whole against
interception.
The Minister for Economic Warfare said that there was reason
to believe that the vessel had on board a cargo containing coastal
guns, Oerlikon guns, heavy cases of machinery and mercury.
The War Cabinet were informed that the A saka Mam was still
at Bilbao. I t was not certain whether she would return via the
Panama Canal. The Japanese had suggested that she might go
home round the Cape. W e had stated in reply to enquiries that
if the vessel put into a British port, she would be subject to the
normal British contraband control.
The War C a b i n e t -
Deferred a decision for a week. Jamaica.
Constitutional
Changes.
5.
The W a r Cabinet had before them a Memorandum by the
Secretary of State for the Colonies (W.P. (G) (41) 30) proposing
certain constitutional changes in Jamaica, of which the chief
were :—
(a) The introduction of universal adult suffrage;
(b) A n enlargement of the Legislative Council, the official repre­
sentation on the Council being somewhat reduced.
, (c) A re-definition of the Governor's powers, which would in
some degree be enlarged.
I t was proposed that the Governor should make a public state­
ment regarding these changes, and that the existing Legislative
Council should be given an opportunity to discuss them.
The W a r C a b i n e t Approved the proposals in the Memorandum (W.P. (G)
(41) 30).
Air Raids.
Publicity
regarding the
dropping of
Parachute
Mines.
(Previous
Reference:
W . M . (40) 285th
Conclusions,
Minute 14.)
6. The W a r Cabinet were informed that Sir Walter Citrine,
who was broadcasting that night to the United States of America,
had made a strong protest when asked not to include a reference
to the dropping of parachute mines.
After a short discussion, the W a r Cabinet agreed as follows :—
(1) Sir Walter Citrine should be informed that the present ban
on the publication of statements about the dropping of
mines by parachute could not be repealed at a moment's
notice, without allowing time for proper consideration.
(2) I f it was desired that the present practice should be recon­
sidered the matter should be submitted to the War
Cabinet in the normal way.
United States of
America.
Lease of Bases
in British
Territory.
(Previous
Reference:
W . M . (41) 23rd
Conclusions,
Minute 6.)
Air Operations.
7. The W a r Cabinet were informed that a Member of Parlia­
ment had asked for an assurance that no leases would be signed
until the House had had an opportunity of debating the matter.
The W a r Cabinet decided—
(1) That this request should be refused, on the ground that it
infringed the Treaty-making powers of the Executive.
(2) That the Member in question should be informed that, if
he wished to raise the issue of the Treaty-making powers
of the Executive, he should do so on some other question
and not in regard to the United States bases.
8.
The Chief of the Air Staff said that particulars had just
been received of a very heavy air attack on Malta the previous day
(Previous
by a force of over 100 German and Italian aircraft. Eleven of our
Reference:
The total losses
W . M . (41) 23rd fighters had taken the air against this force.
inflicted
on
the
enemy
by
our
fighters
and
A
.
A
.
guns
had been 16
Conclusions, aircraft
destroyed,
1
probably
destroyed,
and
8
damaged,
for the
Minute 1.) loss of 1 Hurricane and one pilot.
Air attack on Malta. The War Cabinet took note of this statement.
Great George Street, S.W. 1, March 6, 1941. The War C a b i n e t Approved the preparation of a Bill on the lines proposed
in W.P. (G) (41) 28, with a view to its introduction in
Parliament at a very early date.
Blockade.
Application to
Japan.
The Asaka
Maru.
(Previous
Reference:
W . M . (41) 20th
Conclusions,
Minute 3.)
4. The First Lord of the Admiralty asked for a decision on
the case of the A saka Maru. The W a r Cabinet were familiar with
the arguments for and against intercepting this vessel. The recom­
mendation of the Board of Admiralty was on the whole against
interception.
The Minister for Economic Warfare said that there was reason
to believe that the vessel had on board a cargo containing coastal
guns, Oerlikon guns, heavy cases of machinery and mercury.
The War Cabinet were informed that the A saka Maru was still
at Bilbao. I t was not certain whether she would return via the
Panama Canal. The Japanese had suggested that she might go
home round the Cape. W e had stated in reply to enquiries that
if the vessel put into a British port, she would be subject to the
normal British contraband control.
The War C a b i n e t -
Deferred a decision for a week. Jamaica.
Constitutional
Changes.
5.
The W a r Cabinet had before them a Memorandum by the
Secretary of State for the Colonies ( W . P . (G) (41) 30) proposing
certain constitutional changes in Jamaica, of which the chief
were :—
(a) The introduction of universal adult suffrage;
(b) A n enlargement of the Legislative Council, the official repre­
sentation on the Council being somewhat reduced.
, (c) A re-definition of the Governor's powers, which would in
some degree be enlarged.
I t was proposed that the Governor should make a public state­
ment regarding these changes, and that the existing Legislative
Council should be given an opportunity to discuss them.
The War Cabinet—
Approved the proposals in the Memorandum ( W . P . (G)
(41) 30).
Air Baids.
Publicity
regarding the
dropping of
Parachute
Mines.
(Previous
Reference:
W . M . (40) 285th
Conclusions,
Minute 14.)
6. The W a r Cabinet were informed that Sir Walter Citrine,
who was broadcasting that night to the United States of America,
had made a strong protest when asked not to include a reference
to the dropping of parachute mines.
After a short discussion, the W a r Cabinet agreed as follows :—
(1) Sir Walter Citrine should be informed that the present ban
on the publication of statements about the dropping of
mines by parachute could not be repealed at a moment's
notice, without allowing time for proper consideration.
(2) I f it was desired that the present practice should be recon­
'
sidered the matter should be submitted to the W a r
Cabinet in the normal way.
,
United States of
America.
Lease of Bases
in British
Territory.
(Previous
Reference:
W . M . (41) 23rd
Conclusions,
Minute 6.)
Air Operations.
(Previous
Reference:
W . M . (41) 23rd
Conclusions,
Minute 1.)
Air attack on
Malta.
7. The W a r Cabinet were informed that a Member of Parlia­
ment had asked for an assurance that no leases would b signed
until the House had had an opportunity of debating the matter.
e
The War Cabinet decided—
(1) That this request should be refused, on the ground that it
infringed the Treaty-making powers of the Executive.
(2) That the Member in question should be informed that, if
he wished to raise the issue of the Treaty-making powers
of the Executive, he should do so on some other question
and not in regard to the United States bases.
8. The Chief of the Air Staff said that particulars had just
been received of a very heavy air attack on Malta the previous day
by a force of over 100 German and Italian aircraft. Eleven of our
fighters had taken the air against this force.
The total losses
inflicted on the enemy by our fighters and A . A . guns had been 16
aircraft destroyed, 1 probably destroyed, and 8 damaged, for the
loss of 1 Hurricane and one pilot.
The W a r Cabinet took note of this statement.
Great George Street, S.W. 1, March 6, 1941.