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T H I S DOCUMENT I S T H E PROPERTY OF H I S BRITANNIC MAJESTY*S GOVERNMENT
Printed
for the War Cabinet.
May 1940.
SECRET.
Copy No.
W . M . (40)
143rd Conclusions.
TO
BE
K E P T
U N D E R
LOCK
AND
KEY.
It is requested that special care may be taken to
ensure the secrecy of this document.
WAR
CONCLUSIONS
CABINET
143 ( 4 0 ) .
of a Meeting of the War Cabinet held at 10 Downing
S.W. 1, on Monday, May 27, 1940, at 10 P . M .
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 . N E V I L L E C H A M B E R L A I N , T h e R i g h t H o n . C . R. A T T L E E , M . P . ,
M . P . , L o r d P r e s i d e n t of t h e Council.
L o r d P r i v y Seal.
The Right Hon. VISCOUNT HALIFAX,
Secretary of S t a t e for F o r e i g n
Affairs.
The R i g h t Hon. A . GREENWOOD, M.P.,
Minister without Portfolio.
T h e following w e r e also p r e s e n t :
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. ANTHONY EDEN, M.P.,
S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for W a r .
The
The R i g h t Hon. Sir JOHN ANDERSON,
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.
Right
SINCLAIR,
Hon.
Bt.,
Sir
M.P.,
ARCHIBALD
Secretary
of
S t a t e for A i r .
T h e R i g h t H o n . A . D U F F COOPER,
M.P.,
The
M i n i s t e r of I n f o r m a t i o n .
A i r Chief M a r s h a l S i r C Y R I L L. N .
N E W A L L , Chief of the A i r Staff.
General Sir
Hon.
Sir
ALEXANDER
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.
J O H N D I L L , Chief of
the
I m p e r i a l G e n e r a l Staff.
Secretariat.
Sir
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.
EDWARD BRIDGES.
M a j o r - G e n e r a l H . L. I S M A Y .
C a p t a i n A. D . NICHOLL, R . N .
Lieutenant-Colonel V . DYKES, R . E .
WAR
CABINET
CONTENTS.
- Subject.
The Western Front
Capitulation of the Belgian army.
The battle for Calais.
Information for the public.
Danger of recriminations.
143
(40).
The Western
Front.
(Previous
Reference:
W.M. (40) 141st
Conclusions,
Minute 1.)
Capitulation of
the Belgian
Army.
The Prime Minister i n f o r m e d the W a r C a b i n e t t h a t a message
h a d been received from S i r R o g e r Keyes to the effect t h a t the K i n g
of the Belgians h a d o r d e r e d h i s C o m m a n d e r - i n - C h i e f to send a
p l e n i p o t e n t i a r y to the G e r m a n s to ask for a n a r m i s t i c e for the
B e l g i a n A r m y to t a k e effect from m i d n i g h t t h a t n i g h t .
N e w s of t h i s h a d been received in P a r i s a n d G e n e r a l S p e a r s
h a d r u n g u p * to say t h a t G e n e r a l W e y g a n d h a d advised t h e F r e n c h
G o v e r n m e n t to dissociate themselves from t h e B e l g i a n s in t h i s
m a t t e r a n d to o r d e r G e n e r a l B l a n c h a r d a n d L o r d G o r t to fight on.
H e h a d asked for the P r i m e M i n i s t e r s s u p p o r t in t h i s advice.
T h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r said t h a t he h a d acceded immediately to
t h i s request.
The Secretary of State for Foreign A fairs s a i d t h a t a t e l e g r a m
h a d been despatched from the W a r Office i n f o r m i n g L o r d G o r t t h a t
the F r e n c h Government h a d been told t h a t he would, of course,
dissociate himself from t h i s movement on the p a r t of the K i n g of
the B e l g i a n s .
T h e W a r Cabinet w a s i n f o r m e d t h a t the B e l g i a n Government
in t h i s country w a s also d i s s o c i a t i n g itself from t h e a c t i o n of the
K i n g . T h i s would be a n n o u n c e d by the B.B.C. t h a t n i g h t .
The Prime Minister s a i d t h a t he h a d t e l e g r a p h e d to S i r R o g e r
Keyes in the early h o u r s of t h a t m o r n i n g t h a t the B r i t i s h
E x p e d i t i o n a r y Force w a s w i t h d r a w i n g t o w a r d s t h e p o r t s , a n d t h a t
we should do our best to e v a c u a t e such of the B e l g i a n A r m y a s
could get back to the coast. H e h a d emphasised t h e i m p o r t a n c e of
e n s u r i n g the K i n g ' s safety, a n d h a d m a d e it clear t h a t we should
fight on to the end. T h i s message should not have affected the
K i n g ' s d e t e r m i n a t i o n to c o n t i n u e the struggle, a l t h o u g h , p e r h a p s ,
he could not altogether be blamed now for the a c t i o n he w a s t a k i n g .
Nevertheless, he h a d been very p r e c i p i t a t e in seeking a n armistice.
A p p a r e n t l y the collapse of t h e B e l g i a n s w a s due to t h e heavy
bombing to which they h a d been subjected t h a t day. A n y g r o u n d s
for r e c r i m i n a t i o n lay r a t h e r in t h e B e l g i a n action on the o u t b r e a k
of w a r t h a n in the more i m m e d i a t e p a s t . A t the t i m e when t h e r e
h a d been only fifteen G e r m a n divisions on t h e i r W e s t e r n frontier,
a n d the bulk of the G e r m a n A r m y h a d been e n g a g e d in P o l a n d , if
B e l g i u m h a d then invited us to e n t e r t h e i r country, w e could have
established ourselves in a s t r o n g defensive position or invaded
G e r m a n y . T h e K i n g ' s action w a s certainly not heroic. P r e s u m a b l y ,
he would now m a k e a s e p a r a t e peace w i t h the G e r m a n s a n d c a r r y
on as a p u p p e t monarch. T h i s m i g h t well be the best t h a t he could
do for his country, b u t we h a d to face the fact t h a t it h a d the most
serious consequences for the B r i t i s h E x p e d i t i o n a r y Force. I t w a s
possible, of course, t h a t t h e four divisions in the Lille a r e a m i g h t
m a n a g e to d r a w back a n d cut t h e i r way out to the coast. O u r
f o r m a t i o n s were p r a c t i c a l l y i n t a c t a n d the t r o o p s w e r e in excellent
h e a r t . T h e y did not realise t h e p l i g h t in w h i c h they h a d been
placed.
The Chief of the Imperial
General Staff s a i d t h a t the collapse
of t h e Belgians would u n d o u b t e d l y place t h e B r i t i s h E x p e d i t i o n a r y
Force in the most serious peril. L o r d G o r t h a d no troops w i t h
w h i c h to close the g a p a n d p r e v e n t the G e r m a n s b r e a k i n g t h r o u g h
to D u n k i r k . N o i n f o r m a t i o n h a d yet been received by the W a r
Office as to the casualties w h i c h o u r A r m y h a d suffered.
Some
personnel h a d been w i t h d r a w n from F r a n c e t h a t day, b u t a s h i p
leaving D u n k i r k t h a t afternoon h a d been heavily a t t a c k e d from the
a i r a n d h a d suffered some casualties from m a c h i n e - g u n fire.
The Prime Minister
said t h a t G e n e r a l S p e a r s h a d r e p o r t e d
t h a t the feeling in P a r i s w a s b e t t e r t h a n it h a d been a short t i m e
A record of this conversation is attached to these Conclusions.
ago.
T h i s m i g h t p e r h a p s be a t t r i b u t e d in p a r t to the results of
M. R e y n a u d ' s visit to L o n d o n t h e p r e v i o u s day. A s for t h e effect
of t h e B e l g i a n defection on F r e n c h resistance, t h e F r e n c h h a d
p r o b a b l y a l r e a d y w r i t t e n off B l a n c h a r d ' s a r m y as a d e a d loss. T h e
action of the B e l g i a n s m i g h t s t i n g t h e F r e n c h to a n g e r , in w h i c h
case t h e y would be very m u c h m o r e formidable o p p o n e n t s to t h e
G e r m a n s t h a n in t h e i r p r e s e n t s t u n n e d a n d bewildered s t a t e .
O u r chief p r e o c c u p a t i o n n o w w a s to get off a s m u c h of the
B r i t i s h E x p e d i t i o n a r y Force as possible. T h e r e w o u l d be very
confused fighting i n the a r e a of o p e r a t i o n s . T h e bombers on both
sides w o u l d be able to do little, as t h e o p p o s i n g t r o o p s would be
very m u c h i n t e r m i n g l e d . T h e G e r m a n bombers, however, would
get t h e i r o p p o r t u n i t y w h e n our m e n r e a c h e d the coast.
The Chief of the Air Staff s a i d t h a t l a r g e n u m b e r s of fighters
h a d been o p e r a t i n g t h a t d a y over t h e F r e n c h coast. W e h a d lost
9 a i r c r a f t , b u t 2 3 G e r m a n s h a d been shot d o w n for c e r t a i n a n d
several more unconfirmed. T h e G e r m a n A i r F o r c e h a d been very
active indeed d u r i n g the day. T h e A i r Officer C o m m a n d i n g - i n Chief, F i g h t e r C o m m a n d , w a s p r o p o s i n g to use f o r m a t i o n s of
3 s q u a d r o n s t h e following d a y i n o r d e r to compete w i t h the l a r g e
fighter escorts of the enemy.
The battle for
Calais.
The Secretary of State for War said t h a t it w a s now clear t h a t
C a l a i s h a d fallen. On the n i g h t of 2 5 t h - 2 6 t h destroyers, w h i c h
h a d been h a n d l e d w i t h the g r e a t e s t g a l l a n t r y , h a d t a k e n off w o u n d e d
a n d a small n u m b e r of t r o o p s from t h e quay. M o s t of o u r troops,
however, h a d been cut off from t h e quay, h o l d i n g positions in the
c i t a d e l a n d in t h e streets. D u r i n g t h e d a y 20 L y s a n d e r a i r c r a f t ,
by a most skilful operation, h a d d r o p p e d food, w a t e r a n d a m m u ­
n i t i o n for the troops.
T h a t m o r n i n g , however, reconnaissance
a i r c r a f t h a d r e p o r t e d t h a t all fighting in the t o w n h a d ceased.
The Minister of Information
s u g g e s t e d t h a t a s t a t e m e n t should
be issued r e f e r r i n g to the g a l l a n t defence by t h e B r i t i s h troops.
The Prime Minister
agreed, b u t t h o u g h t t h a t for t h e s a k e of
r e l a t i v e s no n a m e s of r e g i m e n t s should be given at p r e s e n t .
Information for
the public.
The Minister
of Information
s u g g e s t e d t h a t the public should
be given some i n d i c a t i o n of t h e serious position in w h i c h the B . E . F .
h a d been placed. The F r e n c h c o m m u n i q u e s still h a d a cheerful
tone. T h e r e w a s no doubt t h a t t h e public were, a t t h e moment,
q u i t e u n p r e p a r e d for t h e shock of r e a l i s a t i o n of t h e t r u e position.
The Prime
Minister
t h o u g h t t h a t the seriousness of t h e
s i t u a t i o n should be e m p h a s i s e d ; b u t he w o u l d d e p r e c a t e a n y
d e t a i l e d s t a t e m e n t or a t t e m p t to assess the r e s u l t s of t h e b a t t l e ,
u n t i l t h e s i t u a t i o n h a d been f u r t h e r cleared u p . T h e a n n o u n c e m e n t
of t h e B e l g i a n A r m i s t i c e w o u l d go a long w a y to p r e p a r e the p u b l i c
for b a d news.
A
The Minister
of Information
s a i d t h a t he realised the d a n g e r
of a n n o u n c e m e n t s w h i c h a p p e a r e d to c o n t r a d i c t the F r e n c h
c o m m u n i q u e s , a n d he t h o u g h t t h a t it w o u l d be as well t o r e m i n d
t h e public of t h e c o n s t a n t G e r m a n efforts to d r i v e a w e d g e between
t h e t w o peoples. A t t h e same t i m e e d i t o r s could be asked to tone
I down the French announcements.
The Prime Minister t h o u g h t t h a t it would be necessary for h i m
to m a k e a full s t a t e m e n t in P a r l i a m e n t , a l t h o u g h it m i g h t be a n o t h e r
week before t h e s i t u a t i o n h a d cleared sufficiently to allow h i m to do
so.
H e proposed to say t h a t t h e essential d a n g e r s w h i c h h a d
m e n a c e d t h i s c o u n t r y in t h e first d a y s of t h e w a r h a d n o t been
g r e a t l y increased b y ' w h a t h a d h a p p e n e d . O u r m e a n s of m e e t i n g
t h e m , "on the o t h e r h a n d , h a d increased since t h e b e g i n n i n g of t h e
w a r ; moreover, we could t a k e h e a r t from t h e s u p e r i o r q u a l i t y a n d
m o r a l e of our A i r Force w h i c h h a d been so clearly d e m o n s t r a t e d .
Danger of
recriminations,
The Permanent
Undersecretary
of State for Foreign
Affairs
s a i d t h a t he h a d h a d a conversation w i t h the F r e n c h A m b a s s a d o r
on the subject of r e c r i m i n a t i o n s .
The French Ambassador had
r e f e r r e d to t h e r u m o u r s w h i c h he h a d h e a r d to the effect t h a t t h e
F r e n c h by not c o u n t e r - a t t a c k i n g h a d j e o p a r d i s e d the B . E . F . A f t e r
all, the F r e n c h w e r e v i t a l l y i n t e r e s t e d in t h e N o r t h e r n a r e a , in w h i c h
t h e y h a d several "Divisions. H e (Sir A l e x a n d e r C a d o g a n ) h a d
r e p l i e d t h a t n o such r u m o u r s h a d come to his ears, b u t t h a t t h e y
a p p e a r e d to be as foolish as the r u m o u r s w h i c h he h a d h e a r d t h a t
t h e i n t e n d e d d r i v e to t h e South h a d n o t been c a r r i e d out, owing to
t h e f a i l u r e of t h e B . E . F . to a t t a c k . M . Corbin h a d agreed t h a t
e v e r y t h i n g possible should be done to avoid r e c r i m i n a t i o n s .
The W a r Cabinet
: -
Took note of the above discussion a n d invited the M i n i s t e r
of i n f o r m a t i o n to deal w i t h the P r e s s on the lines
i n d i c a t e d a t " A " above.
Richmond
Terrace, S. W. 1,
May 28, 1940.
Record
of a Telephone
Conversation
between
the
Major-General
Spears, at 8-20 P . M . on Monday,
Prime
Minister
May 27, 1940.
and
M a j o r - G e n e r a l S p e a r s s a i d t h a t t h e F r e n c h H i g h C o m m a n d h a d received
a message from G e n e r a l C h a m p o n ( F r e n c h M i s s i o n to the B e l g i a n A r m y ) t o
t h e effect t h a t t h e K i n g of t h e B e l g i a n s h a d t e l e g r a p h e d t o h i s Chief of Staff
to send a p l e n i p o t e n t i a r y t o t h e G e r m a n s to a s c e r t a i n u n d e r w h a t conditions a n
a r m i s t i c e could be a r r a n g e d , a n d h a d suggested ' ' cease fire ' ' a t m i d n i g h t
t o - n i g h t , the 2 7 t h - 2 8 t h M a y . G e n e r a l C h a m p o n h a d s a i d t h a t he h a d t a k e n
note of t h i s communication, a n d h a d a d d e d t h a t these conditions could not be
settled w i t h o u t g e t t i n g i n t o touch w i t h P a r i s . I n a s m u c h as t h e t h r e e A r m i e s ,
t h e B e l g i a n , F r e n c h a n d B r i t i s h , formed one block, t h e B e l g i a n s could not act
alone.
G e n e r a l C h a m p o n concluded by s a y i n g t h a t h e w a s m a k i n g contact
w i t h G e n e r a l B l a n c h a r d , a n d would be g r a t e f u l for the i n s t r u c t i o n s of
General Weygand.
T o t h i s c o m m u n i c a t i o n G e n e r a l W e y g a n d h a d replied as f o l l o w s : —
(1) I w i l l advise my G o v e r n m e n t i m m e d i a t e l y .
(2) W h i l s t a w a i t i n g n e w i n s t r u c t i o n s , I a m o r d e r i n g G e n e r a l B l a n c h a r d to
dissociate himself from the B e l g i a n s u r r e n d e r .
(3) G e n e r a l B l a n c h a r d will t a k e all u r g e n t decisions in a g r e e m e n t w i t h
G e n e r a l L o r d G o r t to counter t h i s act of desertion.
G e n e r a l S p e a r s t h e n said t h a t G e n e r a l W e y g a n d desired the i m m e d i a t e
a g r e e m e n t of t h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r to the d e s p a t c h of the following t e l e g r a m to
General B l a n c h a r d :—
" T h e F r e n c h a n d B r i t i s h G o v e r n m e n t s h a v e agreed t o i n s t r u c t t h e i r
Commanders-in-Chief, G e n e r a l s B l a n c h a r d a n d L o r d Gort, to defend t h e
honour of t h e i r flags by d i s s o c i a t i n g themselves totally from t h e Belgian
armistice."
T h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r replied to G e n e r a l S p e a r s t h a t he w a s i n full a g r e e m e n t
w i t h t h e above telegram, a n d t h a t i n s t r u c t i o n s w e r e b e i n g given to L o r d G o r t to
c o n t i n u e h i s o p e r a t i o n i n conjunction w i t h G e n e r a l B l a n c h a r d .
I n conclusion, G e n e r a l S p e a r s said t h a t t h e B e l g i a n G o v e r n m e n t were
d i s s o c i a t i n g themselves from the act of t h e K i n g of the Belgians, a n d t h a t
M. P i e r l o t w a s going to a n n o u n c e t h i s fact on t h e wireless to-night.