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THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTVS GOVERNMENT
Printed
for the War Cabinet.
1
May 1940.
SECRET.
Copy N o .
W.M. (40)
128th Conclusions.
TO B E K E P T
UNDER
LOCK
AND KEY.
I t is r e q u e s t e d t h a t special care may be t a k e n to
ensure the secrecy of this document.
128 ( 4 0 ) .
WAR CABINET
CONCLUSIONS
of a Meeting of the War Cabinet held at 10 Downing
S.W. 1, on Saturday,
May 18, 1940, at 5-30 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 Hon. N E V I L L E CHAMBERLAIN,
M . P . , L o r d P r e s i d e n t of t h e Council.
T h e R i g h t H o n . C. R. A T T L E E , M . P . ,
The Right Hon. VISCOUNT HALIFAX,
Secretary of S t a t e for F o r e i g n
Affairs.
T h e R i g h t H o n . A . GREENWOOD, M . P . ,
L o r d P r i v y Seal.
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 H o n . S i r J O H N ANDERSON,
M . P . , S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for the
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.
The Right
Hon. LORD
HANKEY,
Chancellor of t h e Duchy of L a n c a s t e r .
The
Sir
Hon.
Sir
ALEXANDER
CADOGAN,
P e r m a n e n t t J 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.
THOMAS
Secretariat.
Sir EDWARD BRIDGES.
Group Captain W . ELLIOT.
M r . D. H . F . R I C K E T T .
(21299 I PHILLIPS,
Permanent
Secretary, M i n i s t e r of L a b o u r ,
WAR
CABINET
128
(40).
CONTENTS.
Minute
No.
Subject.
Page
1
T h e W a r Effort
Need for additional powers.
177
2
Civil Defence M e a s u r e s
...
...
...
...
...
Dispersal of persons resident in the immediate neighbourhood of
specific targets.
177
3
I n v a s i o n of G r e a t B r i t a i n
...
Aliens and the Fifth Column.
177
...
...
...
...
The War Effort.
1. The Lord President
of the Council m a d e a n oral s t a t e m e n t
Need for
in r e g a r d to c e r t a i n a d d i t i o n a l powers w h i c h i t m i g h t be necessary
additional
to confer on the Government in t h e event of the t h r e a t of a t t a c k
powers.
on t h i s country becoming i m m i n e n t .
A p r e l i m i n a r y discussion took place, t h e m a i n p o i n t s of which
a r e recorded i n the S e c r e t a r y ' s S t a n d a r d File of W a r C a b i n e t
Conclusions.
The War
Cabinet:—
I n v i t e d the L o r d P r e s i d e n t of t h e Council to c o n t i n u e h i s
consultations w i t h the M i n i s t e r s a n d
Departments
concerned, w i t h a view to the p r e p a r a t i o n of a d e t a i l e d
scheme which could be a p p l i e d if circumstances should
r e n d e r this necessary.
Civil Defence
Measures.
Dispersal of
persons resident
in the immediate
neighbourhood
of specific
targets.
(Previous
Reference:
W.M. (40) 118th
Conclusions,
i inu e .)
2. T h e W a r C a b i n e t h a d before t h e m a N o t e by t h e L o r d
P r e s i d e n t of t h e Council covering a M e m o r a n d u m by t h e H o m e
S e c r e t a r y on t h e d i s p e r s a l of persons r e s i d e n t in the i m m e d i a t e
neighbourhood of specific t a r g e t s ( W . P . (G.) (40) 130).
y / £ £ President
of the Council d r e w a t t e n t i o n to t h e first
recommendation, namely, t h a t no a t t e m p t should be m a d e to a r r a n g e
f
v o l u n t a r y dispersal of p o p u l a t i o n u n t i l there h a d been such a i r
a t t a c k on t h i s country a s would b r i n g home clearly to people the
d a n g e r s to which they were exposed. E v e n t s on t h e C o n t i n e n t m i g h t
have a r a p i d a n d considerable effect u p o n public opinion in t h i s
respect.
p
Minister t h o u g h t t h a t t h e G e r m a n s would n o t a d o p t
p i j y £ i n d i s c r i m i n a t e bombing. T h e i r action in N o r w a y a n d
P o l a n d could n o t be t a k e n as a guide. I n a t t a c k i n g this country
they would find i t f a r more profitable to concentrate on specific
military targets.
i e
o r c
or
T
a
0
h
C
e
r
i
m
g
0
The Home Secretary
s a i d t h a t he h a d a r r a n g e d for public
feeling to be continuously tested a n d for persuasion to be a p p l i e d
both by school-teachers a n d by civil defence officials. So f a r t h e
response h a d been small. I t w a s essential to secure the co-operation
both of p a r e n t s of children to be evacuated, a n d of householders in
t h e reception areas. P r e p a r a t i o n s h a d been m a d e to deal w i t h
t h e h u r r i e d exodus of t h e population w h i c h m i g h t take place if
bombing w a s heavy.
T h e W a r Cabinet a g r e e d :—
To request the H o m e Secretary to w a t c h t h e s i t u a t i o n from
day to day a n d to take the a c t i o n recommended i n para­
g r a p h 4 of his M e m o r a n d u m as soon as he w a s satisfied t h a t
t h e r e would be a favourable response from the public.
Invasion of
Great Britain.
Aliens and the
Fifth Column.
(Previous
Reference:
W.M. (40) 123rd
Conclusions,
Minute 15.)
3. 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 the
H o m e Secretary on " I n v a s i o n of G r e a t B r i t a i n :
possible
co-operation of a F i f t h C o l u m n " ( W . P . (G.) (40) 131).
The Home Secretary
explained t h e steps which h a d a l r e a d y
been t a k e n in r e g a r d to enemy aliens.
I n the discussion w h i c h ensued on t h e various f u r t h e r measures
of i n t e r n m e n t dealt w i t h i n the M e m o r a n d u m , the following p o i n t s
w e r e m a d e :-—
(1) T h e task of p i c k i n g u p a n d s o r t i n g out aliens imposed a
very heavy b u r d e n on the Police, who m u s t not be asked
to c a r r y too heavy a b u r d e n a t a n y given moment.
WAR
CABINET
128
(40).
CONTENTS.
Minute
No.
Subject.
Page
1
T h e W a r Effort
Need for additional powers.
177
2
Civil Defence Measures
...
...
...
...
...
Dispersal of persons resident in the immediate neighbourhood of
specific targets.
177
3
I n v a s i o n of G r e a t B r i t a i n
...
Aliens and the Fifth Column.
177
...
...
...
...
The War Effort.
1. The Lord President
of the Council m a d e a n o r a l s t a t e m e n t
Need for
i n r e g a r d t o c e r t a i n a d d i t i o n a l p o w e r s w h i c h i t m i g h t be necessary
additional
to confer on the G o v e r n m e n t i n t h e event of the t h r e a t of a t t a c k
powers.
on t h i s c o u n t r y becoming i m m i n e n t .
A p r e l i m i n a r y discussion took place, t h e m a i n p o i n t s of which
a r e r e c o r d e d i n t h e 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.
The W a r
Cabinet:-
I n v i t e d t h e L o r d P r e s i d e n t of t h e Council to c o n t i n u e h i s
consultations with the Ministers and
Departments
concerned, w i t h a view to t h e p r e p a r a t i o n of a detailed
scheme w h i c h could b e a p p l i e d if c i r c u m s t a n c e s should
r e n d e r t h i s necessary.
Civil Defence
Measures.
Dispersal of
persons resident
in the immediate
neighbourhood
of specific
targets.
2. T h e W a r
P r e s i d e n t of t h e
S e c r e t a r y on t h e
n e i g h b o u r h o o d of
C a b i n e t h a d before t h e m a N o t e by t h e L o r d
Council covering a M e m o r a n d u m by t h e H o m e
d i s p e r s a l of p e r s o n s r e s i d e n t i n t h e i m m e d i a t e
specific t a r g e t s ( W . P . (G.) (40) 130).
The Lord President
of the Council d r e w a t t e n t i o n to the first
r e c o m m e n d a t i o n , namely, t h a t n o a t t e m p t should be m a d e to a r r a n g e
for v o l u n t a r y d i s p e r s a l of p o p u l a t i o n u n t i l t h e r e h a d been such a i r
a t t a c k on t h i s c o u n t r y as would b r i n g home clearly to people the
(Previous
d a n g e r s to w h i c h t h e y w e r e exposed. E v e n t s o n t h e C o n t i n e n t m i g h t
Reference:
have a r a p i d a n d considerable effect u p o n p u b l i c o p i n i o n in t h i s
W.M. (40) 118th respect.
Conclusions,
Minute 5.)
The Prime Minister t h o u g h t t h a t t h e G e r m a n s would n o t a d o p t
a policy of i n d i s c r i m i n a t e bombing. T h e i r a c t i o n i n N o r w a y a n d
P o l a n d could n o t be t a k e n as a g u i d e . I n a t t a c k i n g t h i s country
they w o u l d find i t f a r more profitable to c o n c e n t r a t e on specific
military targets.
The Home Secretary
said t h a t h e h a d a r r a n g e d for public
feeling to be continuously tested a n d for p e r s u a s i o n to be a p p l i e d
both by school-teachers a n d by civil defence officials. So f a r the
response h a d been small. I t w a s essential to secure t h e co-operation
both of p a r e n t s of c h i l d r e n to be evacuated, a n d of householders in
the r e c e p t i o n a r e a s . P r e p a r a t i o n s h a d been m a d e to deal w i t h
t h e h u r r i e d exodus of t h e p o p u l a t i o n w h i c h m i g h t take place if
b o m b i n g w a s heavy.
T h e W a r C a b i n e t a g r e e d :—
T o r e q u e s t the H o m e S e c r e t a r y to w a t c h t h e s i t u a t i o n from
d a y to d a y a n d to t a k e t h e a c t i o n recommended i n para­
g r a p h 4 of h i s M e m o r a n d u m a s soon as he w a s satisfied t h a t
t h e r e w o u l d be a f a v o u r a b l e r e s p o n s e from t h e public.
Invasion of
Great Britain,
Aliens and the
Fifth Column.
3. 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 the
H o m e S e c r e t a r y on " I n v a s i o n of G r e a t B r i t a i n :
possible
co-operation of a F i f t h C o l u m n " ( W . P . (G.) (40) 131).
The
Home
Secretary
explained the steps which h a d
already
(Previous
been t a k e n i n r e g a r d to enemy aliens.
Reference:
I n t h e discussion w h i c h ensued on the v a r i o u s f u r t h e r measures
W.M. (40) 123rd of i n t e r n m e n t d e a l t w i t h in the M e m o r a n d u m , t h e following p o i n t s
Conclusions,
were m a d e :—
Minute 15.)
(1) T h e t a s k of p i c k i n g u p a n d s o r t i n g o u t aliens imposed a
very heavy b u r d e n on t h e Police, who m u s t n o t be asked
to c a r r y too heavy a b u r d e n a t a n y given moment.
(2) I n t h i s connection, t h e P o l i c e a l r e a d y h a d a very heavy
t a s k on h a n d in d e a l i n g w i t h 100,000 refugees who were
on t h e i r w a y to t h i s country, mostly from Belgium. The
H o m e S e c r e t a r y r e g r e t t e d t h a t we h a d a l r e a d y under­
t a k e n to receive a n o t h e r 100,000 refugees, b u t he hoped
t h a t t h i s n u m b e r m i g h t be c u t down. A n y G e r m a n s
f o u n d in t h e batches of refugees r e a c h i n g t h i s country
would a t once be i n t e r n e d on a r r i v a l .
(3) If w a r broke o u t w i t h I t a l y , i t w a s proposed to i n t e r n all
male I t a l i a n s who h a d been less t h a n 20 y e a r s i n this
c o u n t r y a n d such B r i t i s h I t a l i a n s as w e r e members of
the Fascist P a r t y .
(4) T h e H o m e S e c r e t a r y t h o u g h t t h a t , if it w a s felt to be
desirable to impose some f u r t h e r r e s t r i c t i o n s on enemy
aliens, t h i s should t a k e t h e form of i m p o s i n g further
r e s t r i c t i o n s on e x e m p t e d enemy aliens who lived outside
t h e special m i l i t a r y zone, subject to exceptions in
p a r t i c u l a r cases. I f t h i s course were a d o p t e d , t h e same
r e s t r i c t i o n s should also be imposed on non-enemy aliens
who h a d been here for less t h a n five y e a r s .
(5) T h e e x t e n t of t h e d a n g e r to be a p p r e h e n d e d from women
refugees w a s open to a r g u m e n t . T h e H o m e Secretary
was, however, p r e p a r e d to i n t e r n all women enemy aliens
in category B as soon a s t h e necessary o r g a n i s a t i o n had
been established to cope w i t h them.
(6) T h e question w a s r a i s e d w h e t h e r t h e u p p e r a g e l i m i t of 60
w a s a p p r o p r i a t e , seeing t h a t men above t h i s a g e m i g h t
well be actively e n g a g e d in o r g a n i s i n g enemy activities.
(7) I n r e g a r d to B r i t i s h F a s c i s t s , the H o m e S e c r e t a r y explained
a t l e n g t h t h e difficulty of t a k i n g a n y effective action in
the absence of evidence w h i c h i n d i c a t e d t h a t the
o r g a n i s a t i o n a s such w a s e n g a g e d in disloyal activities.
(8) T h e view w a s expressed t h a t t h e position in E i r e w a s a very
d a n g e r o u s one. T h e difficulty w a s to see how to deal
w i t h it, f a i l i n g some easement of t h e r e l a t i o n s between
the North and South.
The Prime Minister summed u p the discussion by s a y i n g t h a t he
t h o u g h t t h e general view of t h e W a r C a b i n e t w a s t h a t it would be
desirable to stiffen u p t h e m e a s u r e s a l r e a d y t a k e n .
T h e H o m e S e c r e t a r y w a s i n v i t e d to review the m a t t e r in
c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h the L o r d P r i v y Seal a n d the M i n i s t e r
w i t h o u t P o r t f o l i o , i n t h e l i g h t of t h e above discussion, a n d
to r e p o r t a g a i n to t h e W a r C a b i n e t w i t h i n a w e e k ' s time.
Richmond
Terrace, S.W.
May 18, 1940.
1,