(c) crown copyright Catalogue Reference:CAB/65/27/7 Image Reference:0001 THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT Printed for the War Cabinet. July 1942. Copy No. SECRET. W.M. (42) 91st Conclusions. TO BE KEPT UNDER LOCK AND KEY. It is requested that special care may be taken to ensure the secrecy of this document. W A R CABINET 91 (42). CONCLUSIONS of a Meeting of the War Cabinet held at 1 0 Downing S.W. 1 , on Monday, July 1 3 , 1 9 4 2 , at 5 - 3 0 P . M . Street, Present: The R i g h t Hon. W I N S T O N S. C H U R C H I L L , M.P., P r i m e Minister (in the Chair). The Right Hon. C. R. A T T L E E , M.P., The R i g h t Hon. Sir S T A F F O R D C R I P P S , Secretary of State for Dominion , K . C . , M.P., Lord Privy Seal. Affairs. The R i g h t Hon. Sir J O H N A N D E R S O N , The Right Hon. A N T H O N Y E D E N , M . P . , Secretary of State for Foreign M.P., Lord President of the Council. Affairs. The Right Hon. O L I V E R L Y T T E L T O N , T h e R i g h t Hon. E R N E S T B E V I N , M . P . , Minister of Labour and National M.P., Minister of Production. Service. The following were also present: The R i g h t Hon. S. M. B R U C E , Accredited Representative of the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia. The R i g h t Hon. Sir K I N G S L E Y W O O D , The Right Hon. V I S C O U N T S I M O N , . M.P., Chancellor of the Exchequer. Lord Chancellor (Items 7 - 1 0 ) . The Right Hon. H E R B E R T M O R R I S O N , M.P., Secretary of State for the Home Department and Minister of Home Security. The Right Hon. V I S C O U N T C R A N B O R N E , Secretary of State for the Colonies. The R i g h t Hon. Sir J A M E S G R I G G , M.P., Secretary of State for W a r . The Right Hon. Sir A N D R E W D U N C A N , M.P., Minister of Supply (Items 4-5). Colonel the Right Hon. J . J. M.P., Minister of Aircraft Production (Items 4 - 5 ) . LLEWELLIN, [24105] The Right Hon. L. S. A M E R Y , M.P., Secretary of State for I n d i a and Secretary of State for Burma. The R i g h t Hon. A. V . A L E X A N D E R , M.P., First Lord of the Admiralty. The Right Hon. Sir A R C H I B A L D S I N C L A I R , Bt., M.P., Secretary of State for Air. The R i g h t Hon. H U G H D A L T O N , M.P., President of the Board of T r a d e (Item 4 ) , The Right Hon. L O R D L E A T H E R S , Minister of W a r Transport (Items 4-7). . . . . B The E i g h t Hon. L O R D W O O L T O N , The R i g h t Hon. B R E N D A N B R A C K E N , Minister of Food (Items 4 - 1 0 ) . M.P., Minister of Information. The Right Hon. J A M E S S T U A R T , M.P., The Hon. Sir A L E X A N D E R CADOGAN, Joint Parliamentary Secretary, Permanent Under-Secretary of State Treasury (Items 5 - 1 0 ) . for Foreign Affairs. Admiral of the Fleet Sir D U D L E Y Air Chief Marshal Sir C H A R L E S F . A. P O U N D , F i r s t Sea Lord and Chief of P O R T A L , Chief o f the A i r Staff. Naval Staff. General Sir A L A N BROOKE, Chief of the Imperial General Staff. Secretariat. Sir EDWARD BRIDGES. HASTINGS W . D . WILKINSON. L. F. B U R G I S . . Major-General Sir Mr. Mr. WAR ISMAY. CABINET 91 (42). CONTENTS. Minute No. 1 Subject. Naval, Military and Air Operations .... Air Operations: H o m e Theatre. Malta. EgyptNaval Operations: Russian convoy. Military Operations: Egypt. Russia. Middle E a s t Page 135 ; .... .... .... 135 Condition of Tanks arriving. Middle E a s t 136 Levant Caspian Front: Co-operation with the Russians. USA .... 136 British Supply Organisation in Washington. Government Contracts .... .... .... .... .... 137 Report by Comptroller and Auditor-General on Civil Appropriation Accounts (Unclassified Votes) 1940. 6 Parliament .... .... .... 137 The Shipping situation. Shipping Losses 137 False enemy reports. 8 India .... 9 India .... .... ' Communist Party. Parliament .... .... 138 138 1 .... Prolongation of the life of the United Kingdom Parliament and of the House of Commons of Northern Ireland. 139 135 W.M. 91 ( 4 2 ) . Naval, Military and Air Operations. 1. The Chiefs of Staff reported the principal events of the past week. Weather h a d limited the operations of Bomber Command, but (Previous a successful attack had been made oh the submarine dockyards at Bef erence: Wilhelmshaven, where 570 tons of bombs had been dropped; and W.M. (42) 86th the submarine dockyards at Danzig had been bombed in daytime. Conclusions, Total enemy losses for the week amounted to 12 machines for Minute 1.) certain, 1 probable and 10 damaged. W e had lost 1 fighter, 15 bombers and 8 Coastal Command aircraft. Air Operations. Home Theatre. Malta. Egypt. Naval Operations. Eussian Convoy. Malta had been attacked on an increasing scale during the previous week. The enemy losses amounted to 72 machines for certain, 16 probable and 55 damaged. Our losses amounted to 26 machines destroyed (5 on the ground) and 27 damaged. Since the 10th J u l y we had carried out intensive air operations. The enemy losses amounted to 51 machines for certain, 28 probable and 81 damaged. We had lost 39 destroyed, 1 probable and 11 damaged. Allied shipping losses in the previous seven days amounted to 254,000 tons. This figure did not include the losses sustained in the outward- and homeward-bound Russian convoys. Four ships of the recent Russian convoy had reached Archangel. I t was hoped t h a t five other ships would reach port. The Prime Minister said that it was proposed to settle the question of the sailing of the next Russian convoy at a meeting of the Defence Committee to be held that evening. This was agreed to. The Prime Minister informed the W a r Cabinet t h a t he had asked that enquiries should be made by the Admiralty into the following questions:— (i) W h y the transport Orizaba -had been given orders to proceed to a wrong destination, (ii) Whether any responsibility attached to any of our Officers in respect of the loss of certain American ships in a returning convoy, in a minefield off Iceland. Military Operations. Egypt. Russia. I n a successful attack on the 10th J u l y we had captured 2,000 prisoners (mainly Italians), destroyed 23 tanks and captured a number of guns. The enemy had counter-attacked our new positions, but all our gains had been held. The Germans claimed t h a t in operations near Rezh they had taken 30,000 prisoners. This claim seemed improbable. South of Orel, where the enemy had made his main thrusts, the Germans had succeeded in cutting the railway line from Moscow to Rostov over a considerable distance'. They had advanced some 100 miles during 18 d a y s - a much slower r a t e than in the earlier attacks in 1941. The Germans claimed 88,000 prisoners, which, considering the w i d t h of the front and the depth of the advance, did not seem a very large number. The W a r Cabinet took note of the above statements. 2. The attention of the W a r Cabinet was drawn to a telegram from Cairo referring to the " reported bad condition of Valentine Condition of tanks on disembarkation." Tanks arriving. The Secretary of State for War said that, while his Depart­ ment was responsible up to the time of shipment, the Ministry of W a r Transport were responsible for stowage on board. Until the facts had been ascertained, responsibility for any shortcomings B 2 [24105] Middle East. could not be assigned. H e gave details of the inspection processes the tanks in question.had undergone before shipment. The Prime Minister said t h a t he h a d called for a detailed report from Cairo. H e suggested that as soon as it was received an investigation should be made by the Lord Privy Seal on behalf of the W a r Cabinet in order that, if the despatching authorities were to blame, severe measures might be taken. The W a r Cabinet suggestion. Middle East.. Levant-Caspian Front. Co-operation with the Russians. (Previous Reference: W.M. (42) 74th Conclusions, Minute 4.) agreed to the Prime Minister's 3. The Foreign Secretary said t h a t General Quinan had had some talks with the Russians, but they had not led to any concrete results. I t was for consideration whether he (the Foreign Secretary) should take up with M. Maisky the question of staff talks about common defence problems in the Caucasus and Middle East areas. The Chief of the Imperial General Staff said that General Auchinleck had several times pressed t h a t these talks should take place. I n discussion, it was suggested that a suitable procedure might be for the matter to be mentioned to General Isayef, and then left to be raised by our Military Mission in Moscow at a suitable opportunity. The general conclusion reached by the W a r Cabinet was, however, that on balance I t would be better not to take this matter up for the present, but to await further developments of the military situation in the Middle East. ,4. The War Cabinet had before them a Memorandum by the United States of Minister of Production (W.P. (42) 291) dealing, in particular, w i t h ; America. British Supply Organisation in Washington. (Previous Reference: W.M. (41) 132nd Conclusions, Minute 1.) the position" and powers of Sir Robert Sinclair, recently appointed Deputy to the Minister on the Combined Production and Resources Board in Washington. The Minister proposed— (1) T h a t the Heads of the Supply Missions (other than the Food Mission), while remaining responsible in their procurement work to their respective Ministries in London, should follow any directions which Sir Robert Sinclair, under his (the M i n i s t e r s ) authority, might find it necessary to give them in the fulfilment of his functions. (2) That it should be recognised t h a t the appointment of the Chairman of the British Supply Council was within his (the Minister's) authority and that he was responsible to him. I t was proposed that Sir Robert Sinclair should be a member of the Supply Council and that he should not replace Mr. R. H . Brand as Chairman, at any rate for the time being. I n discussion, it was suggested that it ought to be t h a t the new arrangement proposed involved no responsibility for handling food and shipping Washington. Subject to this caveat, the W a r Cabinet approved in W . P . (42)291. p u t on record alteration in questions at the proposals 137 W.M. 91 (42). Government Contracts.' 5. The W a r Cabinet had before them a Note by the Secretary (W.P. (42) 290) covering a Memorandum received from the Public Report by Accounts Committee asking whether the Government saw any Comptroller and objection, on Security or other grounds, to the publication of Auditor-General particulars (including names) of the firms which had been on Civil mentioned adversely' in the Comptroller and Auditor-General's Report. Appropriation Accounts (Unclassified Votes), 1940. (Previous Reference: W.M. (42) 56th Conclusions, Minute 8.) Parliament. The Shipping Situation. (Previous Reference: W.M. (42) 89th Conclusions.) The W a r Cabinet decided that there was no objection to the names of the firms being published, provided that their addresses and the stores they supplied were not disclosed. The Secretary was instructed to arrange for a reply to be sent, conveying this decision to the Committee. 6. Further discussion took place on the forthcoming Debate in Secret Session on the Shipping Situation. Reference was made to a suggestion by Mr. Aneurin Bevan, M.P., that, a t the end of the Secret Session, the Speaker should be authorised to issue a much fuller report t h a n had been made after Secret Sessions during the present war. The W a r Cabinet were reminded that in the last war very full reports had been made, giving the names of Members who had taken p a r t in the Debate. I n discussion, considerable difficulties were seen in the adoption of this suggestion. From the nature of the case, the statement would have to be impartial and uninformative. It would not therefore give satisfaction to those Members of Parliament who held strong views; nor would it be satisfactory that the opinions expressed by a small unorganised Opposition should be treated as on an equality with those of a National Government with an overwhelming majority. The Prime Minister said that, if the W a r Cabinet so wished, he would be prepared to see the editors of the principal newspapers after the Debate. The W a r C a b i n e t ­ (1). Agreed, that no encouragement should be given to Mr. Aneurih Bevan's suggestion that, on the occasion of the forthcoming Secret Session on Shipping, the Speaker should be authorised to issue a much fuller report than had been issued on previous occasions : (2) Welcomed the Prime Minister's suggestion that he should see the editors of the principal newspapers in regard - to the Shipping Situation, and invited the Minister of Information to make arrangements accordingly. Shipping Losses. False Enemy Reports. 7. The W a r Cabinet were informed that recent enemy broadcasts about our shipping losses had included the names of certain ships which were still afloat. This showed that the enemy's information was inaccurate. Such announcements might never­ theless be deeply disturbing to the families affected. . The Prime Minister thought that the right way of dealing with this matter would be for a public statement to be made giving a n assurance that the next of kin were invariably and promptly informed when a ship had gone down. Relations of seamen should therefore ignore enemy propaganda statements on shipping losses. This suggestion was approved. India. (Previous Reference: W.M. (42) 86th Conclusions, Minute 5.) 8. The W a r Cabinet had before them— (a) Telegram 2056G from the Viceroy to the Secretary of State for India, summarising a Resolution passed by the Congress Working Committee on the 10th July, as published in the Hindustan Times : -(b) Telegram 5419, dated the 11th July, from the Government of India Home Department. The Secretary of State for India said that, while the final Resolution of the Congress Working Committee referred to in telegram 5419 had not yet been textually agreed upon, the Resolution summarised in the former telegram was too serious to ignore. The Congress Working Committee, claiming the position of an authority parallel to that of the Government, deliberately instructed people to resist the Governments action in regard to measures such as the removal of boats or vehicles. This was an intolerable challenge, and was made worse when read together with p a r a g r a p h 4 of the Resolution which said t h a t " All restrictions on organisation for self-protection should be disregarded." Continuing, the Secretary of State said t h a t he thought it right to bring this Resolution to the immediate notice of the W a r Cabinet, who should authorise the Viceroy, if the terms of the Resolution were confirmed, to take such action as he thought necessary, including possibly the immediate arrest of Gandhi. I n discussion, the W a r Cabinet were reminded that in paragraph 10 of his telegram dated the 26th J u n e (circulated as W . P . (42) 271), the Viceroy had said that there was not a great deal to be gained at that stage by examining, for the benefit of the Cabinet, alternative possibilities; he would prefer to wait until the Working Committee had met, and thereafter to advise the Cabinet in the light of their conclusions. It was pointed out that the Viceroy had not yet p u t forward any proposals as to the action which should be taken, consequent upon the passing of this Resolution of the 10th July. The view was also expressed t h a t it by no means followed that the Congress Working Committee possessed the power which they claimed, or t h a t their so-called instructions would be at all generally acted upon. The Prime Minister said that we were responsible for the defence of India. I t was essential t h a t we should have the same facilities for the defence of I n d i a as we had for the defence of this country. He thought that it would be reasonable that the Secretary of State for I n d i a should give the Viceroy an immediate assurance that, if in the opinion of the Government of I n d i a the situation should make it necessary to take strong measures in order to ensure the same co-operation in the defence of I n d i a as we had in this country, they would, receive the fullest support from His Majesty's Government. The W a r C a b i n e t Approved this suggestion, and authorised the Secretary of State for India to send a telegram to the Viceroy on the lines proposed by the P r i m e Minister. India. Communist Party. . 9. The Secretary of State for India said that, d u r i n g the Lord Privy Seal's visit to India, the question had been raised whether the Government of I n d i a should adopt a more lenient attitude towards members Of the Communist P a r t y in I n d i a who were anxious to play their p a r t in the fight against Fascism. A number of students had been released, and the Government of India now desired to make an announcement raising the ban on the Communist P a r t y in India, and on its newspapers. 139 W.M. 91 (42). The Home Secretary and Minister of Home Security said that, while he raised no objection to the action proposed, he thought it might be made a debating point in Parliament, in connection with our a t t i t u d e towards the Daily Worker, and t h a t it was therefore r i g h t t h a t it h a d been mentioned to the W a r Cabinet. The W a r C a b i n e t Agreed that no objection need be raised to the course of action proposed. Parliament. Prolongation of "the life of the United King­ dom Parliament and of the House of Commons of Northern Ireland. 10. The W a r Cabinet had before them a Memorandum by the Home Secretary (W.P. (42) 287) explaining that legislative provision was required, not only for extending the life of the United Kingdom Parliament, but also for extending the life of the House of Commons in Northern Ireland which, under Sec­ tion 14 (4) of the Government of Ireland Act, 1920, was due to expire on the 1st March, 1943. The general considerations which made a General Election undesirable in time of war were as valid in the case of Northern Ireland as in that of Great Britain. The Minister therefore asked for the authorisation of the W a r Cabinet to announce that the Government contemplated introducing legislation for prolonging the life of the United Kingdom Parliament for another year from November 1942, and that they proposed to include in the Bill provision enabling the life of the House of Commons in Northern Ireland to be prolonged for a year from March 1943, provided, such prolongation was approved by a resolution of the Northern Ireland House of Commons. The W a r Cabinet approved these proposals. Great George Street, S.W. 1. July 13, 1942. 18513, p l o t t e d t o P o l i t i c a l Dept. Go P 1 e s , G1 rjgul a t e d . * D B CYPHER' T E L E G ft A 0 F Prom Governor General t o S e c r e t a r y o f s t a t e f o r India. Dated. New D e l h i Reed. 01.15 gQ56-G. p SO, 5 0 h o u r s , 1 1 t h J u l y , 1 9 4 8 , hours., 1 8 t h J u l y , 1 9 4 8 . Following is fv.ll summary of r e s o l u t i o n passe by Congress Working Committee a t Werdha o n J u l y l o t h a s published in Hindustan Times",. Begxas?. Where a s various complaints have "been received regarding government o r d e r s , f o r evacuation of villages lands and buildings without due notice ar.d proper compensation? seizure of and destruction of country boats", even where life i s impossible without them? requisition of vehicles without proper compensation s a d regard for needs of civil population, Working Committee issue T o i l owing -instruct ions for guidance of people concerned and hope t h a t Government will take immediate .and necessary steps to remove grievances and that people will carry out their instructions as circumstances demand., -provided that in all cas^s before final decision to -disobey an order, or resist any measure is taken, all avenues ox" negotiations shall "be thoroughly explored. With regard to evacuation and other orders involving jmporary or permanent loss'of land 3d property Pull compensation jould be demanded,. In fixing comp ansation factors to be taken into *ns£deration are value of land and crops inconvenience and expense L&ely to be caused to holder of la ad by having to move to another . s'taining other land where . ace and difficulty and delay in' o 3.1spossessed landholder could settl 3o If no agreement is reached tween authorities and evacuee a re jarding amount of compensation and tier has to be referred to tribun ilo amount proposed by authorities ouid be Paid forthwith and not wi ihheld pending ad indication-, e r e should be no interference witi l use or disposal of private operty except with consent of own* ;-r or on payment of adequate ?'Pensation* In ease of requisif. Loss or boats full compensation p u l d be demanded and no boats shoi lid be surrendered till question ' -compensation is settled. In ar?as surrounded by water where a-i-s are indispensable for normal i everybody (sic? everyday.) ?t. they should hot be surrendered at all. "Fishermen dependent on a t s for earning livelihood should be compensated for l o s 3 of In case of r equal tion of Ployment in addition to price of 1joats. aides full compensation should b( demanded and until question-of apen sat ion is settled they should not be parted withs I n v i e w o f s e a r c i t y o f s a l t a n d a p p r e h e n d e d f a m i n e o f it to war c o n d i t i o n s f a c i l i t i e s s h o u l d be p r o v i d e d f o r c o l l e c t i o n , o r a t i o n and t r a n s p o r t o f s a l t or. s e a c o a s t and i n i n l a n d a r e a s of duty by i n d i v i d u a l s . P e o p l e may m a n u f a c t u r e s a l t f o r their and their catties c o n s u m p t i o n ^ C o m m i t t e e c o n s i d e r . i t i n h e r e n t r i g h t o f a l l t o p r o t e c t their and t h e i r n e i g h b o u r ' ' s l i f e a n d p r o p e r t y , s o a l l r e s t r i c t i o n s on ganisation f o r s e l f - p r o t e c t i o n shculd be disregarded. W h e r e v e r p o s s i b l e d i s p o s s e s s e d a g r i c u l t u r a l i s t s s h o u l d bo provided rovi&ea' with other lands where impossible money c o m p e n s a t i o n " frould h e paid including values of -trees* water-channels w e l l s tie It c a s e of temporary acquisition fall value of crops p l u s £ e: - c e n t should he paid and when Government occupation e r m t n a t e a compensation shflrold "be paid for restoring land t o r - e v i o u s condition -for agricultural purposes. Where "bulk o f and i s a c q u i r e d and balance is so small that it may not b e w o r t h j L i i v a t l n g , balance too should be acquired. Houses where a c q u i r e d v v o . "be f u l l y paid for. Where hulk of agricultural land is yjiroci and o n l y the house is left over, house should also b e n u i r e d b y ' paying full compensation if agriculturalist s o desire nr - h o i " ; l 3 . occupied temporarily fair ?ent should be paid and M - eof-sated forconvenience cause L. No one should b e u e ; to v a c a t e t h e house without arraigement being made r e s i d e n c e s and full compensation should be paid for r a n s p o r e of r v a c u e ^ s belongings and his iaaintenanee for reasonable ' - enable n to find suitable occupation in new surroundings, :. c - r j . o * ' s u o u i o i n all cases he paid promptly on the spot by 0 :rc-.. r.cid.,c e f i i e ^ - - ^ and not at District headquarters­ AIjjrtted t o P o l i t i c a l Departmen ta Copies Circulateda D E 0 Y P II 13 R 1853 0 F 1 a L E G R A M. Government of India Hone Department to Secretary of State for I n d i a n *om "Dated New Delhi, 23:,50 hours, 11th July, 194; Received 04*15 hours, 12th July.. 1942X IMPORTANT Final' form of resolution. of Congress Working Committee -fcely to he released shortly- Indications derived mainly from telligent anticipations in messages of press correspondents seeii msorsiup are that it will attribute regrettable spirit of ;h political treatment of India it ism in this counxry to Allied Powers to bring pressure on His to til a t- j ' "reedon? for ostensible -purpose G-overnniezit gran ; 11 lyanlzing vrar efforts with ;nreat thai, x f this appeal is ted or prove unsuccessful- 0 rn grass 1 aunch .whi r"i wind civil disobedience raovement m the . nes of earlier movements. 11 be under Gandhi s supreme direction nd control will rd any attempt at non-enibarr.jssment * : 5 Resolution is, apart from disingeniousness (? premises) which are- no .louht designed to secure American nose sympathy, woxud "be sh 3er- blackmail and could not be 1 to pass unchallenged^ - Wepropose to await final test and. )n aider, whether to "ban publLeation either' in India or outside if but we "believe that such a course would be neither .?3 nor desirable from our nun point of view. In any ease against Congress organisa-t Ion will have to follow if the is implemented and need fo ? effective propaganda on the )f my telegram No * 4484 datetI June 6th becomes of immediate VI ;al importance both in Engl -sud, America and other allied esc we are holding up all out­ Until final text is rel ?ased tng press messages referred to in paragraph No-"I since we see should he permitted and reason advance Congress pr rpaganda 'ore publ -cation of resolution ve propose to hold press conference "e at whit/q. our ease would be e cplained, We are also warning jvineial Governments to pverhau L plans for dealing with mass il disobedience movement on th 3 lines explained in my letter of rust 2nd 1940 which was eommuni 2ated to you with Home Department ;ter 5/13/(? 40) dated August 1:2th 1940,-, We shall of course Lress you again if we consider Lt necessary to promulgate srgency Powers Ordinances Much will depend on the character of i movement threatened- In any ;ase we assume considerable ;erval will elapse before movem 3 n t itself is launched and Gandhi, J. give us full notice of his i:itentionso r