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Catalogue Reference:CAB/65/26/44
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THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT Printed
for the War Cabinet.
S E C R E T .
.
June 1942.
'
C o p y No.
44
W.M. (42)
83rd Conclusions.
TO B E K E P T
UNDER
LOCK
A N DKEY.
I t is r e q u e s t e d t h a t special c a r e m a y be t a k e n to
e n s u r e t h e secrecy of t h i s d o c u m e n t .
WAR
CONCLUSIONS
CABINET
83 (42).
of a Meeting
of the War Cabinet held at 10 Downing
S.W. 1, on Monday,
June 29, 1942, at 5 - 3 0 P . M .
Street
t
Present:
T h e R i g h t H o n . C. R . A T T L E E , M . P . , S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for D o m i n i o n s Affairs
a n d D e p u t y 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 . Sir STAFFORD C R I P P S ,
K.C., M . P . , L o r d P r i v y Seal.
The Right Hon. Sir JOHN ANDERSON,
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 . A N T H O N Y E D E N , M . P . , T h e R i g h t H o n . O L I V E R LYTTELTON,.
Secretary
of S t a t e f o r F o r e i g n
M . P . , M i n i s t e r of P r o d u c t i o n .
Affairs.
The Right Hon. ERNEST 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
Service.
T h e following w e r e also p r e s e n t :
The
Right
H o n . S. M . B R U C E ,
A c c r e d i t e d R e p r e 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 C o m m o n w e a l t h
of A u s t r a l i a . .
T h e R i g h t H o n . Sir KINGSLEY WOOD, The R i g h t Hon. HERBERT MORRISON,
M . P . , S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e f o r t h e M . P . , Chancellor of t h e E x c h e q u e r . Home Department a n d Minister of Home Security. and
T h e R i g h t H o n . VISCOUNT CRANBORNE,
S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for t h e Colonies.
T h e 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 .
T h e R i g h t H o n . S i r J A M E S GRIGG,.
M . P . , S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for W a r .
The
The Right Hon. HUGH
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
S e c r e t a r y , of S t a t e f o r B u r m a .
Right
SINCLAIR,
Hon.
Bt,
Sir
M.P.,
ARCHIBALD
Secretary
of
S t a t e for A i r .
T h e Right Hon. LORD LEATHERS,
M i n i s t e r of W a r T r a n s p o r t (Item 8).
President
(Item 8).
DALTON,
of t h e B o a r d
of
M.P.,
Trade
The R i g h t H o n . LORD WOOLTON,
M i n i s t e r of Food (Item 8).
T h e R i g h t H o n . BRENDAN BRACKEN, T h e R i g h t H o n . S i r W I L L I A M J O W I T T ,
K.C..
M.P.,
Paymaster-General
M . P . , M i n i s t e r of I n f o r m a t i o n . (Item 8). . [24035] B
The
Hon.
Sir
ALEXANDER
Admiral
CADOGAN,
of
the Fleet
Sir
DUDLEY
P e r m a n e n t U n d e r - S e e r e t a r y of S t a t e
; f o r F o r e i g n Affairs.
P O U N D , F i r s t Sea L o r d a n d C h i e f of
A i r Chief M a r s h a l S i r CHARLES F . A.
G e n e r a l S i r A L A N B R O O K E , C h i e f of t h e
P O R T A L , C h i e f of t h e A i r
N a v a l Staff.
.
I m p e r i a l G e n e r a l Staff.
Staff.
Secretariat:
Sir EDWARD BRIDGES.
Major-General Sir HASTINGS ISMAY.
Mr. NORMAN BROOK.
Mr. W . D . WILKINSON.
WAR
C A B I N E T 83 ( 4 2 ) .
CONTENTS.
Minute
So.
1
Subject.
Page
Naval, Military a n d Air Operations.,..
....
105
....
105
Air operations;
Home Theatre.
Malta.
Libya.
Naval operations.
Military operations:
Russia.
Libya.
2
France
....
....
Relations with Vichy Government.
French Fleet at Alexandria.
3
Air Raids
106
Casualties and damage.
4
F o r e i g n Affairs
106
Interviews with distinguished foreigners.
Proposed visit to this country by our Ambassador to the U.S.S.R.
Imperial Policy Group.
5
T h e Baltic States
....
106
. Status of Representatives in this country.
6
Middle E a s t
....
....
....
106
....
107
Evacuation of Civilian Personnel.
7
Malta
....
Evacuation of families of Service Personnel.
8
P o s t - w a r Relief
9
United States Forces
....
....
Proposed Club in London for Officers.
....
107
109
Naval, Military
and Air
Operations.
(Previous
Reference:
W.M. (42) 79th
Conclusions,
Minute 1.)
Air Operations.
Home Theatre.
Malta.
Libya.
Naval
Operations.
Military
Operations.
Russia
Libya.
1. T h e 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 a s t week.
T h e p r i n c i p a l a i r o p e r a t i o n s of t h e week h a d been r a i d s o n
E m d e n o n t h e 2 2 n d J u n e , a n d on B r e m e n o n t h e 2 5 t h a n d 2 9 t h J u n e
( t h e first by over 1,000 bombers). T h e E m d e n r a i d h a d been v e r y
effective. T h e o p e r a t i o n s a g a i n s t B r e m e n h a d been h i n d e r e d b y
t h i c k cloud, b u t t h e Focke W u l f W o r k s h a d been h i t .
T o t a l enemy losses for t h e week h a d a m o u n t e d t o 26 m a c h i n e s
for c e r t a i n a n d 1 probable, w i t h 15 d a m a g e d .
W e h a d lost
14 fighters, 61 bombers, 9 C o a s t a l C o m m a n d a i r c r a f t a n d 2 A r m y
Co-operation aircraft.
T h e e n e m y h a d lost 20 m a c h i n e s for c e r t a i n a n d 2 probable,
w i t h 12 d a m a g e d .
O u r t o t a l losses h a d been 3 destroyed a n d
9 d a m a g e d i n t h e a i r , w i t h 5 destroyed a n d 4 d a m a g e d on t h e
g r o u n d . A i r c r a f t from M a l t a h a d scored h i t s on t h r e e or f o u r
enemy m e r c h a n t vessels.
A t t a c k s h a d been c a r r i e d o u t on B e n g h a z i a n d T o b r u k . T h e r e
h a d been i n t e n s e a c t i v i t y over t h e W e s t e r n Desert. T o t a l e n e m y
losses for t h e w e e k w e r e r e p o r t e d a s 16 m a c h i n e s for c e r t a i n a g a i n s t
25 B r i t i s h m a c h i n e s , b u t these figures w e r e probably incomplete.
.
A s s u m i n g t h a t t w o overdue vessels w e r e lost, A l l i e d s h i p p i n g
losses i n t h e p r e v i o u s seven d a y s w o u l d a m o u n t to 107,000 t o n s . I n
a d d i t i o n , t h e r e w e r e b e l a t e d r e p o r t s of 37,000 tons s u n k i n t h e F a r
East.
P a r t i c u l a r s w e r e given of t h e a r r a n g e m e n t s for a d d i t i o n a l
convoys m a d e by t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s N a v y .
.."
On the Russian front there were indications that the operations
s o u t h w a r d s from K u r s k w e r e t h e o p e n i n g s t a g e s of a m a j o r G e r m a n
offensive, t h o u g h w e still h a d no i n f o r m a t i o n p o i n t i n g to a concen­
t r a t i o n of G e r m a n s t r e n g t h i n t h a t sector on a scale c o m p a r a b l e
w i t h t h a t of l a s t y e a r ' s offensive.
I n f o r m a t i o n w a s given r e g a r d i n g t h e fighting w h i c h h a d been
t a k i n g place o n t h e M e r s a M a t r u h f r o n t since t h e 2 7 t h J u n e .
A
G e r m a n r e p o r t c l a i m e d t h a t they h a d c a p t u r e d M e r s a M a t r u h j
t a k i n g 6,000 p r i s o n e r s a n d k n o c k i n g o u t 36 t a n k s .
P a r t i c u l a r s w e r e given of t h e a r m o u r e d forces e n g a g e d on b o t h
sides a n d t h e r e i n f o r c e m e n t s now a r r i v i n g i n E g y p t a n d expected
t o a r r i v e in t h e n e a r f u t u r e .
The W a r Cabinet were informed t h a t reports were beginning
t o c i r c u l a t e overseas t h a t G e n e r a l A u c h i n l e c k h a d himself a s s u m e d
c o n t r o l of t h e E i g h t h A r m y , a n d t h a t , i n t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s , t h e
P r i m e M i n i s t e r t h o u g h t t h a t t h i s fact should now be m a d e p u b l i c ,
a n d t h a t he t h e r e f o r e p r o p o s e d to m a k e a n a n n o u n c e m e n t to this
effect i n t h e H o u s e of C o m m o n s on t h e following m o r n i n g .
:
The War C a b i n e t A p p r o v e d t h i s suggestion, a n d asked t h a t a t e l e g r a m
should be sent to G e n e r a l A u c h i n l e c k i n f o r m i n g h i m of t h e
proposed announcement.
France.
Relations with
Vichy
Government.
2. A d i s c u s s i o n took place, w h i c h is recorded i n t h e S e c r e t a r y ' ?
S t a n d a r d F i l e of W a r C a b i n e t Conclusions.
French Fleet at
Alexandria.
(Previous
Reference:
W.M. (42) 63rd
Conclusions,
Minute 2.)'
[24035]
B
2
Air Raids.
Casualties and
Damage.
(Previous
Reference:
W.M. (42) 79th
Conclusions,
Minute 3.)
3. The Home Secretary
and Minister
of Home Security
gave
a s u m m a r y of t h e d a m a g e inflicted by e n e m y a i r a t t a c k d u r i n g t h e
p a s t week.
T h e r e h a d been a s h a r p a t t a c k on N o r w i c h on F r i d a y n i g h t ;
a n d o n S a t u r d a y a n d S u n d a y n i g h t s W e s t o n - s u p e r - M a r e l i a d been
t h e m a i n objective. T h e r e w e r e v a r i o u s m i l i t a r y t a r g e t s i n W e s t o n ,
b u t t h e m a i n d a m a g e h a d been to p u b l i c a n d r e s i d e n t i a l b u i l d i n g s .
T h e W a r C a b i n e t took n o t e of t h i s s t a t e m e n t .
Foreign Affairs.
4
The Foreign
Secretary
said that, when Ministers were
Interviews with a s k e d t o receive d i s t i n g u i s h e d f o r e i g n e r s v i s i t i n g t h i s c o u n t r y , i t
distinguished
w o u l d be a convenience if, w h e r e p r a c t i c a b l e , t h e F o r e i g n Office
foreigners.
could be c o n s u l t e d in a d v a n c e . T h e y w e r e often i n a p o s i t i o n to give
advice o r i n f o r m a t i o n w h i c h w o u l d assist t h e M i n i s t e r concerned.
H e asked t h a t , i n a n y event, M i n i s t e r s s h o u l d l e t h i m h a v e a b r i e f
account of w h a t took p l a c e a t such i n t e r v i e w s .
The W a r Cabinet approved this suggestion a n d invited
t h e F o r e i g n S e c r e t a r y to b r i n g t h e m a t t e r t o t h e n o t i c e of
Ministers generally.
The Foreign
Secretary
said t h a t o u r A m b a s s a d o r to t h e
Proposed visit to
this country by U . S . S . R . h a d e x p r e s s e d a d e s i r e t o come t o t h i s c o u n t r y on a s h o r t
our Ambassador visit. H e t h o u g h t i t d e s i r a b l e t h a t t h e A m b a s s a d o r s h o u l d do so,
to the U.S.S.R. as he h a d n o t been h o m e since he h a d been a p p o i n t e d A m b a s s a d o r
t o C h i n a i n 1938.
T h e W a r C a b i n e t a g r e e d t h a t , subject t o t h e P r i m e
M i n i s t e r s a p p r o v a l , it w o u l d be c o n v e n i e n t if a r r a n g e ­
m e n t s could be m a d e for S i r A r c h i b a l d C l a r k K e r r to come
to London a t an early date.
Imperial Policy
Group.
The Foreign Secretary d r e w a t t e n t i o n t o r e c e n t p u b l i c a t i o n s of
t h e I m p e r i a l P o l i c y G r o u p , w h i c h w e r e n o t c a l c u l a t e d to i m p r o v e
o u r r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e U . S . S . R . T h e a c t i v i t i e s of t h e G r o u p w o u l d
h a v e to be w a t c h e d .
T h e W a r C a b i n e t took n o t e of t h i s s t a t e m e n t .
The Baltic
States.
5. 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
F o r e i g n S e c r e t a r y ( W . P . (42) 269), i n w h i c h h e p r o p o s e d t h a t , i n
o r d e r t o s a t i s f y t h e Soviet G o v e r n m e n t , t h e n a m e s of t h e B a l t i c
Status of
Representatives M i n i s t e r s a n d t h e i r Staffs s h o u l d be removed f r o m t h e D i p l o m a t i c
in this country. L i s t , b u t s h o u l d be s h o w n i n a n A n n e x a s still p o s s e s s i n g a d i p l o ­
matic character.
(Previous
Reference:
W.M. (42) 56th
Conclusions,
Minute 9.)
Middle East.
Evacuation of
Civilian
Personnel.
The W a r Cabinet approved this suggestion.
6. The Foreign Secretary
said that our Ambassador in Cairo
h a d m a d e e n q u i r i e s a s t o w h e t h e r a r r a n g e m e n t s s h o u l d be m a d e for
e v a c u a t i n g c i v i l i a n p e r s o n n e l from E g y p t if t h e m i l i t a r y s i t u a t i o n
d e t e r i o r a t e d . H e t h o u g h t t h a t t h e A m b a s s a d o r s h o u l d discuss w i t h
t h e M i n i s t e r of S t a t e w h a t policy s h o u l d b e followed i n t h i s m a t t e r
a n d w h a t d e t a i l e d a r r a n g e m e n t s s h o u l d be m a d e , a n d t h a t t h e l a t t e r
s h o u l d be a u t h o r i s e d t o d e t e r m i n e t h e s e issues o n b e h a l f of t h e W a r
Cabinet.
The W a r Cabinet invited the Foreign Secretary to instruct
the Ambassador accordingly.
The Foreign Secretary
s a i d t h a t our A m b a s s a d o r a t B a g d a d
h a d r a i s e d q u e s t i o n s a b o u t t h e e v a c u a t i o n of c i v i l i a n personnel
from I r a q .
T h e W a r C a b i n e t a g r e e d t h a t n o action should be t a k e n "
t o e v a c u a t e c i v i l i a n s from I r a q .
Malta.
Evacuation of
families of
Service
personnel.
7. The Secretary
of State for the Colonies s a i d t h a t t h e
Service D e p a r t m e n t s f a v o u r e d t h e compulsory e v a c u a t i o n of t h e
f a m i l i e s of B r i t i s h Service personnel in M a l t a , a n d i t w a s u n d e r ­
stood t h a t t h e G o v e r n o r w a s now p r o c e e d i n g t o p u t such a scheme
i n t o o p e r a t i o n a s a n d w h e n t r a n s p o r t facilities became available.
T h e v i e w of t h e Colonial Office w a s t h a t , if n o c o r r e s p o n d i n g
f a c i l i t i e s w e r e offered for t h e families of M a l t e s e personnel, t h e
effect on m o r a l e i n t h e I s l a n d w o u l d be u n f o r t u n a t e b o t h now a n d
a f t e r t h e w a r . F o r t h i s reason h e w o u l d p r e f e r t h a t all these
e v a c u a t i o n a r r a n g e m e n t s should be on a v o l u n t a r y basis, or, f a i l i n g
t h i s , t h a t some facilities should be offered for t h e v o l u n t a r y
e v a c u a t i o n of f a m i l i e s of M a l t e s e personnel.
I n discussion, i t a p p e a r e d t h a t t h e r e w a s n o m e a n s of
e v a c u a t i n g c i v i l i a n s except by air, a n d t h a t only very s m a l l n u m b e r s
could be e v a c u a t e d by t h i s m e a n s w i t h o u t m a k i n g i n c r e a s e d d e m a n d s
o n the I s l a n d ' s stocks of a v i a t i o n s p i r i t .
I n these c i r c u m s t a n c e s , a n d t a k i n g i n t o account the difficulty
of a l l o t t i n g p a s s a g e s , t h e r i g h t course w a s to discontinue t h e process
of e v a c u a t i o n , save for a n y very special cases w h i c h could be justified
on g r o u n d s of benefit to t h e w a r effort. T h e G o v e r n o r should also
be i n f o r m e d t h a t , if a t a l a t e r s t a g e e v a c u a t i o n w a s resumed, i n t h e
o p i n i o n of t h e W a r C a b i n e t it could n o t be r e s t r i c t e d t o t h e
d e p e n d a n t s of B r i t i s h personnel.
The W a r C a b i n e t A u t h o r i s e d t h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for t h e Colonies to
a r r a n g e for t h e d e s p a t c h o f ' a t e l e g r a m to t h e G o v e r n o r of
M a l t a on t h e lines of " X . "
Post-War Relief.
8.
(Previous
Reference:
W.M. (42) 65th
Conclusions,
Minute 2.)
(i) A J o i n t M e m o r a n d u m ( W . P . (42) 267) 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, t h e P r e s i d e n t of the B o a r d of
T r a d e a n d t h e P a y m a s t e r - G e n e r a l s u g g e s t i n g t e r m s of
reference for t h e g u i d a n c e of S i r F r e d e r i c k L e i t h - R o s s
i n h i s f o r t h c o m i n g discussions i n W a s h i n g t o n on P o s t W a r Relief.
(ii) A M e m o r a n d u m by t h e Chancellor of t h e E x c h e q u e r
( W . P . (42) 273) c o m m e n t i n g on these p r o p o s e d t e r m s of
reference.
T h e W a r C a b i n e t h a d before t h e m —
(a) T h e first p o i n t d e a l t w i t h i n discussion w a s w h e t h e r we
should a g r e e t o t h e p r o p o s a l t h a t t h e E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e should
be confined t o r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of t h e f o u r G o v e r n m e n t s - ^ G r e a t
Britain, America, the U.S.S.R. and China.
Mr. Bruce s a i d t h a t t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h Government, a f t e r full
discussion, h a d been p r e p a r e d to acquiesce i n t h e p r o p o s a l t h a t t h e
D o m i n i o n s s h o u l d n o t be r e p r e s e n t e d on t h e E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e ,
o n t w o g r o u n d s : F i r s t , t h a t , if t h e D o m i n i o n s w e r e invited, all
o t h e r G o v e r n m e n t s w o u l d i n s i s t o n t h e i r r i g h t t o be r e p r e s e n t e d .
I n p a r t i c u l a r , t h e c l a i m of t h e A r g e n t i n e w o u l d be difficult to
resist, a s t h e A r g e n t i n e w a s a p r o d u c i n g c o u n t r y w h i c h would be
expected t o c o n t r i b u t e . Secondly, t h a t t h e body r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of
t h e f o u r G o v e r n m e n t s w o u l d p r o b a b l y only a c t a s a d i r e c t i n g
a u t h o r i t y , a n d t h a t t h e a c t u a l w o r k w o u l d be u n d e r t a k e n by o t h e r
bodies, u p o n w h i c h t h e D o m i n i o n s w o u l d be r e p r e s e n t e d .
The W a r Cabinet were informed t h a t the C a n a d i a n Govern­
m e n t h a d asked to be r e p r e s e n t e d a t t h e d i s c u s s i o n s in W a s h i n g t o n .
T h e g e n e r a l view of t h e W a r C a b i n e t w a s t h a t t h e b a l a n c e of
a d v a n t a g e lay i n t h e E x e c u t i v e C o m m i t t e e w h i c h w a s t o be set u p
a c c o r d i n g to t h e A m e r i c a n p r o p o s a l s , a f t e r a C o n f e r e n c e of all t h e
U n i t e d N a t i o n s , b e i n g confined t o r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of t h e f o u r
G o v e r n m e n t s r e f e r r e d t o ; b u t t h a t t h e p o i n t w o u l d h a v e to be p u t
t o t h e C a n a d i a n G o v e r n m e n t before w e c o u l d s a y t h a t w e a g r e e d to­
t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n on t h e C o m m i t t e e b e i n g so confined.
r
(b) I n r e p l y t o t h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for W a r , i t w a s a g r e e d
t h a t the p r o b l e m of h a n d l i n g p o s t - w a r relief, t o be d e a l t w i t h a t
t h e W a s h i n g t o n Conference, d i d n o t i n c l u d e t h e p r o b l e m o f
v i c t u a l l i n g , d u r i n g t h e w a r , t e r r i t o r i e s w h i c h m i g h t be reoccupied
by t h e A l l i e s as a r e s u l t of m i l i t a r y o p e r a t i o n s .
(c) D i s c u s s i o n followed on t h e t e r m s of t h e d r a f t i n s t r u c t i o n s
to be sent t o S i r F r e d e r i c k L e i t h - R o s s .
The Foreign Secretary
indicated various passages in the draft
i n s t r u c t i o n s w h i c h , i n h i s view, a d e q u a t e l y s a f e g u a r d e d t h e i n t e r e s t s
of t h i s c o u n t r y .
The Foreign Secretary added t h a t his intention was that
S i r F r e d e r i c k L e i t h - R o s s should n o t e n t e r i n t o a n y definite c o m m i t ­
m e n t s i n W a s h i n g t o n , but s h o u l d b r i n g b a c k a p r o j e c t f o r
consideration by H i s Majesty's Government.
The Chancellor
of the Exchequer
g a v e h i s r e a s o n s for w i s h i n g
v a r i o u s modifications t o be m a d e i n t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s , i n o r d e r t o
avoid h e a v y financial c o m m i t m e n t s . H e also t h o u g h t t h a t w e o u g h t
n o t to p l e d g e ourselves a t t h i s s t a g e t o t h e m a i n t e n a n c e of r a t i o n i n g
a n d other c o n t r o l s a f t e r t h e w a r .
T h e g e n e r a l view of t h e W a r C a b i n e t w a s i n f a v o u r of t h e
d e s p a t c h of i n s t r u c t i o n s to S i r F r e d e r i c k L e i t h - R o s s o n the b a s i s
of t h e d r a f t i n s t r u c t i o n s c o n t a i n e d i n t h e F o r e i g n S e c r e t a r y ' s
M e m o r a n d u m , s u b j e c t t o t h e a m e n d m e n t s set o u t below.
T h e W a r C a b i n e t ' s C o n c l u s i o n s w e r e a s follows :—
(1) Procedure.—The
S e c r e t a r i e s of S t a t e for D o m i n i o n Affairs
a n d F o r e i g n Affairs u n d e r t o o k to see t h e H i g h C o m m i s ­
s i o n e r for C a n a d a o n t h e f o l l o w i n g d a y , a n d t o e x p l a i n
to h i m t h e r e a s o n s i n f a v o u r of l i m i t i n g t h e discussions
a t W a s h i n g t o n t o r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of t h e f o u r G o v e r n ­
ments. Subject to the C a n a d i a n Government acquiescing
i n t h e p r o p o s a l , S i r F r e d e r i c k L e i t h - R o s s s h o u l d be
informed t h a t he could say t h a t we agreed t h a t t h e
d i s c u s s i o n s s h o u l d be sO l i m i t e d .
( 2 ) Amendments
to the draft
instructions.
(i) P a r a g r a p h 3 s h o u l d be a m e n d e d (on t h e lines of
p a r t of t h e r e v i s i o n p r o p o s e d by t h e C h a n c e l l o r
of t h e E x c h e q u e r in h i s M e m o r a n d u m ) in o r d e r
to make clear the distinction between the physical
or s u p p l y a s p e c t of t h e p r o b l e m a n d t h e
financial
aspect.
( T h e M i n i s t e r s concerned u n d e r t o o k to settle t h e
necessary amendments.)
(ii) T h e p a s s a g e a b o u t S h i p p i n g s t a r t i n g on p a g e 2 ,
l i n e 9, s h o u l d r e a d as follows :—
-
" H e s h o u l d say t h a t H i s M a j e s t y ' s G o v e r n - ;
m e n t a r e r e a d y t o h e l p to t h e fullest e x t e n t of
t h e i r a b i l i t y as r e g a r d s s u p p l i e s a n d s h i p p i n g .
I t will, however, be n e c e s s a r y to c o n t i n u e t h e pool
of s h i p p i n g of a l l the U n i t e d N a t i o n s if t h e life
of t h e i r peoples is to be m a i n t a i n e d . H e should
therefore point out . . . . "
(Hi) I t w a s decided n o t to m a k e a n y a m e n d m e n t t o
d i s t i n g u i s h between c o n t r i b u t i o n s in food a n d
raw materials.
(3) T h e l a s t p a r a g r a p h of t h e d r a f t f o r m u l a should r e a d a s
follows :—
' ' A s p a r t of t h e common p l a n , t h e y w i l l be p r e p a r e d
t o c o n t i n u e i n t h i s c o u n t r y , a f t e r t h e e n d of hostilities,
a system of r a t i o n i n g of food a n d c l o t h i n g a n d o t h e r
s u i t a b l e m e a s u r e s of control over e s s e n t i a l commodities
so long as t h e a v a i l a b l e s u p p l i e s a r e n o t sufficient t o meet
t h e u r g e n t n e e d s of A l l i e d c o u n t r i e s w h i c h h a v e r e g a i n e d
their freedom."
(4) I t w a s c o n t e m p l a t e d t h a t t h e f o r m u l a w o u l d be announced,
i n t h e first i n s t a n c e , by M i n i s t e r s in t h e U n i t e d
Kingdom.
(5) T h e F o r e i g n S e c r e t a r y w a s a u t h o r i s e d to d e s p a t c h t o
S i r F r e d e r i c k L e i t n - R o s s t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s set o u t in
p a r a g r a p h s 1-4 of W . P . (42) 267, embodying the a m e n d ­
m e n t s set o u t i n Conclusion (2) above.
United States
Forces.
Proposed Club
in London for
Officers.
9. The Deputy
Prime Minister
informed the W a r Cabinet
t h a t i t w a s p r o p o s e d t h a t H i s M a j e s t y ' s G o v e r n m e n t should p r o v i d e
a c c o m m o d a t i o n i n L o n d o n t o enable a C l u b to be r u n for A m e r i c a n
Officers. T h e G o v e r n m e n t w o u l d p r o v i d e t h e b u i l d i n g , b u t t h e Club
w o u l d be r u n a n d a d m i n i s t e r e d by t h e A m e r i c a n R e d Cross.
T h e W a r C a b i n e t i n d i c a t e d t h e i r g e n e r a l a p p r o v a l of t h i s
scheme.
Great
George Street, S.W.
June 29, 1942.
1,