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SMJfcls" CSonotaslMmOo
TO BE ' K l P T
'
I t is r e q u e s t e d
;
OT^Eli fcOCK A N D KEY.
special care m a y be taken to
e n s u r e t h e s e c r e c y of t h i s d o c u m e n t .
WAR CABINET U (SS),
CONCLUSIONS of a Meeting of the War Cabinet held at 10 Downing
S.W. 1, on Tuesday, November 21, 1939, at 11-30 AM.
Street,
Present:
The Right Hon. NEVILLE CHAMBERLAIN, M.P., Prime Minister (in the Chair).
The Right Hon. Sir JOHN SIMON, K.C., Admiral of the Fleet the Right Hon.
M.P., Chancellor of the Exchequer.
LORO CHATFIELD, Minister for CoOrdination of Defence.
The
Right
Hon. WINSTON
S. The Right Hon. L . HORE-BELISHA,
CHURCHILL, M.P., First Lord of the
M.P., Secretary of State for War.
Admiralty.
The Right Hon. Sir KINGSLEY WOOD, The Right Hon. Sir SAMUEL HOARE,
Bt., M.P., Lord Privy Seal.
M.P., Secretary of State for Air. The Right Hon LORD HANKEY, Minister without Portfolio. The following were also present:
The Right Hon. Sir JOHN ANDERSON, The Right Hon. ANTHONY EDEN, M.P.,
M.P., Secretary of State for the
Secretary of State for Dominion
Home Department and Minister of
Affairs.
Home Security.
The Right Hon. OLIVER STANLEY, M.P., Mr. R. H. CROSS, M.P., Minister for
President of the Board of Trade
Economic Warfare (Item 8 ) .
(Item 8).
The
Right
Hon. Sir DONALD Sir HORACE J . WILSON, Permanent
SOMERVBLL, K.C., M.P., AttorneySecretary to the Treasury.
General (Item 8 ) .
The Hon Sir A. CADQGAN, Permanent Air Chief Marshal Sir CYRIL L. N.
IJnder^ecretary of Sta$e, Foreigh
NEWALL, Chief of the Air Staff
(Items 5^12).
(Items 1-7).
;
Adnarai o f the Fleet - Sir -; DUDLEY General Sir W. EBHUND IRONSIDE,
'mmkrtx
Lord and Chief of
Chief of the Imperial General Staff
.
,
(Items 1 - 7 ) .
;
Secretmtiat.
CONTENTS.
. Svhjeeti
The Air Situation
The Naval Situation ...
.:.
The Military Situation
Australian Naval Defence
Poland ...
...
...
...
...
...
...
'
....
...
...
...
Page
\l7r
173
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
171
...
174
...174
...
...
...
:
Formation and equipment of Polish Forces.
Prisoners of-War
...
...
....
175
Aecess by representatives of the Press, or accredited representa­
tives of a neutral Power.
Dominion Personnel
...
...
...
. . . . . . . . .
176
. . . . . .
...
prorogation and
...
. . . . . .
...
. . . . . .
177
Publicity regarding exploits.
Seizure of exports from Germany ...
The King's Speeches on the forthcoming
opening of Parliament ...
...
War Finance ...
...
..,
...
178;
178
Statement as to Sayings.Certificates and Defence Bonds.
The Secretary of State for War's visit to France ...
...
178
War Cabinet arrangeifients
...
1$8
...
....
. . . . . .
1
' I ''
'
1
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calcic by Q-uyb
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neon and 1-80. Gnu c lit U . " JU h^ lay w kei ib i A W I , J LUW-. b a*'b '
JutgL^-iii, f a . ; " ovta. London c: d
bbpCCO JCwu er^scod iju C^-^H
£lew out down bbo - Thamerj. A second raibki- nad Pssn idaa6Jabi
oh CJaeton, haft did not croso fe coast- A nild-aireraffcguns h a d beam
in action' in the Thames Ecsfcuiary and a t Dover. Eoth the aircraft ­
(hadyl^
though neither had beeh brought down.
' ' I n the evening between- C-SJ) m& S)-0'
!
,;
.
In which they had apparently been operating, and the.. Admiralty;
had been immediately informed in view, of--the possiloility that'they
might;have-jbeen engaged in mine-laying from the air.
?
K M . S . Boadicea had been attacked' 60 miles east of Cromer"
the previous morning; one bomb was dropped near her.
. - One enemy aircraft; flew over -Scapa during the morning. I t
was engaged without result by anti-aircraft fire.
A propaganda raid over Hamburg and Bremen had been carried out the previous evening. Slight anti-aircraft fire had been encountered. Both aircraft concerned had returned. A sweep over ah area in the North Sea had been carried out the previous afternoon by bombers, but no suitable objectives bad been found.
b
*
.-.T
A Heinkel 111, which w a s carrying out a reconnaissance made a t a regular hour each day in the Dover area, had teen intercepted" a h d shot down that morning. r
:
:
(Previous..
Reference:
W.M. (39)
Conclusions,
Minute 3.) .
ThebWar Cabinet took note of the above statement.
2 . The First Lordof the Admiralty reported the forthcoming movements of the Fleet., and the action beihg taken to combat the German mine-laying, The Admiralty doubted whether mines could be" laid from aircraft, though such an Operation would be possible
if parachutes were used. A s a n immediate measure i t h a d been
decided to try the effect of abandoning convoy on the East Coast
and allowing ships to sail independently. All navigational lights
would be extinguished: so that U-boats would have noleading marks
by which to lay mines a t night. Shipping would, of course^ have
. to.anchor during the hours of;darkness. I t wasbelieved t h a t t h e
delays involved, in anchoring: at night would be. less than the time'
saved in not having -to.wait for convoys,and /that -the net result­
would be to improve-the turn.round of shipping. The-abandonment'
of-convoy would release light craft'for anti-submarine operations.-
1
Some discussion took place on this, proposal.- I t was pointed
-out that-if deliberate air-attacks on-shipping were started by the
enemy, it would be very difficult foi the Soyal Air Force to give
any--Tprotection:.to-iSlaros.-saiI:riiig independently.--' -If as a rssrait, heavy
air attack
coiesniratued on oar shipping on the East; Coast,
the plan - would 'bavc -to be reviewed.
The
feb n n
skack .
,fl
'.r3v:
,b
?
c of ke /)c\r. z,
'
- - ;ke b s t r Cabinet
re
v. ' ,- h \ C L'ZL/as h ? been
necrTtoi
:i
e F i r t h of Fo: bh. She was
r
u
jbac
, . 3*1:
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Thebmrne-sWeep
In T.r . 'j ' ^-Z ' .
loaded with,m^
'^lee:,
,
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r l
.fy
-
1
b ^ n b l o w h h p while sweeping
.
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;-"/;y
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z
zr
ZZ^JB..
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'
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,
GLATI O.
B
2
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$heMllltaiy
BltoaMom.
(Previous
Reference:
W.M. (39) 89th
Conclusions,
Minute 5.)
3. The Secretary of State for War said that there h a d b e e n sm increase of German divisions in the forward- area, between Luxemburg and Basle, the biggest increase being opposite Luxemburg. The Chief of the Imperial General Staff said that no definite deduction could be drawn from these moves, which had taken place during the last twenty-four hours. "He emphasised that there^were serious practical difficulties, particularly in respect Of supply and accommodation, in keeping troops closed up in the forward areas for a long period. Experience in the last war had shown that after about three days these difficulties became acute. The War Cabinet took note of the above statement.
Beffenoa;
(Previous
^
e f e
e
4. The Minister for Co-ordination of Defence informed the War Cabinet of what had transpired at the meeting with Dominion Ministers on the previous day when the question of the despatch of Fleet * h Far East had been discussed with them. I t had been
agreed that a revise of the Memorandum by the First Lord of the
a
.
t o
e
^f\M\^jf^Mfjf^^^
W.M. (39)'89th A d l r i l ^ l y ( P a p t t
Conclusions
Lord, the Secretary
Minute 7.)
of State for Dominion Affairs and himself in consultation, which would cover the questions raised by Mr. Casey about our action in the event of Japanese aggression on the Nether­
lands East Indies. This paper would be laid before the War Cabinet before it was communicated to Dominion Ministers.
'
The War Cabinettook note of theabove statement.
;
Poland.
Formation and
equipment of
Polish Forces.
(Previous
,
^Reference:
W.M, (89) 84th
Conclusions.
Minute 6.)
e
C
a
b
i
n
e
t
fl
Tv/r.1-,?' i
ad under consideration a rem
Military Co-ordination Committee (Paper W p S ^
rm
formation and equipment of Polish Forces;
The Minister for Co-ordination of Defence outlined n a r a w i W ,
h
In discussion, the following observations were made : ­
(i) Paragraph 2.
The Secretary^!\StateforDominion
Affairs said that ho
Divisions in Canada . to" the: /Canadian - Gbverament" A ? ! A
speaking to Mr. Crerar.:. The C a n a d i l n A ^ ^
t i g '
n o decision. He pointed, -out t h a t there- w ^ c o h S S e S e
. difterence
/raising: divisions of --Polish TCRC?%
Francs: and;ccgiivAA-p A A A " C ^ W : ' ^ m d v
A
-'' tions.'; He t/ao A ' ' d " " - '
d d ^ ' Vn
^ '0 "
,.
.
bstmm
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ar
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a - * ---- ' ,
L : r / ; A. rL
"'J . fiflK­
" ^.
x J
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'
a
0/ £fte 4 i r Stejf said that, although they cbuld not be
,a- a c p e a t i a a Aoa: A A 3
a
G -jffiia^s3d u I d a OauanAi,
3 ./. . .. ^ ;
A/the
3A
hii \ -
.
-1
,1Q A JUAIJJ.
iA ? v
A
Lo]i
.u.
1
thus o b v i a t e a n y -sAAe of frustration on the p a r t of "the
pa caaas! :33.C3i aed.
A A. a a"-".'.'''
'';(iii)-''"l?o^%r^il--2(!Jir.''
,
f f e Minister for Co-ordination of Defence said t h a t the
.:Conamittee felt ,that;.;sonie general agreement should'.be:,iraade
' with t h e Polish Government, t o which Annexes e w e o *
financial and administrative'details could be attached as
when those details, were settled. "The Chancellor of the
Exchequer emphasised -that this general agreement, ,even
- though i t might, be. of a. provisional nature, should make clear
the financial responsibility of t h e Polish Government. The
agreement should also deal with the chain.of coiraaamd of the
Polish units. The provision of equipment would have t o be
referred to in somewhat guarded terms in view of our own
and French difficulties in this respect.
1
:
The W a r Cabinet agreed:—
(1) To approve the conclusions and recommendations of the
Military Co-ordination Committee in their .-Report on
the Formation and Equipment of Polish Forces (Paper
W . P . (39) 128), which a r e reproduced a s Annex I to
.-..-*. these Conclusions.
(2) To invite the Secretary of State fbr Foreign Affairs to
ascertain from t h e Polish Government their proposals
for financing t h e formation, equipment, and maintenance
of Polish units in Canada, it being understood t h a t the
dollar resources of this country'could hot be made
available for this purpose.
- (3) To invite the Minister for Co-ordination of Defence, after
discussion with other Ministers interested, t o submit
to t h e W a r Cabinet for approval, prior to discussion
w i t h the French Government, the heads of an agreement
in general terms to govern the further participation in
the present w a r of the armed forces of Poland.
(8. The W a r Cabinet b a d before them a Report (Paper
W . P . (G.) pB) WM) b y the; Military C p - o r d i n ; ^
in
which the question was examined whether permission should be
Access by repre­
given for interviews with, and photographs of, German prisoners
' .ilgntatives.o£ $he\oAwaA.
aA:A
Press, or The Minister for Co-ordination of Defence 3aid that the accredited,
representatives raccmn^shdations of the Committee, which were in lino with those of a nenfesl
previously p u t forward by the Deputy Chiefs of Staff, were Power,
summarised as follows in paragraph 7 of the Eeport:— AtJSltwSAAA^
(a) T A t no access Co G e r p a a prisoners of war in Great Britain
IJefeserr-ss:
A o A a A a a 3 " d a d I d loprecentativea of t h e Pl3sg,
WM (. 3) /0i'*
r i & v F d h a . 'f J ; ',
Conclusions,
(&) Tk i , "/ oj 3LTI-' j \ : :
- ? ? . -rpn pAaaaoa-j of war
"
. - A A a. d
- '
i
a a a ^ p a aoat3 Aa-'
c
" A . ) d -. A . A ' 3 7 i A- ­
", id
,- A : " a . a A C
3
. A'tt&db1ij^^^
IMsomeHB of
;
r
:
1
s
IIISIIIIiiA^
aA
:
(e) That the w - :
, of A - i s a a a d a p a
^^pp^lPi*?
invited to m a t s it k m c v i , a t H i s ^ i i f r i e s i ^
would -be wiling- t o ; - ' g l ^ f a c ^ f j i ^ i ' ^ & e . aocES^ted
. representatives of a .Meutaa! Power to visit j-eii^lj^;
prisoners of .w)ar in-this. country, while expressing; t h e
hope, at the same time, that the Heutral Fower conc^rnjBd,
would request the German Government for similar
facilities to visit^^^^
The War Cabinet accepted the^ abbvePrecOmmendations.
:
Dominion
Publicity
regarding
exploits.
(Previous
Beference:
W.M. (39) 76th
Conclusions,
Minute 3.)
7. The War Cabinet had before them a Memorandum (Paper
W.P. (G.) (39) 104) by the Military Co-ordihation Committee,
dealing with publication of the names of Dominion Service personnel
concerned in any particularly gallant or noteworthy war exploits.
The Minister for Co-ordination of Defence said that throughout
the last war it had been the accepted principle hot to publish the
names of personnel who had taken a prominent. part in any
particular action either by sea, on land or in the air, except in cases
where the official announcement took the form of an award of a
decoration or of a mention in despatches. The Military Co-ordina­
tion Committee were strongly of opinion that this principle should
continue to be observed throughout the present war, not only as
regards United Kingdom but also as regards Dominion Service
personnel. The Committee recognised that the matter was one in
which each Dominion Government was entitled to take its own
line, but they recommended that the Dominion Governments should
be informed of the practice which the United Kingdom proposed to
follow, and should be invited to conform.
The Secretary^ of State for Dominion Affairs suggested that
the existing principle with which he entirely agreed, was based on
the importance—
(a) of preventing information finding its way to the enemy;
. and
(b) of not setting up invidious comparisons between equally
deserving and gallant members of the same Service.
There was no question but that the Dominions must accept
our ruling as regards any of their personnel serving in the United
Kingdom Forces. The real difficulty would arise after the
Dominions' own forces had been in action, when there might be
a desire to give publicity to their exploits in ways not in accordance
with our practice.
:
The War Cabinet agreed :—
(i) That a.departure from the existing,,principle; would\ fee
- detrimental to Service, efficiency; . . ^ ^ ^ ? s t s ^ ' ' o f ' : ^ i 0
United Kingdom Services, therefore, tin u ' dp ,
;
be adhered:to.:
:
:
;
;
r ;
;
af- ' ' p d a - d d - d a A a p p p p ^ d ' . ' p d
(ii) That as regards the Dominion Car Aces, \dio aatta was one
in. which each Dominion Goveraaaeaat aco sntw
^its own-line, but^that
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Thetotopanto dealt -aith iffl olirto;adkm was "srliotosr tide ctoto- ­
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nasmt shcatd toiu oto deiulvtothe baefcitoa fehto rtoaladkcai abc dd
toko the icum of the Exrnse
rtoatofc of GeiimQam otoyda oi arrmv­
shro. The view g t e d Q y e E p s a t o l d v a c that tote s h o u l d be dobe.
to'-'----,. ^ ^b^%^d?^^
- - '; a
\/,:d$ddi^ia^^
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Ambassador of the decision taken by the British Government,
toto.:' adxdMaigbtha
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toMiyiv&f^
"toy.,ay
\' / d e p d i s a l - ^
T h e . ^
h a d ssdto
-'
' \ no\;
being made. imMediately, "if this'
' Was thoiight: desirsible.
' h
. I t was agreed that.the.decision, t o seize exports, of' German­
ownership, o r origin should be referred to in A e last p a r a g r a p h of
-
the'Stat^^
-a siiffi^^ fortonbiha^
' d "d" toim-to
G.)
;
:
;
;
:
:
:
:
:
:
.
'
I n the course of discussion, a number of other amendments were
. suggested: i n particular, it was urged t h a t it should he made clear
...a t h a t the..German Government, were violating Agreements to whieh.
they, had themselves willingly subscribed. I t was also decided to
v omit the reference to the number of civilian lives already lost.
The W a r C a b i n e t ­
(i) Agreed that steps should be taken to seize exports of
German origin and ownership on the high seas,
(ii) Agreed t h a t a Statement to this effect Should be made by
the Prime Minister in the House of Commons that
afternoon, a n d approved t h e draft Statement, subject to
-the amendments ittadeindiscussioni ' .
- - - ^ h e ; ; d e x t o M ; v ! t h e i S t i t ^ e n t : as/-finally approved is . - .
- - eomtained..in.:Annex II.::W; '--l^e^'G!^clusions. '-. (Mi) Ajgresd-that"apsisi^la^ statement-should he made in the d:....
VHofise/^
- ;
;
d
:
;Itt.theHH^Uf'df,CPmiUbhs^;;;i
y
d p
.
t
o ,,((iy). $ w i t e ^
comsulta­
tiom ^dtli''^- ]^0Kt8igffi -Cip^bto $reporo a draft- tysfoat
in Couiaeil, whieh should -be submitted t o the 'War
. - .,
. - ^ . . C a b i h S d d - . : - : t o d . a . toy;: by.­
--- - ' ' " ' M Invited the Minister for Economic W a r f a r e to initiate
.Ji bate oiinoTm-gemomte said o ^ a i e t o i o a . J : u n i t e d
to p i S SM$t ,to the dastokto id (7 ctove, Laj^atobiLg.
;
:
:-
:'DTOL/DLL?IDTE*SL^^
r
i
"he a^:to ' -7 'to itohe edeetivc'to^ttosmro c a 6d,3 high
spps of cr:; toicj of ,GoiifiiC2ii oritoa vziS. otoacLrMp.
i l l
Opaelag of
-
-v'
-
,
A
,
£
K i a g o bjCSBcJa on
A 0x5 tiom ^ k s J - d
. - dtif
(I?i?eviQusOpening of Parliament.
I n discussion tne view was genemaly ejdwecsacl tnafc tlbe- Sn
W:M. (09) 89th on P^progafaon:; slhoaH stand nndt3ired d i d t d d d i - % M ' ^ i t d
Conclusions,
addition- AonHdttB-fflaole-'after the'conclusion o f i h p
Minute 9.)
of the Speech on t h e opening of Parliament.
sentence
w d ' ^ ^ G ^ i a i o n s - - o m e a s d a r e - ' p a r t i e i p a t i n g whole­
, . .hearte^.and.withvan effectiveness/which--&&fi -g^pj;
;
:
:
;
The W a r Cabinet agreed : -
That the draft King's Speech on the Opening of
^4'*%
M a f e ^ ^ h e KingYor approval *
War Flnaaee.
Statement as to
Savings Certifi­
eates and
Defence Bonds,
-'
--
'
'
10. TAe Chancellor of the Eackeqmr said t h a t jhe was advised
t h a t the time was not ripe to issue long-term, loans of the type
which would appeal to large institutions. The view taken was t h a t
a loan of this character should not be issued until the big payments
made by the Service Departments had had time to reach the reserves
of such institutions.
­
I n the meantime, however, it was desirable to make an appeal
to people of small means, and he prop-osed to make an aSaiaoutc-eiiiemt
on the matter t h a t afternoon.
I n the first place, the existing series.;^! Natieddl Savings
Certificates would be withdrawn and a new' series subs i l k A. They
would be issued a t 15s.; interest would accumulate slowly in the
earlier, but more rapidly in the later years. Repayment would be
at the rate of 17*. 6*?. after five years, and at 20s. 6d. after t e n y e a r s .
Interest on these certificates would hot be subject to Income Tax.
There was, however, a total limit of holdings of £500 worth
of Saving Certificates by any one person. H e proposed to issue
Defence Bonds, bearing interest a t 3 % , in £ 5 units,. With'-a provision
that u p to £1,000 of these Bonds might be held by any one person.
These Bonds would be repaid in seven years' time, with a premium
of 1%. I t was true t h a t the sinns obtained in this w a y would
not be very large but it was desirable t o make an early start.
The W a r Cabinet took hote of this statement.
TTJaiOommhujmi
11. The Secretary of State/^-far
gay^ the W a r Cabinet
Sfjl&e. foe Wa^s a short account. of h i s visit to Wzm6." "
Wj&$isa llipfrfa'... . Particulars of dhas/acEduAi
are/,recorded in the Secretary's
account are
btan(Diard;ftiie,ot w a
dbiiSGt Oomedxiono.
The W a r Cabinet teddaofie of fills statement
i
;
1% ' The Piitm E&faisfor c?icl $ r , 5 m. 3Tiiw ^-y TV, d "louse
of CbsiMooac was m^zim^jot
'M v -z. lu wc dyn ,
iosed
t h a t the Meeting of the W a r Cabinet On t h a t ' d a y shbulCfce.held
1
aflio A.W.
The Wan Catir.et d;d- -zr'
\ - d "
/ku/ibbbb
i:
.-jr
. b a y - '-' '-"'/-":-
b-j,.'-:^
: (bbhjetab hb)'
j ^ c y
aa.
P;5ea
-'. ­
Pc
-D::
bb
;
- b b y y y f b ; - ' \ %''-'
a z ode tic cy
';'-'bb:L'
:
k.iiAod,:[
We'sttcofdy fat/berths raroypsal £hat-Polish''waits "shook! foe foaaiad In
i M s coiiibtry, in Caa?d", ah im F anee; and we reconrn;? :: ths A i s
- sfiou (ia sa p it$hed on as i^st as -possible oy ^ne JlJeparon6nts conoerneoi.
(li) We ask the W a r "CJaplnfeu to.-, endorse -the arrangements-.which have
1
,':'
Illlsfll^^
First Line and two J&essrve Eornben Scyaadrons as Polish units" In this
- - country. ' y "'"y.''.yy.:.y-'-.y
L by." - - ' - y­
(iii) The precise details of Polish Army requirements are not yet known, hut
General Sikorski""has been invited: to submit them in writing to the
.. Secretary of State for War.. ...
y----- .... ' ' - . - / - , .
(iv)-The existing arrangements for-.the -employment of -Polish Mav&l forces
now serving with..the Koyal Havy are satisfactory, and will continue. .
(v) W e recommend the acceptance of the arrangements which have been
agreed by the .- Treasury with the Admiralty and the A i r Ministry,
regarding the pay and allowances, & c , o f t h e Polish personnelj who
will be serving in this country ;-,and^ in particular,: approval of the
Treasury view that-the cost of equipping and maintaining- the Polish
Bomber Squadrons, and of the pay and allowances,
of their
personnel, should be finally charged to the credit already established
in this conntry in favour of the Polish Government.
(vi) We recommendthat the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs should
endeavour to persuade the Canadian Government to agree to the
formation of one or two Polish Divisions in Canada.
(vii) We recommend that, subject to the approval of the French, a Polish
Officer of suitable rank should be associated with the Anglo-French
Permanent Military Representatives in London, on the understanding
that he should'be invited-only to those meetings at which Polish
questions are under consideration,
(vill) W e suggest t h a t -information of the steps which we are taking in these
matters should be communicated to the French through the channel of
the Anglo-French Liaison Section, and t h a t they, for their part, should"
be asked to give us reciprocal information of w h a t is being done in
France.
;
;
;
57
ANNIS""" II .b;blllllf^
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y the Prime Minister in the House of Commons on Tuesday
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The House will' be aware thatduring^the
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that when 3 3 3 333 0 : 3 : : - a"
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the ssstzuity ofrasffceiTHlncvi^c J : 1 J a 3 a 'd" a a a - * "
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as the M i n e cannot discriminate bstarsen araasaip and merchant sadp, c r d ^ a a .
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zone must be notified as soon as military exigencies penaL, - b a s s cm 333333 c e a s e
to be Binder observation by those who laid them. I f t a a a a .a. 3 daa) aiu ?a ',
they must-become harmless one hour-at most after thdse who laid, taean have lost
coM^ ::oV^;-them;- .
- None of these-provisions has been observed by... the German Government i n
-laying-the mines which occasioned the losses I have mentioned, and this fresh
outrage-is only the culmination of a series of violations of ^agreements to which
Germany-had.set-her hand.- - I need onty recall the sinking-of t h e A&Mmm, with'
the loss, of 112 lives, a n d the subsequent -destruction of-.. British,''Allied--and
neutral vessels by mine, torpedo, o r gunfire. These attacks have- been Made;-: often
without warning, and, to an increasing extent, With a complete disregard of the
rules laid down in the Submarine Protocol, t o which Germany subscribed, or of
the most elementary dictates of humanity.
H i s Majesty's Government are not prepared to allow these methods of
conducting warfare to continue without retaliation. I may remind the House
t h a t in the last war, as a measure of justified reprisal for subsnariie attacks: 0^1
merchant ships, exports of German origin o r ownership were ttiade subject t o
-seizure on t h e high seas. The many, violations of international l a w and t h t
ruthless brutality of German methods have decided us to follow a similar course
now, and a n Order in Council will shortly be issued giving effect to this decision
;
:
November 21, 1939.