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1 9 T H I S D O C U M E N T IQ T H E P R O P E R T Y OF H I S B R I T A N N I C M A J E S T Y ' 8 G O V E R N M E N T
Printed
for the War Cabinet.
January
1944.
SECRET.
Copy N o .
W . M . (44)
4th Conclusions.
W A R CABINET 4 (44).
CONCLUSIONS
of a Meeting
of the War Cabinet held at 1 0 Downing
S.W. 1, on Monday,
10th January,
1 9 4 4 , at 5 - 3 0 p.m.
Street,
Present :
T h e R i g h t H o n . C. R . A T T L E E , M . P . , D e p u t y P r i m e M i n i s t e r (in the Chair).
The R i g h t Hon. Sir JOHN ANDERSON,
The Right Hon. ANTHONY EDEN, M . P .
M . P . , Chancellor of t h e E x c h e q u e r .
S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for
Foreign
Affairs.
T h e R i g h t H o n . E R N E S T B E V I N , M . P . , The R i g h t H o n . O L I V E R L Y T T E L T O N ,
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 . , M i n i s t e r of P r o d u c t i o n .
Service. The R i g h t Hon. HERBERT MORRISON, The R i g h t Hon. LORD WOOLTON,
M i n i s t e r of R e c o n s t r u c t i o n .
AI P . , S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for t h e
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.
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 - T h e R i g h t H o n . V I S C O U N T CRANBORNE,
s e n t a t i v e of the G o v e r n m e n t of t h e
S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for D o m i n i o n
C o m m o n w e a l t h of A u s t r a l i a .
Affairs.
T h e R i g h t H o n . L . S. A M E R Y , M . P . , T h e R i g h t H o n . A . V . A L E X A N D E R ,
Secretary of S t a t e for I n d i a and.
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 .
The Right Hon. Sir J A M E S GRIGG, The
Right
Flon.
Sir ARCHIBALD
M . P . , S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for W a r .
SINCLAIR, Bt., M . P . , S e c r e t a r y of
S t a t e for A i r .
T h e R i g h t H o n . THOMAS JOHNSTON, The R i g h t H o n . Sir STAFFORD C R I P P S ,
M . P . , S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for S c o t l a n d
K.C.,' M . P . , M i n i s t e r of A i r c r a f t
(Item 6).
Production.
The R i g h t Hon. 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 (Item
The Right Hon. LORD
Paymaster-General.
6).
CHERWELL,
M r . C. J . R A D C L I F F E , K . C . .
Director-
G e n e r a l , M i n i s t r y of I n f o r m a t i o n
(Item 5).
M a r s h a l of t h e A i r Force S i r C H A R L E S
F. A . P O R T A L , Chief of t h e A i r Staff
(Items 1 - 4 ) .
T h e R i g h t H o n . R . S. H U D S O N , M . P . ,
Minister
of
Agriculture
F i s h e r i e s (Item 6).
The
Sir
ALEXANDER
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
the Imperial
(Items 1-4).
General
.-
EDWARD BRIDGES.
Lieutenant-General Sir HASTINGS L. ISMAY.
M r . L. F . B U R G I S .
[26724-2]
CADOGAN,
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 (Items 1 - 4 ) .
A d m i r a l of the F l e e t S i r A N D R E W
CUNNINGHAM, F i r s t Sea L o r d a n d
Chief of N a v a l Staff (Items 1 - 4 ) .
Secretariat
Sir
Hon.
and
Staff
W A R CABINET 4 (44).
CONTENTS.
Minute
No.
Subject.
1
N a v a l , M i l i t a r y a n d Air O p e r a t i o n s ....
Air Operations:
H o m e Theatre.
Mediterranean.
Naval Operations:
Shipping Losses.
Military Operations:
Italy.
Russia.
2
Ban
Page
....
....
17
17
Loss of ships in harbour.
8
F o r e i g n Affairs ....
....
17
4
Italy
....
Proposed publication of Long Armistice Terms.
Press
Daily Workei 's request for the Accrediting of Correspondents
to British Forces.
18
R e i n s t a t e m e n t in Civil E m p l o y m e n t
18
5
....
.....
18
y
6
....
....
....
17
Naval, Military
and Air
Operations.
(Previous
Reference:
W.M. (44) 1st
Conclusions,
Minute 1.)
Air Operations.
Home Theatre.
Mediterranean.
Naval
Operations.
Shipping
Losses.
Military
Operations.
Italy.
Russia.
W.M. 4 ( 4 4 ) .
1. T h e Chiefs of Staff r e p o r t e d the p r i n c i p a l events of the
p r e v i o u s week.
O w i n g to b a d w e a t h e r , Bomber C o m m a n d h a d only c a r r i e d o u t
one m a j o r a t t a c k , a g a i n s t S t e t t i n , w h e r e g r e a t d e v a s t a t i o n h a d been
caused. 120 M o s q u i t o sorties h a d been m a d e a g a i n s t other G e r m a n
cities.
P h o t o g r a p h s t a k e n on the 21st December showed t h a t in the
e a r l i e r a t t a c k s on B e r l i n some 3,000 acres h a d been d e v a s t a t e d a n d
enormous d a m a g e done to p r o d u c t i o n factories, public u t i l i t y
companies a n d M i n i s t r i e s a n d public b u i l d i n g s .
" C r o s s b o w " t a r g e t s h a d been a t t a c k e d in b a d w e a t h e r
conditions.
U n i t e d S t a t e s bombers h a d a t t a c k e d K i e l a n d L u d w i g s h a f e n
a n d airfields in S o u t h - W e s t F r a n c e .
Coastal C o m m a n d h a d a t t a c k e d 14 U - b o a t s . One w a s believed
s u n k a n d 5 o t h e r s d a m a g e d . E n e m y losses for the week, i n c l u d i n g
claims by t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s A i r Force, a m o u n t e d to 166 destroyed
a n d 43 p r o b a b l y destroyed. (The former figure included claims of
99 by the U n i t e d S t a t e s H e a v y Bombers.) A l l i e d losses a m o u n t e d
to 124, i n c l u d i n g 16 U n i t e d K i n g d o m a n d 54 U n i t e d S t a t e s heavy
bombers.
A i r activity in I t a l y h a d been l i m i t e d by the w e a t h e r , b u t
5,000 sorties h a d been c a r r i e d o u t a g a i n s t b a t t l e a n d s t r a t e g i c a l
t a r g e t s . I n c l u d e d in the l a t t e r w e r e the b a l l - b e a r i n g factory a t
T u r i n a n d the t o r p e d o factory a t F i u m e .
Confirmed s h i p p i n g losses d u r i n g t h e p r e v i o u s week, including"
belated r e p o r t s , a m o u n t e d to 18.153 tons.
T h r e e b l o c k a d e - r u n n e r s h a d been s u n k by U n i t e d S t a t e s forces.
E-boats h a d a t t a c k e d a convoy of 15 m e r c h a n t s h i p s off L a n d ' s
E n d on the 6 t h J a n u a r y . One e s c o r t i n g t r a w l e r a n d 3 m e r c h a n t
ships h a d been sunk.
'
W e a t h e r conditions on the I t a l i a n front h a d d e t e r i o r a t e d
considerably, b u t a n advance of 2 miles, h a d been m a d e a t S a n
V i t t o r e on a front of about 8 miles.
,
Considerable p r o g r e s s h a d been m a d e d u r i n g the previous week
by the R u s s i a n A r m y in t h e K i e v Sector, especially in t h e i r m a i n
t h r u s t t o w a r d s V i n n i t s a . A new offensive h a d resulted in t h e
c a p t u r e of K i r o v o g r a d a n d an advance of some 30 miles.
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 .
B a r l
Loss of Ships
in Harbour.
(Previous
Reference:
W.M. (43) 176th
Conclusions,
Minute 3.)
Foreign
Affairs.
(Previous
Reference:
W.M. (44) 1st
Conclusions,
Minute 3.)
2. T h e W a r C a b i n e t were given f u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n r e g a r d i n g
t h e loss of s h i p s in B a r i H a r b o u r early in December as a r e s u l t of
enemy a i r action. A record of the discussion is c o n t a i n 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 File of W a r C a b i n e t Conclusions.
'
3. The Secretary
of State for Foreign Affairs gave the W a r
C a b i n e t a n account of a t a l k w h i c h he h a d h a d w i t h M. Benes, w h o
h a d recently r e t u r n e d from Moscow.
T h i s is recorded in t h e
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.
[26724-21 1.8 4. On t h e 3 r d J a n u a r y , 1944, t h e W a r C a b i n e t h a d invited the
C h i e f s of Staff to r e p o r t w h e t h e r there w e r e still m i l i t a r y objections
to t h e p u b l i c a t i o n of the L o n g A r m i s t i c e T e r m s .
T h e W a r C a b i n e t n o w h a d before t h e m a M e m o r a n d u m by t h e
C h i e f s of Staff ( W . P . (44) 15) s t a t i n g t h a t , i n t h e i r view, on
military grounds publication a t present was undesirable.
The Chief of the Imperial
General Staff said t h a t a telegram
h a d been sent to G e n e r a l E i s e n h o w e r i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s to obtain
confirmation t h a t he w a s still opposed to p u b l i c a t i o n , b u t a reply
h a d n o t yet been received.
The Secretary
of State for Foreign Affairs s a i d t h a t three of
the objections to p u b l i c a t i o n cited by t h e C h i e f s of Staff seemed t o
h i m to be largely political, a l t h o u g h no doubt they h a d a m i l i t a r y
aspect. I n view of t h e Chiefs of S t a f f s opinion, h e would not press
for p u b l i c a t i o n a t t h i s j u n c t u r e , b u t h e t h o u g h t t h a t the p o i n t would
be pressed when P a r l i a m e n t m e t a g a i n .
T h e W a r C a b i n e t Took note of t h i s s t a t e m e n t .
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 the
S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for W a r ( W . P . (44) 7).
The Secretary
of State for War said t h a t t h e Daily
Worker
h a d p u t f o r w a r d t h e n a m e s of four c o r r e s p o n d e n t s for a c c r e d i t i n g
as c o r r e s p o n d e n t s to t h e B r i t i s h Forces. These h a d been refused
on t h e g r o u n d s of t h e i r i n d i v i d u a l u n s u i t a b i l i t y . A p o i n t h a d now
been reached a t w h i c h he t h o u g h t t h a t i t should be definitely decided
t h a t t h e Daily Worker should n o t be p e r m i t t e d t o have accredited
c o r r e s p o n d e n t s w i t h H i s M a j e s t y ' s Forces. I f a decision in t h i s
sense w a s a r r i v e d at, t h e n a s t a t e m e n t to t h i s effect should be m a d e
t o t h e Daily
Worker.
A f t e r a short discussion, t h e W a r C a b i n e t —
(1). accepted, i n p r i n c i p l e , the S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for W a r ' s
p r o p o s a l t h a t t h e Daily Worker should n o t be p e r m i t t e d
to h a v e accredited c o r r e s p o n d e n t s ;
(2) i n v i t e d t h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for W a r , i n consultation
w i t h t h e H o m e S e c r e t a r y a n d M i n i s t e r of H o m e
Security, t o f o r m u l a t e a n d s u b m i t to t h e W a r C a b i n e t
the t e r m s i n w h i c h this decision should be conveyed to
the Daily
Worker.
6. T h e W a r C a b i n e t h a d before t h e m t h e following Memo­
r a n d a on t h e R e i n s t a t e m e n t i n Civil E m p l o y m e n t B i l l —
by the H o m e S e c r e t a r y a n d M i n i s t r y of H o m e Security
( W . P . (44) 6 ) ;
by the M i n i s t e r of R e c o n s t r u c t i o n ( W P . (44) 16);
by t h e M i n i s t e r of A g r i c u l t u r e a n d Fisheries ( W . P .
(44) 17).
T h e p o i n t a t issue w a s w h e t h e r t h e r i g h t of r e i n s t a t e m e n t
u n d e r the Bill should be extended to whole-time volunteers i n t h e
Civil Defence, Police a n d F i r e Services. T h i s matter h a d been
discussed* by t h e R e c o n s t r u c t i o n C o m m i t t e e , w h i c h h a d decided
a g a i n s t such a n extension.
The Home Secretary and Minister of Home Security said t h a t
h e h a d set out t h e a r g u m e n t s i n favour of this extension i n d e t a i l
in his Memorandum. P e r h a p s the main point was that reinstate­
m e n t r i g h t s were possessed by men a n d women w h o h a d been called
u p u n d e r the N a t i o n a l Service A c t for d u t y i n Civil Defence
* R. (44j 1st Meeting.
19 W.M. 4 (44). " F o r c e s . " T o w i t h h o l d these r i g h t s from whole-time volunteers
would, h e felt sure, give rise t o b i t t e r n e s s a n d d i s a p p o i n t m e n t .
I t h a d been a r g u e d t h a t t h e extension of r e i n s t a t e m e n t r i g h t s
to whole-time volunteers in t h e Civil Defence Services w o u l d m e a n
t h a t these r i g h t s would have t o be e x t e n d e d to persons directed to
employment i n i n d u s t r y . H e d i d n o t s h a r e t h i s view, since h e
t h o u g h t t h a t p u b l i c opinion would d r a w a clear line between
i n d u s t r y a n d t h e Services (including Civil Defence).
T h e views of t h e Home Secretary a n d M i n i s t e r of H o m e
S e c u r i t y were s u p p o r t e d by the S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for S c o t l a n d a n d
the M i n i s t e r of H e a l t h .
;
The Minister
of Agriculture
and Fisheries
said that, in his
view, women w h o volunteered for t h e W o m e n ' s L a n d A r m y h a d a t
least as s t r o n g a claim as members of t h e W o m e n ' s Services a n d
Civil Defence personnel, a n d t h a t t h e r e would be s t r o n g P a r l i a ­
m e n t a r y p r e s s u r e for their inclusion i n t h e Bill.
The Minister of Reconstruction
said that reinstatement rights
were generally identified in t h e p u b l i c m i n d w i t h service in t h e
A r m e d Forces. I t w a s t r u e t h a t these r i g h t s h a d been e x t e n d e d to
the small p r o p o r t i o n of persons in Civil Defence w h o h a d been
conscripted to t h e Civil Defence Forces u n d e r t h e N a t i o n a l Service
A c t of 1941. T h i s w a s not t h e result of a n y deliberate decision of
policy, b u t a n i n c i d e n t a l consequence of t h e i r h a v i n g been called u p
u n d e r the p r o c e d u r e for call-up to t h e A r m e d Forces. T h e Recon­
s t r u c t i o n C o m m i t t e e h a d taken the view t h a t , on balance, i t would
be w r o n g , merely because r e i n s t a t e m e n t r i g h t s were enjoyed by t h i s
relatively small n u m b e r of Civil Defence personnel, to e x t e n d t h e m
to t h e whole body of volunteers in Civil Defence.
The Minister
of Labour and National Service said t h a t i t w a s
impossible to avoid some anomalies i n t h i s m a t t e r , a n d t h a t h i s
m a i n object w a s t o ensure a w o r k a b l e a r r a n g e m e n t . T h e question
of t h e Civil Defence Services h a d not been raised i n h i s discussions
w i t h i n d u s t r y on t h i s matter.
of the Exchequer
p o i n t e d o u t t h a t most
The Chancellor
members of t h e Civil Defence Services could, look to being released
w h e n t h e Avar w i t h G e r m a n y came t o a n end, a n d would therefore
have a n a d v a n t a g e as compared w i t h members of t h e Forces.
T h e Chancellor of the E x c h e q u e r d r e w a t t e n t i o n , however, to
the following cases w h i c h m i g h t arise :—
(1) A m a n m i g h t have left a p o s i t i o n i n i n d u s t r y to become a
whole-time volunteer in a Civil Defence Service. H i s
place m i g h t have been t a k e n by a m a n w h o h a d been
subsequently called up for the A r m y . U n d e r p r e s e n t
a r r a n g e m e n t s , in such a case, r e i n s t a t e m e n t r i g h t s would
a t t a c h not to the m a n who volunteered for Civil Defence
b u t to t h e m a n who took h i s place.
(2) T h e second case concerned a m a n w h o h a d left a post i n
i n d u s t r y to become a volunteer i n Civil Defence a n d h a d
l a t e r become a member of the A r m e d Forces. I n such
a case there w a s n o value in t h e r i g h t to r e i n s t a t e m e n t
in t h e last job occupied before e n t e r i n g the A r m y .
The Minister
of Labour and National
Service u n d e r t o o k to
look into these instances. H e also a g r e e d t h a t r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of
the M i n i s t r y of L a b o u r a n d N a t i o n a l Service a n d t h e T r e a s u r y
should consult together as to a n y repercussions w h i c h t h e R e i n s t a t e ­
m e n t in Civil E m p l o y m e n t Bill m i g h t have, by w a y of analogy, on
G o v e r n m e n t employment.
T h e g e n e r a l view of the W a r C a b i n e t w a s t h a t i t w a s clearly
difficult to define a satisfactory line of d e m a r c a t i o n i n r e g a r d to
r e i n s t a t e m e n t r i g h t s , and - t h a t t h e p o s i t i o n of whole-time
members of t h e Civil Defence Services w a s n o doubt somewhat
anomalous.
B u t , short of t a k i n g a w a y e x i s t i n g r i g h t s from
c o n s c r i p t s in Civil Defence " F o r c e s , " d i s c r i m i n a t i o n between
c o n s c r i p t s a n d volunteers i n C i v i l Defence could n o t be avoided
w i t h o u t c r e a t i n g o t h e r a n d more serious difficulties in other
directions.
The W a r Cabinet—
E n d o r s e d t h e view of the R e c o n s t r u c t i o n C o m m i t t e e t h a t
t h e p r o v i s i o n s of t h e R e i n s t a t e m e n t Bill should n o t be
e x t e n d e d to whole-time v o l u n t e e r s i n Civil Defence, a n d
agreed t h a t the p o s i t i o n in t h i s respect should be m a d e
clear to P a r l i a m e n t a t a n a p p r o p r i a t e stage.
Offices of the War Cabinet, S.W.
10th January,
1944.
1,
NO CIRCULATION
W.M. ( 4 4 )
4TH CONCLUSIONS. MINUTE
(10th January,
THE PRESS
1
"Daily Worker s"
Request for
A c c r e d i t i n g of
Correspondents to
British Forces
19hh
-
5-30
5
p.mv)
THE SECRETARY OP STATE FOR WAR s a i d t h a t h e
was s a t i s f i e d t h a t t o a c c r e d i t c o r r e s p o n d e n t s t o t h e
" D a i l y W o r k e r " w o u l d n o t "be c o n s i s t e n t w i t h s e c u r i t y .
The Communist P a r t y were a l r e a d y t r y i n g t o p l a n t a g e n t s
i n t h e Army a n d h a d s u c c e e d e d i n p l a n t i n g m e m b e r s o f
their party in certain very secret
organisations.
He t h o u g h t we o u g h t t o s a y q u i t e f l a t - f o o t e d l y
that
we w e r e n o t p r e p a r e d t o a l l o w t h e " D a i l y W o r k e r " t o
have accredited correspondents.
1
MR. RADGLIFFE s a i d t h a t a t t h e p r e s e n t m o m e n t
t h e M i n i s t r y h a d no o p t i o n h u t t o t r e a t t h e " D a i l y
Worker" on t h e same "basis a s any o t h e r p a p e r w i t h a
fairly considerable circulation.
The " D a i l y Worker'*s"
a p p l i c a t i o n to have an a c c r e d i t e d correspondent had
come f r o m t h e N e w s p a p e r P r o p r i e t o r s A s s o c i a t i o n , of
which A s s o c i a t i o n t h e p a p e r ' s p r o p r i e t o r s were members.
I n t h e M i n i s t r y ' s v i e w i t was n o t o p e n t o t h e m t o
d e p r i v e t h e p a p e r c o m p l e t e l y of a l l normal p r e s s
f a c i l i t i e s o n t h e g r o u n d s t h a t t h e p a p e r was n o t t o b e
trusted.
On t h e o t h e r h a n d t h e y h a v e n e v e r i n v i t e d
t h e E d i t o r of t h e " D a i l y Yforker" t o a n y M i n i s t e r i a l
Conference.
Up t i l l r e c e n t l y t h i s l a t t e r
position
had been acquiesced in;
b u t t h e "Daily Worker" had
now c o m p l a i n e d t h a t t h e y h a d n o t b e e n i n v i t e d t o t h e
"CROSSBOW" C o n f e r e n c e , h e l d b y t h e Home S e c r e t a r y a n d
M i n i s t e r o f Home S e c u r i t y .
THE SECRETARY OP STATE FOR W A R - s a i d t h a t
it
m i g h t b e r e l e v a n t i n t h i s c o n n e c t i o n t h a t he u n d e r s t o o d
t h a t G e n e r a l E i s e n h o w e r i n t e n d e d t o do a g o o d d e a l o f
work t h r o u g h P r e s s C o n f e r e n c e s .
THE HOME SECRETARY s a i d i t c o u l t e r h a p s b e
argued t h a t , having r a i s e d the ban against the "Daily
W o r k e r " , t h e p a p e r m u s t now b e g i v e n a l l
facilities.
He a g r e e d t h a t t h e p a p e r s h o u l d b e g i v e n a l l g e n e r a l
f a c i l i t i e s , but did not f e e l that the paper's
representatives should also be admitted to intimate
Ministerial Conferences.
He t h o u g h t t h a t t h e E d i t o r
would f e e l under a n o b l i g a t i o n to p a s s on any
information which he r e c e i v e d t o t h e Leaders of t h e
Communist P a r t y .
On t h e m e r i t s o f t h e c a s e h e w a s i n
agreement with t h e views e x p r e s s e d by t h e S e c r e t a r y of
S t a t e f o r War.
The q u e s t i o n was t h e n r a i s e d a s t o w h a t r e a s o n
should be given to the refusal to a c c r e d i t correspondents,
THE DEPUTY PRIME M I N I S T E R t h o u g h t t h a t a r e f e r e n c e t o
t h e Springhall case would s u f f i c e .
The s u g g e s t i o n was made t h a t i t m i g h t b e p o s s i b l e
t o a r r a n g e f o r t h e a c c r e d i t i n g o f a c o r r e s p o n d e n t whom
t h e Government was p r e p a r e d t o t r u s t .
that
THE DEPUTY PRIME M I N I S T E R , h o w e v e r ,
thought
t h i s would lead to t r o u b l e in t h e Press.
After
some f u r t h e r
discussion
t h e War C a o i n e t
­
( l ) A c c e p t e d , i n p r i n c i p l e , t h e S e c r e t a r y o f
S t a t e f o r War * s p r o p o s a l t h a t t h e " D a i l y
Worker" s h o u l d not he p e r m i t t e d t o have
accredited correspondents;
( 2 ) I n v i t e d t h e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e f o r W a r ,
i n c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h t h e M i n i s t e r o f Home
S e c u r i t y , to formulate and submit t o t h e
War C a b i n e t t h e t e r m s i n w h i c h t h i s
decision should he conveyed to the
"Daily Worker".
Offices
of
t h e War
Cabinet,
S . W. 1 .