(c) crown copyright
Catalogue Reference:CAB/65/19/30
Image Reference:0001
THIS DOCUMENT IS T H E PROPERTY OF H I S BRITANNIC MAJESTVS GOVERNMENT
Printed
for the War Cabinet.
September
1941.
SECRET.
43
Copy N o .
W . M . (41)
94th Conclusions.
TO B E 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 94 (41).
CONCLUSIONS
of a Meeting of the War Cabinet held at 1 0 Downing
S.W. 1 , on Thursday,
September
1 8 , 1 9 4 1 , at 1 2 NOON.
Street,
Present:
T h e 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
Chair).
T h e R i g h t H o n . C. R . A T T L E E , M . P . , ! T h e R i g h t H o n . S i r J O H N A N D E R S O N ,
L o r d P r i v y Seal.
i
M . P . , L o r d P r e s i d e n t of t h e Council.
The R i g h t H o n . ANTHONY EDEN, M.P., j T h e R i g h t H o n . A . GREENWOOD, M . P . .
S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e f o r F o r e i g n j
Minister without Portfolio.
'
Affairs.
The R i g h t H o n . L O R D BEAVERBROOK, T h e R i g h t H o n . S i r K I N G S L E Y W O O D ,
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 .
M i n i s t e r of S u p p l y .
The R i g h t H o n . E R N E S T BEVIN, M.P., The R i g h t Hon. VISCOUNT HALIFAX,
H i s Majesty's Ambassador to 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
U n i t e d . S t a t e s of A m e r i c a .
Service.
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 . H E R B E R T M O R R I S O N , T h e R i g h t H o n . V I S C O U N T CRANBORNE,
M . P . , S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for t h e
S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for D o m i n i o n
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
Affairs.
H o m e S e c u r i t y (Items 1 - 6 ) .
T h e R i g h t H o n . L . S. A M E R Y , M . P . ,
S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for I n d i a a n d
S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for B u r m a .
The R i g h t 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 .
The R i g h t Hon. LORD MOYNE, Secretary
of S t a t e for t h e Colonies.
Captain
the
MARGESSON,
Right
Hon. H. D .
M . P . , S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e
S t a t e for A i r .
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 (Item 7 ) .
for W a r .
The R i g h t H o n S i r A N D R E W DUNCAN,
M . P . , P r e s i d e n t of t h e B o a r d of
T r a d e (Item 7 ) .
The 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 .
Mr. D. R. GRENFELL, M . P . , Secretary
Sir
The
Right
SINCLAIR,
Hon.
Bt.,
Sir
M.P.,
ARCHIBALD
Secretary
of
ORME
161
SARGENT,
Deputy
Under­
for M i n e s (Item 7 ) .
S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e , F o r e i g n Office..
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 G e n e r a l S i r J O H N D I L L , C h i e f of t h e
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
I m p e r i a l G e n e r a l Staff.
N a v a l Staff.
/
A i r Chief Marshal S i r CHARLES F . A .
P O R T A L , Chief of t h e A i r Staff.
Secretariat.
Sir EDWARD BRIDGES.
Major-General Sir HASTINGS ISMAY.
Mr. W . D. WILKINSON.
Mr. L . F. BURGIS.
S
WAR
C A B I N E T 94 ( 4 1 ) .
CONTENTS.
Minute
No.
1
Subject.
Page
Naval, Military and Air Operations
Air Operations.
Naval Operations:
Shipping losses.
Military Operations:
39
U.S.S.R.
2
Middle E a s t
The Military Situation: Australian Troops.
39
3
U.S.S.R
Moscow Meeting.
39
4
F o r e i g n Affairs....
Persia.
Afghanistan.
Egypt.
5
T h e Allies
Meeting on Post-War European Needs.
40
6
T h e F a r E a s t ....
Anglo-United States Policy.
40
7
Coal P r o d u c t i o n
Man-power for the pits.
41
....
....
....
....
....
....
40
39 Naval, Military
and Air
Operations.
(Previous Reference:
W.M. (41) 93rd
Conclusions,
Minute 1.)
. W . M . 94 ( 4 1 ) .
1. The Chiefs
of Staff gave t h e following information- i 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. 7 4 4 - 7 4 6 : S u m m a r y of a i r c r a f t losses since the 15th S e p t e m b e r : —
Home
Theatre—
Enemy—
21 d e s t r o y e d .
11 p r o b a b l e .
13 d a m a g e d .
Our
Own—
16 F i g h t e r s (4 P i l o t s safe).
13 B o m b e r s .
Overseas
Theatre—
Enemy— 6 d e s t r o y e d (plus 10 J u n k e r s 87 lost in a s a n d s t o r m ) . 3 probable. 9 damaged. Our
Own—
8 Fighters.
Air Operations.
T w o s h i p s t o t a l l i n g 5,500 tons h a d been h i t a n d t w o a t t a c k s
h a d been m a d e on s u b m a r i n e s by o u r a i r c r a f t . .
Naval
D u r i n g the p r e v i o u s t h r e e d a y s 13,000 tons of s h i p p i n g h a d
Operations.
been s u n k a n d 34,000 t o n s d a m a g e d .
Shipping Losses.
T h e r e h a d been a n increase recently i n t h e e n e m y ' s m i n e - l a y i n g
a c t i v i t i e s on t h e E a s t C o a s t .
I n f o r m a t i o n w a s g i v e n of s a t i s f a c t o r y a r r a n g e m e n t s m a d e w i t h
t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s N a v a l A u t h o r i t i e s in r e g a r d t o convoy escort
duties. .,
Military
I n t h e U k r a i n e , G e r m a n forces b y - p a s s i n g K i e v h a d j o i n e d
Operations.
h a n d s a n d w e r e n o w a t t a c k i n g from the E a s t a n d t h e S o u t h w i t h
U.S.S.R.
t h e object of f o r c i n g t h e encircled R u s s i a n s back t o w a r d s K i e v .
G e r m a n forces w e r e also a d v a n c i n g t o w a r d s P o l t a v a on t h e r o a d t o
K h a r k o v . F u r t h e r s o u t h t h e G e r m a n s w e r e n o w a s t r i d e all t h e l a n d
c o m m u n i c a t i o n s t o t h e C r i m e a , a n d R u s s i a n forces t h e r e w e r e c u t
off f r o m t h e r e m a i n d e r of M a r s h a l B u d e n n y ' s A r m y .
General
Anders, the Polish Commander in Russia, h a d stated that the
s i t u a t i o n i n t h e U k r a i n e w a s very serious.
T h e G e r m a n s h a d g a i n e d a f o o t i n g on t h e I s l a n d of Oesel; t h i s
w o u l d f u r t h e r r e s t r i c t t h e o p e r a t i o n s of t h e R u s s i a n B a l t i c Fleet.
T h e W a r C a b i n e t took note of t h e above s t a t e m e n t s .
Middle East.
2.
A
discussion
took
place,
which
is
recorded
in
the
The Military
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. Situation: Australian Troops. (Previous Reference: W.M. (41) 93rd Conclusions, Minute 3.) U.S.S.R.
(Previous
v
Reference:
W.M. (41) 93rd
Conclusions,
Minute 2.) '
:
1
' 3 . The Prime Minister
r e a d t o the W a r C a b i n e t t h e r e p l y
w h i c h h a d been sent to M . S t a l i n ' s l a s t m e s s a g e . '
7
-
1
; .
"
- -
-\
-
s
Moscow
Meeting.
(Previous
Reference:
W.M. (41) 92nd
Conclusions,
Minute 9.)
The Minister
of Supply g a v e t h e W a r C a b i n e t i n f o r m a t i o n a s
to t h e discussions r e g a r d i n g a i d to R u s s i a n o w p r o c e e d i n g w i t h t h e
U n i t e d S t a t e s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s , p r e l i m i n a r y t o t h e Moscow M e e t i n g .
Foreign Affairs.
4. The Secretary
of
following i n f o r m a t i o n : —
Persia.
(Previous
Reference:
W.M. (41) 93rd
Conclusions,
Minute 5.)
A r e c o r d of the discussion is c o n t a i n e d i n the
S t a n d a r d F i l e of W a r C a b i n e t Conclusions.
T h e W a r Cabinet agreed t h a t this m a t t e r (and the related
q u e s t i o n of s u p p l i e s t o T u r k e y ) should be discussed a t a
M e e t i n g of t h e Defence C o m m i t t e e to be held on F r i d a y
night.
(Previous
Reference:
W.M. (41) 40th
Conclusions,
Minute 1.)
The Allies.
Meeting on
Post-War
European
Needs.
(Previous
Jtieierence:
State
for
Foreign
Affairs
gave- the
W i t h the S h a h ' s abdication, m a t t e r s were working out satisfac­
t o r i l y for u s . E n q u i r i e s w e r e b e i n g m a d e for a s u i t a b l e a s y l u m for
the S h a h in some B r i t i s h Colony.
T h e W a r C a b i n e t c o n g r a t u l a t e d t h e F o r e i g n S e c r e t a r y on
t h e successful h a n d l i n g of t h e P e r s i a n problem, a n d
i n v i t e d h i m t o discuss our f u t u r e policy i n P e r s i a w i t h the
C h i e f s of Staff, r e p o r t i n g to t h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r as
necessary.
Afghanistan.
(Previous
Reference:
W.M. (41) 93rd
Conclusions,
Minute 6.)
Egypt.
Secretary's
R e f e r e n c e w a s m a d e to f u r t h e r t e l e g r a m s w h i c h h a d passed.
The W a r C a b i n e t E n d o r s e d t h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r ' s v i e w t h a t we
d i p l o m a t i c p r e s s u r e t o b e a r on A f g h a n i s t a n
t h e G e r m a n Colony, a n d m i g h t offer s u i t a b l e
t o t h i s end, b u t should not a t t h i s s t a g e t a k e
c o m m i t t e d u s t o sanctions.
should b r i n g
t o g e t r i d of
inducements
action which
The Foreign Secretary s a i d t h a t t h e p o l i t i c a l s i t u a t i o n in E g y p t
w a s r a t h e r d i s q u i e t i n g . Nevertheless, h e h o p e d t h a t w e should not
d e p a r t from o u r g e n e r a l policy of a b s t a i n i n g from d i r e c t i n t e r ­
ference i n the i n t e r n a l affairs of E g y p t .
T h e W a r C a b i n e t took n o t e of t h i s s t a t e m e n t .
5. The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs s a i d t h a t i t h a d
n o w been a r r a n g e d to hold on t h e 2 4 t h S e p t e m b e r t h e p o s t p o n e d
m e e t i n g of the Allies. T h e R u s s i a n s w e r e p r e p a r e d to associate
themselves publicly w i t h t h e j o i n t d e c l a r a t i o n by t h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r
a n d P r e s i d e n t Roosevelt.
The W a r C a b i n e t ­
.
.
.
W.M. (41) 86th
Conclusions,
Minute 5.)
Took n o t e of t h i s s t a t e m e n t a n d i n v i t e d t h e M i n i s t e r
w i t h o u t P o r t f o l i o to c o m m u n i c a t e t o t h e D o m i n i o n s
S e c r e t a r y t h e t e x t of a s m a l l a l t e r a t i o n m a d e i n one clause
of the R e s o l u t i o n on P o s t - W a r E u r o p e a n N e e d s .
The Far East.
Anglo-United
States Policy.
(Previous
Reference:
W.M. (41) 84th
Conclusions,
Minute 1.)
6
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
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 . (41) 220) recom­
m e n d i n g t h a t n o f u r t h e r w a r n i n g should be given to J a p a n by t h i s
c o u n t r y a s to t h e consequences of a n y f u r t h e r e n c r o a c h m e n t s u n t i l
a f t e r a complete r e v i e w of o u r F a r E a s t e r n policy, w i t h p a r t i c u l a r
r e f e r e n c e to o u r a c t i o n i n t h e event of a n a t t a c k by J a p a n on
R u s s i a , or of a n e w a t t a c k o n C h i n a . T h e U n i t e d S t a t e s Govern­
m e n t m i g h t be i n f o r m e d , a f t e r t h e necessary c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h the
D o m i n i o n s , t h a t , i n o u r view, a w a r n i n g f r o m u s i n g e n e r a l t e r m s
a t the p r e s e n t t i m e w o u l d a d d n o t h i n g t o t h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r ' s
b r o a d c a s t s t a t e m e n t of t h e 2 4 t h A u g u s t , a n d m i g h t even d e t r a c t
from i t s force.
The W a r C a b i n e t A c c e p t e d t h e policy recommended i n t h i s P a p e r . I t w a s ,
however, i m p o r t a n t t h a t 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
should be given n o g r o u n d s for t h i n k i n g t h a t we h a d n o t
t a k e n a c t i o n in t h i s m a t t e r fully c o r r e s p o n d i n g to t h e i r
own. T h e c o m m u n i c a t i o n to 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 m i g h t t h e r e f o r e t a k e the form of s a y i n g t h a t , if t h e y
t h o u g h t t h a t w e could usefully m a k e a n y f u r t h e r s t a t e ­
m e n t , we w o u l d do so; b u t t h a t , in o u r own j u d g m e n t , i t
w a s u n d e s i r a b l e to a d d a n y t h i n g a t t h i s s t a g e t o t h e P r i m e
M i n i s t e r s broadcast.
Coal Production.
Man-power for
the pits.
(Previous
Reference:
W.M. (41) 75th
Conclusions,
Minute 12.)
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
L o r d P r e s i d e n t of t h e Council ( W . P . (G) (41) 96) p o i n t i n g o u t t h a t
m i n e r s r e t u r n i n g t o t h e p i t s would, a t t h e end of September, s t i l l
fall s h o r t by 5,000 of t h e 720,000 men r e q u i r e d to meet t h e needs
of w a r - t i m e c o n s u m p t i o n .
T h e L o r d P r e s i d e n t s C o m m i t t e e h a d come t o t h e conclusion
t h a t i t w a s necessary t h a t t h e full 720,000 should be m a d e a v a i l a b l e
by the m i d d l e of October. I n o r d e r to a t t a i n t h i s a i m , t h e y w e r e
satisfied t h a t t h e r e m u s t be some modification of t h e l i m i t a t i o n s
h i t h e r t o placed on t h e w i t h d r a w a l of m e n from i n d u s t r y . W h i l e
i t w a s n o t p r o p o s e d to w i t h d r a w fully-skilled m e n f r o m t h e
excluded i n d u s t r i e s unless t h e S u p p l y D e p a r t m e n t concerned h a d
a g r e e d a n d a r r a n g e m e n t s h a d been m a d e for r e p l a c e m e n t , t h e y
r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t m e n e n g a g e d in u n s k i l l e d or semi-skilled w o r k i n
a n y of t h e e x c l u d e d i n d u s t r i e s should be m a d e a v a i l a b l e for
i m m e d i a t e w i t h d r a w a l w i t h o u t consultation, on t h e u n d e r s t a n d i n g
t h a t 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 w o u l d do h i s
u t m o s t to replace such m e n as quickly a s possible, a n d t h a t , w h e r e
considerable n u m b e r s w e r e employed i n one establishment, t h e y
would be w i t h d r a w n g r a d u a l l y .
The Lord President
of the Council s a i d t h a t , w h i l e t h e n u m b e r s
concerned w e r e n o t l a r g e , h i s C o m m i t t e e w a s satisfied t h a t , if w e
w e r e t o g e t t h r o u g h t h e w i n t e r w i t h o u t serious trouble, i t w o u l d be
necessary to r e c r u i t u p t o t h e figure of m a n - p o w e r now p r o p o s e d .
The President
of the Board of Trade e x p l a i n e d t h a t t h e C o a l
P r o d u c t i o n Council h a d a s k e d for 50,000 men t o be r e t u r n e d t o t h e
i n d u s t r y , b u t h a d a b a t e d t h e i r d e m a n d t o 30,000.
The number
p r o p o s e d r e p r e s e n t e d t h e absolute m i n i m u m .
Moreover, i t w a s
essential t h a t t h e full n u m b e r should be r e t u r n e d n o t l a t e r t h a n t h e
m i d d l e of October.
The Minister
of Supply expressed h i s g r a v e r e l u c t a n c e t o a n y
arrangement whereby men were taken away from establishments
w o r k i n g for t h e M i n i s t r y of S u p p l y w i t h o u t p r i o r c o n s u l t a t i o n .
H e i n s t a n c e d a n u m b e r of establishments, e n g a g e d o n v i t a l
m u n i t i o n s p r o d u c t i o n , w h e r e t h e w i t h d r a w a l of m i n e r s w o u l d
dislocate t h e p r o d u c t i o n of essential m u n i t i o n s .
The
First
Lord
of the Admiralty
also a t t a c h e d g r e a t
i m p o r t a n c e t o c o n s u l t a t i o n before men w e r e t a k e n .
A f t e r f u r t h e r discussion,. the W a r C a b i n e t a g r e e d a s
follows :—*
(1) I n p r i n c i p l e ; t h e p r o p o s a l s in t h e L o r d P r e s i d e n t s P a p e r
w e r e accepted, on t h e u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h a t 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 w o u l d t a k e s t e p s t o
, e n s u r e t h a t t h e p o w e r to w i t h d r a w m e n w a s n o t exercised
h a r s h l y or w i t h o u t d i s c r i m i n a t i o n .
(2) A n y M i n i s t e r a g g r i e v e d by t h e exercise of these p o w e r s
would, of course, h a v e t h e r i g h t of a p p e a l t o t h e W a r
C a b i n e t , or t o s u c h o t h e r a u t h o r i t y a s m i g h t be deter­
m i n e d for h e a r i n g a p p e a l s .
(3) I n cases w h e r e a p p e a l s w e r e m a d e , w i t h d r a w a l should be
d e f e r r e d for a week, to enable t h e a p p e a l t o be h e a r d .
(4) T h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for W a r w a s i n s t r u c t e d to t a k e
steps t o a s c e r t a i n t h a t t h e r e w e r e no m i n e r s employed
in o c c u p a t i o n s i n t h e A r m y w h i c h w o u l d l e n d colour t o
the s u g g e s t i o n t h a t t h e a t t i t u d e of t h e G o v e r n m e n t to
the release of m e n for t h e colours w a s u n r e a s o n a b l e .
Great George
September
S.W.1,
Street,
18, 1941.
PRIME
MINISTERS
PERSONAL TELECRAW[
g4
COPY
hojzsu
serial
PRIME MlrilSrW^CH^^
Personal and Secret/ '
- ^
l8;9^1 - '
ifenyHhahks for your message. '' Trie ' Harriman
1
:;
1
0f: ;
:
J u f i
x
0
x
£ r j c
:
:
:
:
:
I Mission has' all^arrived ahd' i s wbrking a i l ' day- long ­
with' l^averDrook-and^hiyi colleagues. T h e o^jedt-^is'to
survey trie whole field of resources so^as - to be able to
work oiit with you a definite prograrfime Of-monthly
^e^iyi^^p^v^^a^iatJI^ route and thus help repair
so far- as possible losses of * your muni t i ori industries,
£resident Roosevelt''s idea i s that this f i r s t plan -;
;
lc
;
1
:
1
;
:
should cover up t i l l -the end "of ^^e^bu^^naturaliy we
i^lfyg^pfiVfeth^ybi t i l l victory.
I hope the
c
Conference may open in Moscow 25th of this month, but
nb publicity should W given t i l l a l l are" safely
gathered.
The routes and method' o3p t r a v e l w i i l b ^
j
;
1
I;
l
:;o
:
;
signalled l a t o r V ' ''- " ^ *
2.
' I attach great importance
:i,v
b
u
:
-
I
:
J
Ii
:
' opening the'
­
u a
tA ift:i i
Ml
;' *"
r) T
1 '
$ A *' $ C
-
Y^Qf,
'
:
- o W JMhBci
: :
;
"., '
'
^
through, route. from,Persian Gulf -to. Gaspian, not .
only by railway but by a great motor. rpad;, ,in the,,
f
r
f
; iVl
;
-making of..,wMoh^we,,hpp,e 't9 ^nlJst ^prioan energies
(
an(J prganis^ion..
;
-
L
:
?
L9rd, 3ea^erbroolc-^$^pffiifa
;
f)f
,.tp ,
t
-exglain.- the whole ^ scheme . of. supply. an$ -transportation;
, ; h e i s on ^e-clpsest ^r^.,.-of^fr^end^hj5;rWi^iHar^iman.
3.
r , : All possible.,theatres in which v^e-might effect
-,military.;: cooperation. wi£h ^ u ^ ^ J ^ l ) ^ ^ p K ^ n ^ ^ - ^ ] ^ h e
,Staffs.: , ;-The two.flanks, North and South, certainly
present the £most, favourableopportunities!.,
If we.
could act successfully in ,,,Norway the attitude of Swedei
would be powerfully affected but a t tfre moment we have
neither the forces nor the. shipping available for,
this project. , Again.-in the south, the great,prize i s
Turkey^ j if Turkey can be gained another; powerful army
will be available.
Turkey would like .tpcome,with us
but. is afraid, not, without reason.. It.,may be that the
promise of considerable British forces and supplies of
a
L
c
v
(
c
;
;
;
technical material in which the Turks are deficient
will exercise a decisive influence upon them. We
will study with you any other form of useful aid,
the sole object being to bring the maximum force
against the common enemy.
4.
I entirely agree that the f i r s t source from
which the Russian fleet should be replenished should
be a t the expense of Germany. Victory will certainly
give us control of important German and Italian naval
vessels and in our view these would be most suitable
for repairing losses to the Russian f l e e t .