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T H I S DOCUMENT I S T H E PROPERTY OP H I S BRITANNIC M A J E S T Y ' S G O V E R N M E N T '
Printed
for the War Cabinet.
March 1944.
SECRET.
Copy N o .
W . M . (44)
29th Conclusions.
WAR
CONCLUSIONS
C A B I N E T 29 ( 4 4 ) ,
of a Meeting of the War Cabinet held at 1 0 Downing
S. W. 1 , on Monday, 6th March, 1 9 4 4 , at 7 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 . C. R . A T T L E E , M . P ,
The R i g h t H o n . ANTHONY EDEN, M.P.,
Secretary of S t a t e f o r F o r e i g n
L o r d P r e s i d e n t of t h e Council.
Affairs.
The R i g h t Hon. Sir J O H N ANDERSON, The R i g h t Hon. E R N E S T BEVIN, M.P.,
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
M . P . , Chancellor of t h e E x c h e q u e r .
Service.
T h e R i g h t H o n . OLIVER LYTTELTON, The R i g h t H o n . H E R B E R T MORRISON,
M . P . , Secretary of S t a t e f o r t h e H o m e
M . P . , M i n i s t e r of P r o d u c t i o n .
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.
T h e following were also p r e s e n t :
T h e R i g h t H o n . S. M. B R U C E , R e p r e The Hon. W. NASH, Deputy Prime
s e n t a t i v e of t h e G o v e r n m e n t of t h e
M i n i s t e r of t h e D o m i n i o n of N e w
Commonwealth of A u s t r a l i a .
Zealand.
T h e R i g h t H o n . V I S C O U N T CRANBORNE, T h e R i g h t H o n . L O R D BEAVERBROOK,
S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for D o m i n i o n
L o r d P r i v y Seal.
-A-ii stirs
The R i g h t H o n . A . V. ALEXANDER,
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
M . P . , F i r s t L o r d of t h e A d m i r a l t y .
S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for B u r m a .
H o n . S I R ARCHIBALD
The R i g h t Hon. Sir J A M E S GRIGG, The R i g h t
SINCLAIR, Bt., M . P . , S e c r e t a r y of
M . P . , S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for W a r .
S t a t e for A i r .
T h e R i g h t H o n . S i r STAFFORD C R I P P S , T h e R i g h t H o n . H . U . W I L L I N K , K.C.,
M . P . , M i n i s t e r of H e a l t h
(Items
K.C., M . P . , M i n i s t e r of A i r c r a f t
5-7).
Production.
Colonel
the Right
Hon. J.
J . T h e R i g h t H o n . B R E N D A N BRACKEN,
M . P . , M i n i s t e r of I n f o r m a t i o n .
L L E W E L L I N , M . P . , M i n i s t e r of Food
(Items 5 - 7 ) .
The R i g h t H o n . L O R D C H E R W E L L , T h e R i g h t H o n . J A M E S STUART, M . P . ,
Joint
Parliamentary
Secretary,
Paymaster-General.
T r e a s u r y (Items 5 - 7 ) .
The R i g h t Hon. W. WHITELEY, M.P.,
The
Joint
Parliamentary
Secretary,
T r e a s u r y (Items 5 - 7 ) .
A d m i r a l of t h e Fleet S i r A N D R E W
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.
M a r s h a l of t h e R o y a l A i r Force
Sir C H A R L E S F . A . P O R T A L , Chief of
the A i r Staff (Items 1-4).
CUNNINGHAM,
First
Sea
Lord
and
Chief of N a v a l Staff (Items 1 - 4 ) .
Hon.
Sir
ALEXANDER
CADOGAN,
F i e l d - M a r s h a l S i r A L A N BROOKE, C h i e f
of t h e I m p e r i a l General Staff
(Items
1-4).
Secretariat.
Sir EDWARD BRIDGES.
Lieutenant-General Sir HASTINGS L. ISMAY.
M r . W . S. M U R R I E .
Mr. L. F. BURGIS.
[27080-2]
B
52
WAR
C A B I N E T 29
(44).
CONTENTS.
Minute Subject:
No. N
a
v
a
l
,
M
i
l
i
t
a
r
y
a
n
d
Air
Operations,
1
Page
13,5
Air Operations :
H o m e Theatre.
Mediterranean.
Pacific.
Naval Operations :
Mediterranean.
Military Operations :
Russia.
Burma.
Italy.
2
3
4
5
6
135
Turkey
135
N a t i o n a l D a y of P r a y e r
N e g o t i a t i o n s w i t h J a p a n for t h e E x c h a n g e
Reduction of Cheese Ration.
Service P a y a n d A l l o w a n c e s
136
136
N a t i o n a l H e a l t h Service
Food
of C i v i l i a n s
....
137
137
N a v a l , Military
and Air
Operations.
1. The C h i e f s of Staff r e p o r t e d t h e p r i n c i p a l events of t h e
p r e v i o u s week. Bomber C o m m a n d h a d a t t a c k e d S t u t t g a r t .
United States (Previous
a i r c r a f t h a d a t t a c k e d B r u n s w i c k , F r e n c h airfields a n d " Crossbow " Eeference:
t a r g e t s . I n the a t t a c k on B e r l i n t h e A m e r i c a n s t h a t d a y h a d sent W.M.(44)26th
800 a i r c r a f t a n d h a d lost 45. T h e escorting fighters were r e p o r t e d to have destroyed 70 enemy a i r c r a f t for the loss of 14. Conclusions,
Minute 2.)
D u r i n g t h e m o n t h of F e b r u a r y 32,600 tons of bombs h a d been
Air Operations. d r o p p e d , of w h i c h 23,000 h a d been on G e r m a n y .
E n e m y losses for the week a m o u n t e d to 88 a i r c r a f t destroyed
H o m e Theatre.
a n d 14 probably destroyed. O u r losses included 5 R . A . F . bombers
a n d 4 5 U n i t e d S t a t e s bombers. T h e A . E . A . F . h a d lost 9 bombers
a n d 52 fighters.
Mediterranean.
I n the M e d i t e r r a n e a n t h e enemy h a d lost 23 a i r c r a f t destroyed
as a g a i n s t 41 Allied. A n u m b e r of enemy ships h a d been s u n k or
damaged.
Pacific
R a b a u l h a d been a t t a c k e d w i t h o u t any response from the
Japanese.
Naval
T h e confirmed s h i p p i n g losses by enemy action for the week
Operations.
a m o u n t e d to 5,202 tons, b u t it w a s a n t i c i p a t e d t h a t belated r e p o r t s
m i g h t a d d a n o t h e r 14,000. F e b r u a r y losses, including b e l a t e d
r e p o r t s , a m o u n t e d to 79,766 tons. T h i s w a s the lowest figure for
a n y m o n t h of t h e w a r .
Mediterranean.
Shellfire a n d b a d w e a t h e r h a d i n t e r f e r e d w i t h u n l o a d i n g
operations in the Anzio bridgehead.
Military
I n the n o r t h the R u s s i a n s were advancing following the
Operations.
German retirement.
F u r t h e r south i n the Shepetovka a r e a the
Eussia
R u s s i a n s h a d a d v a n c e d to a d e p t h of 30 miles on a 112-mile front.
T h e G e r m a n s were fighting h a r d in t h i s a r e a owing to the serious­
ness of the t h r e a t to the W a r s a w - O d e s s a r a i l w a y . I n the K r i o v i
R o g a r e a the R u s s i a n s h a d m a d e some progress.
Burma.
T h e s i t u a t i o n on the B u r m a front continued to improve, w i t h
t h e J a p a n e s e still suffering considerable casualties.
Italy.
T h e r e h a d been almost no change i n the lines occupied by our
forces.
The W a r C a b i n e t Took note of these s t a t e m e n t s .
Turkey. .
(Previous
Eeference:
W.M. (43) 169th
Conclusions,
Minute 2.)
2. The Secretary
of State for Foreign Affairs
said t h a t
M r . Granville, M . P . , h a d p u t d o w n a Question, for answer on the
following day, a b o u t t h e conversations w i t h representatives of the
T u r k i s h Government. I t w a s clearly n o t in the public i n t e r e s t to
give a n y i n f o r m a t i o n on t h i s m a t t e r . If, therefore, M r . Granville
w a s u n w i l l i n g to w i t h d r a w the Question, he proposed to confine
h i s reply to s a y i n g t h a t he h a d no s t a t e m e n t to make a t the p r e s e n t
time.
The W a r C a b i n e t A p p r o v e d t h i s course.
National D a y of
Prayer,
3. The Prime Minister said t h a t t h e Archbishop of C a n t e r b u r y h a d suggested to H i s M a j e s t y T h e K i n g t h a t there should be
a. N a t i o n a l D a y of P r a y e r for t h e success of our a r m s i n the
o p e r a t i o n s w h i c h w e r e to be u n d e r t a k e n t h i s year i n W e s t e r n
E u r o p e . H i s own view w a s t h a t , i n view of the difficulty of selecting
a suitable date a n d t h e d a n g e r of d i s c o u r a g i n g the troops, t h e
p r o p o s a l was i n e x p e d i e n t , a n d h e proposed to advise H i s M a j e s t y
i n t h i s sense. I f necessary, a N a t i o n a l D a y of P r a y e r m i g h t be held
some t i m e after t h e o p e r a t i o n s h a d begun.
The W a r C a b i n e t A p p r o v e d t h e course of a c t i o n proposed by the P r i m e
Minister.
[27080-2] Negotiations
with J a p a n for
the E x c h a n g e of
Civilians.
4. 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 . (44) 137) r e g a r d i n g
n e g o t i a t i o n s w i t h J a p a n for a n e x c h a n g e of civilians.
T h e M e m o r a n d u m e x p l a i n e d t h a t i t h a d been hoped t h a t t h e
n e g o t i a t i o n s , w h i c h h a d been g o i n g on for some time, would result
i n the release of 1,600 of the 17,000 B r i t i s h a n d A l l i e d c i v i l i a n s
r e m a i n i n g i n t h e F a r E a s t , i n c l u d i n g 600 of the 2,500 i n HongK o n g , w h e r e food conditions were extremely b a d a n d were r a p i d l y
d e t e r i o r a t i n g . A p a r t from t h e i r p r i m a r y object, t h e n e g o t i a t i o n s
were i m p o r t a n t i n t h a t the exchange s h i p s were the only means by
w h i c h t h e A m e r i c a n s a n d we could send much-needed supplies of
medicines, food a n d clothing to B r i t i s h a n d A l l i e d p r i s o n e r s of w a r
a n d civilians.
A deadlock h a d been reached in t h e n e g o t i a t i o n s because t h e
A u s t r a l i a n G o v e r n m e n t were u n w i l l i n g to release 330 pilots a n d
p e a r l - d i v e r s who h a d been included a m o n g the 1,600 civilian
i n t e r n e e s selected by the J a p a n e s e G o v e r n m e n t for r e p a t r i a t i o n .
T h e A u s t r a l i a n G o v e r n m e n t claimed t h a t these seamen, w h o h a d
been r e s i d e n t i n A u s t r a l i a u p to the o u t b r e a k of w a r , could not b e
released on account of t h e specialised knowledge w h i c h they
possessed of o p e r a t i o n a l w a t e r s a n d because of t h e i r value i n
s a l v a g i n g o p e r a t i o n s . T h e a t t i t u d e of t h e A u s t r a l i a n G o v e r n m e n t
w as strongly endorsed by G e n e r a l M a c A r t h u r .
I n these circumstances, t h e M e m o r a n d u m proposed t h a t 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 should seek t h e concurrence
of H i s M a j e s t y ' s Governments a n d the A l l i e d Governments con­
cerned in p r o p o s i n g to the J a p a n e s e G o v e r n m e n t a n exchange on a
h e a d - f o r - h e a d basis of 1,270 persons in place of 1,600, the J a p a n e s e
Government r e l i n q u i s h i n g t h e i r claim to the 330 J a p a n e s e seamen
in r e t u r n for the r i g h t to select 330 B r i t i s h or A l l i e d civilians i n
J a p a n e s e h a n d s to be excluded from t h e exchange.
r
The Secretary of State for
m i g h t n o t be possible to get the
the release of the 330 J a p a n e s e
Pacific h a d moved f u r t h e r from
Dominion Affairs asked w h e t h e r i t
A u s t r a l i a n G o v e r n m e n t to agree to
seamen now t h a t o p e r a t i o n s in the
Australia.
Mr. Bruce doubted w h e t h e r it w o u l d be possible to move t h e
A u s t r a l i a n Government. T h e case for r e l e a s i n g t h e seamen h a d
been p u t very s t r o n g l y to t h e A u s t r a l i a n G o v e r n m e n t a n d t h r o u g h
t h e m to G e n e r a l M a c A r t h u r ; b u t both t h e G-overnment a n d G e n e r a l
M a c A r t h u r were very e m p h a t i c a l l y opposed to the release.
The Secretary
of State for Foreign Affairs
said t h a t he h a d
not m u c h hope t h a t the J a p a n e s e G o v e r n m e n t would accept a n y
a r r a n g e m e n t w h i c h would not give t h e m t h e 330 J a p a n e s e pilots
a n d p e a r l - d i v e r s for w h o m they h a d asked. H e felt, however, t h a t
it w a s w o r t h m a k i n g a n a t t e m p t on t h e lines proposed. I f t h e
J a p a n e s e G o v e r n m e n t would not accept a n a r r a n g e m e n t of t h i s k i n d
a f u r t h e r a p p r o a c h m i g h t be m a d e to the A u s t r a l i a n Government.
The W a r Cabinet—
E n d o r s e d t h e proposal m a d e i n p a r a g r a p h 9 of W . P . (44)
137, on t h e u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h a t , if the offer w a s not
accepted by the J a p a n e s e Government, a f u r t h e r a p p r o a c h
should be m a d e to the A u s t r a l i a n G o v e r n m e n t w i t h a view
to p e r s u a d i n g t h e m to agree to t h e release of t h e 330
J a p a n e s e seamen concerned.
National H e a l t h
Service.
(Previous
Reference:
W.M.(44)21st
Conclusions,
Minute 2.)
5. The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs s a i d t h a t it was.
proposed t h a t t h e Government should p u t d o w n a positive motion
in the following t e r m s : ­
" T h a t t h i s Flouse welcomes the i n t e n t i o n of H i s M a j e s t y ' s
Government, declared i n the W h i t e P a p e r p r e s e n t e d to P a r l i a ­
ment, t o establish a comprehensive N a t i o n a l H e a l t h S e r v i c e . "
T h e debate, w h i c h would extend over t w o days, would be opened
by the M i n i s t e r of H e a l t h a n d t h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for S c o t l a n d
w o u l d w i n d u p . The P a r l i a m e n t a r y Secretary, M i n i s t r y of H e a l t h ,
w o u l d speak d u r i n g t h e debate. I t w a s proposed to have a simul­
t a n e o u s debate on the W h i t e P a p e r i n the H o u s e of L o r d s .
T h e question w a s raised w h e t h e r by p u t t i n g d o w n a positive
m o t i o n t h e Government m i g h t be s e t t i n g a p r e c e d e n t w h i c h w o u l d
p r o v e a w k w a r d i n the case of more contentious W h i t e P a p e r s . T h e
g e n e r a l view was, however, t h a t the course proposed, which w a s i n
l i n e w i t h w h a t h a d been done on the W h i t e P a p e r on E d u c a t i o n ,
need n o t bind the Government on a f u t u r e occasion.
The W a r C a b i n e t A p p r o v e d the a r r a n g e m e n t s proposed by t h e Secretary of
S t a t e for F o r e i g n Affairs for t h e discussion of the H e a l t h
Service W h i t e P a p e r i n P a r l i a m e n t .
Food.
Reduction of
Cheese Ration,
6. The Minister
of Food said t h a t , o w i n g to s h o r t a g e of
s u p p l i e s of cheese, t h e cheese r a t i o n for n o n - p r i o r i t y consumers
w o u l d h a v e to be reduced from 3 ozs. to 2 ozs. p e r week for a
p e r i o d of 20 weeks from t h e b e g i n n i n g of A p r i l . D u r i n g t h i s p e r i o d
consumers would be receiving l a r g e r supplies of milk. I n a d d i t i o n ,
i t w a s p r o p o s e d to issue e x t r a q u a n t i t i e s of c a n n e d m e a t a n d fish
u n d e r t h e p o i n t s scheme, a n d t o raise the p u r c h a s i n g power of
p o i n t s from 20 to 24. The p r o t e i n i n t a k e would t h u s be k e p t u p .
The W a r C a b i n e t Took note of t h i s statement.
7. T h e W a r Cabinet h a d a short discussion as to t h e reply
w h i c h t h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r should give on t h e following d a y t o a
(Previous
Q u e s t i o n by M r . K e n d a l l , M . P . , a s k i n g w h e t h e r he w a s in a p o s i t i o n
Reference:
t o i m p l e m e n t the promised i n v e s t i g a t i o n i n t o A r m y P a y a n d
W.M.(44)26th
Allowances, w h a t would be the c o n s t i t u t i o n of t h e g r o u p to be
Conclusions,
i n v i t e d t o discuss the problem, a n d w h e t h e r any i n v i t a t i o n s h a d yet
Minute 11.)
been e x t e n d e d .
I n discussion, it w a s agreed t h a t i t w a s i m p o r t a n t to avoid a n y
s u g g e s t i o n t h a t t h e g r o u p i n v i t e d to discuss t h e problem w o u l d be
i n a n y sense a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e body. I n 1942 the discussions h a d
t a k e n place w i t h a n u m b e r of M . P . ' s w h o w e r e i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e
- m a t t e r , a n d t h i s position should be m a i n t a i n e d .
I t w a s also a g r e e d t h a t i t w a s i m p o r t a n t t h a t t h e reply given
should emphasise the reservations m a d e by the L e a d e r of the H o u s e
o n the 2 n d M a r c h and, in p a r t i c u l a r , t h a t the discussions were
w i t h o u t a n y commitment.
Service P a y and
Allowances.
T h e W a r C a b i n e t agreed t h a t a reply should be given on the
following lines :—
" No, Sir. M y r i g h t hon. F r i e n d the L e a d e r of the H o u s e
suggested t h a t t h e same k i n d of i n f o r m a l discussions w h i c h
took place in 1942 m i g h t be r e p e a t e d . A r r a n g e m e n t s to give
effect to t h i s u n d e r t a k i n g , subject to t h e reservations set f o r t h
by m y r i g h t hon. F r i e n d , will be m a d e t h r o u g h the u s u a l
channels."
1
Offices of the War Cabinet,
Qth March, 1944.
S.W.
1,