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Catalogue Reference:CAB/65/41/10
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THIS DOCUMENT IS T H E PROPERTY OF H I S BRITANNIC MAJESTY'8 GOVERNMENT
Printed
for the War Cabinet.
January
1944.
Copy N o .
SECRET.
W.M. (44)
10th Conclusions.
W A R C A B I N E T 10 ( 4 4 ) .
CONCLUSIONS
of a Meeting of the War Cabinet held at 1 0 Downing
S.W. 1 , on Monday, 2£th January,
1 9 4 4 , at 6 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 . , T h e R i g h t H o n . A N T H O N Y E D E N , M . P . ,
S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for
Foreign
L o r d P r e s i d e n t of the Council.
Affairs.
The Right Hon. Sir JOHN ANDERSON, The Right Hon. ERNEST BEVIN, M.P.,
M . P . , Chancellor of t h e E x c h e q u e r .
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.
The R i g h t H o n . OLIVER LYTTELTON, The R i g h t H o n . HERBERT MORRISON,
M . P . , M i n i s t e r of P r o d u c t i o n .
M . P . , Secretary 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
Home Security.
The Right
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 . T h e following w e r e 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 t h e 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 O R D " BEAVERBROOK, T h e R i g h t H o n . L . S. A M E R Y , M . P . ,
L o r d P r i v y Seal.
S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for I n d i a a n d
S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for B u r m a .
The R i g h t Hon. A . V . ALEXANDER, The R i g h t Hon. Sir J A M E S GRIGG,
M . P . , F i r s t L o r d of t h e A d m i r a l t y .
M . P . , S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for W a r .
The R i g h t
H o n . S i r A R C H I B A L D T h e R i g h t H o n . Sir STAFFORD C R I P P S ,
SINCLAIR, Bt., M . P . i S e c r e t a r y of
K.C., M . P . , M i n i s t e r of A i r c r a f t
S t a t e for A i r .
Production.
M.P.,
T h e R i g h t H o n . R. S. H U D S O N , M . P . ,
P r e s i d e n t of t h e B o a r d of T r a d e
(Item 5 ) .
The 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 5).
Minister
of
Agriculture
and
F i s h e r i e s (Item 5 ) .
Colonel
the Right
Hon. J . J .
L L E W E L L I N , M . P . , M i n i s t e r of Food
(Item 5 ) .
M a j o r the R i g h t H o n . G. L L O Y D
GEORGE, M . P . , M i n i s t e r of F u e l a n d
P o w e r (Item 5 ) .
The
R i g h t Hon.
H U G H DALTON,
The Right Hon. LORD PORTAL, Minister
of W o r k s (Item 5 ) .
The
Right
Hon.
LORD
CHERWELL,
Paymaster-General.
The
Hon.
Sir
ALEXANDER
CADOGAN,
P e r m a n e n t TJnder-Secretary 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 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.
M r . C. J . R A D C L I F F E , K . C . ,
F i e l d - M a r s h a l Sir ALAN BROOKE, Chief
of t h e I m p e r i a l G e n e r a l Staff.
Secretariat:
Sir EDWARD BRIDGES.
Lieutenant-General Sir HASTINGS L. ISMAY.
Sir GILBERT LAITHWAITE.
M r . L. F . B U R G I S .
[26817^2]
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 4 ) .
A d m i r a l of the Fleet S i r A N D R E W
CUNNINGHAM, F i r s t S e a L o r d a n d
Chief of N a v a l Staff.
&
W A R C A B I N E T 10 ( 4 4 ) .
CONTENTS.
Minute
No.
1
Subject.
Naval, Military a n d Air Operations
Air Operations:
H o m e Theatre.
Mediterranean.
Pacific.
Naval Operations:
Mediterranean.
South-East Asia.
Military Operations:
Italy.
Russia.
Page
45
2
Air Raids
Casualties and Damage.
45
3
F o r e i g n Affairs
Argentina. .
Russia.
Japanese Atrocities.
Italy.
46
4
"Overlord"
Security Arrangements.
46
5
P r e p a r a t i o n s for " O v e r l o r d " .
47
N a s a l , Military
and Air
Operations.
(Previous
Reference:
W.M. (44) 7th
Conclusions,
Minute 1.)
Air. Operations.
Home Theatre.
Mediterranean.
Pacific.
Naval
Operations.
Mediterranean.
South-East
Asia.
Military
Operations.
Italy.
Russia.
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 the
p r e v i o u s week.
Bomber C o m m a n d h a d m a d e heavy a t t a c k s on B e r l i n a n d
Magdeburg.
Coastal C o m m a n d h a d a t t a c k e d two U - b o a t s , possibly
d a m a g i n g one. Off N o r w a y one m e r c h a n t s h i p h a d been torpedoed
a n d others h i t .
" C r o s s b o w " t a r g e t s h a d also been a t t a c k e d by our own a n d
U n i t e d S t a t e s forces.
E n e m y losses for t h e week, i n c l u d i n g claims by the U n i t e d
S t a t e s A i r Forces, a m o u n t e d to 41 destroyed.
Allied losses
a m o u n t e d to 106, i n c l u d i n g 91 R . A . F . bombers.'
10,300 sorties h a d been flown, 97 per cent, on t a r g e t s affecting
the l a n d battle. E n e m y sorties a m o u n t e d to 850. On the previous
S a t u r d a y , w h e n the l a n d i n g a r o u n d A n z i o w a s t a k i n g place,
2,000 sorties h a d been flown.
E n e m y losses a m o u n t e d to 34 compared to 40 A l l i e d a i r c r a f t .
Seven large enemy m e r c h a n t ships a n d 28 smaller ones h a d
been claimed' sunk.
T h e r e h a d been no s h i p p i n g losses nor belated r e p o r t s d u r i n g
the previous week. T h e confirmed losses for J a n u a r y therefore
r e m a i n e d at 35,617 tons. D u r i n g the m o n t h 3 U - b o a t s h a d been
s u n k a n d 2 p r o b a b l y sunk.
N a v a l forces h a d o p e r a t e d in conjunction w i t h t h e l a n d i n g n e a r
Anzio.
T h e w e a t h e r h a d d e t e r i o r a t e d somewhat, b u t i t w a s
expected t h a t the facilities of t h e p o r t of A n z i o would prove
adequate.
T h e s i n k i n g of a J a p a n e s e cruiser by one of our s u b m a r i n e s off
P e n a n g h a d been confirmed. T h i s s u b m a r i n e , the Tally-Ho,
had
also s u n k a m e r c h a n t s h i p .
T h e Allied l a n d i n g on either side of t h e p o r t of A n z i o w a s
described. So far, the o p e r a t i o n h a d proceeded satisfactorily, a n d
t h e r e w a s no doubt t h a t the enemy h a d been s u r p r i s e d . T h e exact
s t r e n g t h of the enemy forces in t h i s a r e a w a s not k n o w n , b u t h i s
m a i n reserves h a d been d r a w n i n t o t h e b a t t l e f u r t h e r south.
V i g o r o u s offensive action h a d been t a k e n by B r i t i s h , U n i t e d S t a t e s
a n d F r e n c h troops on the F i f t h A r m y front. Some A m e r i c a n forces
w h i c h h a d crossed the R i v e r G a r i g l i a n o in front of Cassino h a d
become isolated, a n d the enemy h a d t a k e n some 500 p r i s o n e r s . B u t
n e a r e r to the sea t h e r i v e r h a d been crossed to a considerable depth,
a n d our p o s i t i o n s held a g a i n s t heavy c o u n t e r - a t t a c k s .
M i l d w e a t h e r conditions in R u s s i a h a d i n t e r f e r e d w i t h
o p e r a t i o n s except in the N o r t h . T h e R u s s i a n offensives a r o u n d
L e n i n g r a d h a d g r e a t l y improved the s i t u a t i o n i n t h a t area. F u r t h e r
S o u t h t h e R u s s i a n s h a d m a d e a considerable a d v a n c e from Mosyr.
I n the D n i e p e r B e n d G e r m a n c o u n t e r - a t t a c k s h a d only resulted i n
small g a i n s of g r o u n d n e a r V i n n i t s a a n d U m a n .
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 .
2.
Air Raids.
The Home
Secretary
and Minister
of Home
Security
said
t h a t on the n i g h t of the 2 1 s t / 2 2 n d J a n u a r y 80 bombers a n d
Casualties and
12 fighter-bombers h a d been used. T h i s w a s t h e l a r g e s t force t o
Damage.
a t t a c k l a n d t a r g e t s i n t h i s c o u n t r y in a n y one n i g h t since the
(Previous
2 9 t h / 3 0 t h J u l y , 1942. A b o u t 30 enemy a i r c r a f t h a d p e n e t r a t e d t o
Reference:
W.M. (43) 151st the L o n d o n a r e a . T h e a t t a c k h a d been very w i d e s p r e a d , a n d , while
t h e r e h a d been a n u m b e r of incidents, the d a m a g e h a d n o t been ol
Conclusions,
a serious n a t u r e . T h e casualties for t h e whole c o u n t r y h a d been
Minute 2.)
28 killed a n d 106 seriously i n j u r e d .
The W a r CabinetsTook note of t h i s s t a t e m e n t .
26817-2] Foreign Affairs.
Argentina. (Previous Reference: W.M. (44) 7th
Conclusions,
Minute 3.)
Russia.
3. The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs r e p o r t e d to t h e
W a r C a b i n e t t h e i a t e s t development i n connection w i t h r e l a t i o n s
w i t h t h e A r g e n t i n e . A s a r e s u l t of t h e a r r e s t of a G e r m a n agent,
t h e a t t i t u d e of the A r g e n t i n e G o v e r n m e n t t o w a r d s t h e A x i s h a d
very g r e a t l y stiffened, a n d t h e f u t u r e r e l a t i o n s w i t h G e r m a n y w e r e
likely to be decided in the n e x t t w o or t h r e e d a y s . I n these circum­
stances, M r . Cordell H u l l w a s s u s p e n d i n g all a c t i o n for t h e p r e s e n t .
The Prime Minister
i n f o r m e d t h e W a r C a b i n e t t h a t he h a d
t h o u g h t i t well to t e l e g r a p h p e r s o n a l l y to P r e m i e r S t a l i n on t w o
or t h r e e issues t h a t h a d recently a r i s e n i n t h e field of r e l a t i o n s w i t h
R u s s i a a n d to m a k e o u r p o i n t of view i n r e g a r d to t h e m clear. H e
h a d asked h i m to receive S i r A . C l a r k K e r r on h i s r e t u r n to Moscow
a n d allow t h e A m b a s s a d o r to give h i m t h e fuller b a c k g r o u n d . T h e
P r i m e M i n i s t e r r e a d to t h e W a r C a b i n e t t h e t e x t of h i s message.
The W a r
Cabinet—
Took note of the P r i m e M i n i s t e r s s t a t e m e n t a n d endorsed
t h e t e r m s of his m e s s a g e . ^
Japanese
The Secretary
of State for Foreign Affairs
r e f e r r e d to recent
Atrocities.
t e l e g r a m s s h o w i n g t h a t t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s G o v e r n m e n t h a d decided
(Previous
on i m m e d i a t e p u b l i c a t i o n of a s t a t e m e n t on J a p a n e s e a t r o c i t i e s .
H e felt t h a t w e m u s t conform, a n d w a s c i r c u l a t i n g a d r a f t p a p e r
Reference:
H e w o u l d welcome a n y c o m m e n t s as soon as
W.M. (43) 147th t o h i s colleagues.
possible.
Conclusions,
Minute 3.)
The Prime Minister s a i d t h a t he f a v o u r e d b r i n g i n g o u t facts,
a n d d i d not feel t h a t t h e r e a c t i o n s of t h i s p u b l i c i t y on J a p a n e s e
t r e a t m e n t of o u r p r i s o n e r s w e r e likely to be bad.
Italv.
The Secretary
of State for Foreign
Affairs
a d d e d t h a t he
a n t i c i p a t e d t h a t t h e r e m i g h t be some c r i t i c i s m of f a i l u r e to p u b l i s h
this matter earlier.
T h e a n s w e r w a s t h a t i n a m a t t e r of t h i s
g r a v i t y a n d seriousness i t w a s clearly impossible to p u b l i s h u n t i l
t h e facts w e r e reasonably well e s t a b l i s h e d .
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 r e p o r t e d t h a t h e
h a d been asked to serve as t h e c h a n n e l (since t h e r e w a s no other w a y
of d e s p a t c h i n g the message) for a message of goodwill from some
seventy M e m b e r s of P a r l i a m e n t t o t h e m e e t i n g of I t a l i a n L i b e r a l
p o l i t i c i a n s w h i c h w a s to t a k e p l a c e a t B a r i on t h e 2 8 t h J a n u a r y .
The Prime Minister u r g e d t h a t every effort should be m a d e to
secure, if not the cancellation, a t any r a t e a p o s t p o n e m e n t , of t h e
m e e t i n g on t h e g r o u n d t h a t t h e fresh offensive i n I t a l y w a s a n e w
f a c t o r since t h e m e e t i n g h a d been a r r a n g e d a n d t h a t all energies
w e r e now c o n c e n t r a t e d on t h e b a t t l e of R o m e . W e could a r g u e t h a t
p o s t p o n e m e n t m i g h t give t h e convenors a very m u c h b e t t e r m e e t i n g ­
place a t t h e cost of a very brief delay. H e w a s averse from u s i n g
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 A f f a i r s even as a channel i n
c i r c u m s t a n c e s such as these.
A f t e r discussion, t h e W a r C a b i n e t —
A g r e e d 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
s h o u l d t e l e g r a p h a t once to M r . M a c m i l l a n , a s k i n g h i m to
do a l l he could to secure t h e p o s t p o n e m e n t of t h i s m e e t i n g .
I f i t proved impossible to stop t h e m e e t i n g , i t w a s left to
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 o settle w h a t
s h o u l d be done as r e g a r d s t h e t r a n s m i s s i o n of t h e message
from B r i t i s h M e m b e r s of P a r l i a m e n t
" Overlord."
Security
Arrangements,
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
C h i e f s of Staff ( W . P . (44) 24) d r a w i n g a t t e n t i o n to t h e
u n d e s i r a b i l i t y of p u b l i c p r o n o u n c e m e n t s a b o u t t h e imminence of
C o n t i n e n t a l o p e r a t i o n s , a n d also to t h e d a n g e r s w h i c h flowed from
s p e c u l a t i o n i n the P r e s s a b o u t f o r t h c o m i n g o p e r a t i o n s .
The Director-General
of the Ministry
of Information
said that,
since t h e M e m o r a n d u m w a s c i r c u l a t e d , a g r e e m e n t h a d been reached
V JL-^Xs
c^XJ
$ , (P, *^to
"i^OLOvS
w i t h the U n i t e d S t a t e s A u t h o r i t i e s on t h i s m a t t e r . L e t t e r s on t h e
same g e n e r a l lines h a d been sent by the M i n i s t r y of I n f o r m a t i o n
to n e w s p a p e r p r o p r i e t o r s in t h i s country, a n d by the a p p r o p r i a t e
United. S t a t e s a u t h o r i t y to n e w s p a p e r s in the U n i t e d States,
d r a w i n g t h e i r a t t e n t i o n to the t y p e of article on forthcoming
o p e r a t i o n s which w a s a t t e n d e d by risks, a n d e n j o i n i n g on them to
a b s t a i n from speculation.
The Prime Minister
said t h a t he h a d been informed by the
M i n i s t e r of I n f o r m a t i o n (who w a s unable to a t t e n d t h e meeting)
t h a t the S u p r e m e Allied C o m m a n d e r intended to t a k e selected
P r e s s c o r r e s p o n d e n t s into his confidence to a n e x t e n t w h i c h seemed,
in all t h e circumstances, u n d e s i r a b l e . H e u n d e r t o o k to send a
p e r s o n a l letter to the S u p r e m e A l l i e d C o m m a n d e r on t h i s matter.
The Secretary of State for Air d r e w a t t e n t i o n to a n article in
a recent issue of the Daily Mail d e a l i n g w i t h t h e use of heavy
bombers in connection w i t h " Overlord " w h i c h w a s open to
objection.
I t w a s u n d e r s t o o d t h a t the article h a d not been
s u b m i t t e d for censorship. T h i s a r t i c l e h a d been w r i t t e n before the
d e s p a t c h of the letter r e f e r r e d to by t h e D i r e c t o r - G e n e r a l of the
M i n i s t r y of I n f o r m a t i o n .
T h e W a r C a b i n e f s conclusions w e r e as follows :—
(1) T h e views of the Chiefs of Staff as to t h e u n d e s i r a b i l i t y
of public p r o n o u n c e m e n t s on the imminence of opera­
tions on the C o n t i n e n t a n d of speculation i n the P r e s s
about forthcoming o p e r a t i o n s were endorsed; the action
t a k e n by the M i n i s t r y of I n f o r m a t i o n to deal w i t h t h i s
m a t t e r was noted w i t h a p p r o v a l .
(2) T h e M i n i s t e r of I n f o r m a t i o n w a s asked to find o u t w h y t h e
a r t i c l e in t h e Daily Mail, r e f e r r e d to by t h e Secretary
of S t a t e for A i r , had not been s u b m i t t e d for censorship.
Preparations for
5. T h e W a r
" Overlord."
documents : —
Cabinet
had
before
them
the
following
(a) A
J o i n t M e m o r a n d u m by t h e 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 a n d t h e M i n i s t e r of P r o d u c t i o n
( W . P . (44) 2). D u r i n g t h e period of t h i s operation
a d d i t i o n a l m a t e r i a l s , e q u i p m e n t a n d labour r e q u i r e d for
i t w o u l d have to be d i v e r t e d from o t h e r p r o d u c t i o n or
services. T h e two M i n i s t e r s sought a p p r o v a l for a
p r o c e d u r e whereby t h e i r respective M i n i s t r i e s should
act t o g e t h e r i n e x a m i n i n g special r e q u i r e m e n t s of t h i s
c h a r a c t e r , m a k i n g p l a n s t o meet them a n d deciding in
d e t a i l how a n y f u r t h e r needs should be met a s a n d w h e n
they arose.
(&) A M e m o r a n d u m by the M i n i s t e r of W a r T r a n s p o r t
( W . P . (44) 11) specifying the a d d i t i o n a l labour require­
m e n t s of h i s M i n i s t r y for railways, road t r a n s p o r t ,
h i g h w a y s a n d dock labour. T h i s labour would be
r e q u i r e d a t a n early date, before the a c t u a l operation.
(c) A J o i n t M e m o r a n d u m by t h e Secretary of S t a t e for A i r
a n d t h e M i n i s t e r of A i r c r a f t P r o d u c t i o n ( W . P . (44) 13)
s e t t i n g out c e r t a i n c o n d i t i o n s which they would like to
see a t t a c h e d to the proposals in the M e m o r a n d u m by the
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 a n d the
M i n i s t e r of P r o d u c t i o n .
The Prime Minister said t h a t he t h o u g h t t h a t the meetings of
t h e C o m m i t t e e on A n t i - U - B o a t W a r f a r e , w h i c h h a d a t one time
been held weekly and were now held a t longer i n t e r v a l s , should in
f u t u r e only be h e l d about once every t w o months. I n place of t h a t
C o m m i t t e e , he t h o u g h t it would be desirable t h a t there should be
a weekly m e e t i n g to review the i m p a c t of the ' ' Overlord ' ' p r e p a r a ­
t i o n s on w a r p r o g r a m m e s a n d on t h e civil life of t h e c o u n t r y
generally. T h e meetings would not, of course, deal w i t h tactical or
s t r a t e g i c a l issues. T h e Committee, w h i c h h a d been set u p by t h e
W a r C a b i n e t a week e a r l i e r , u n d e r t h e C h a i r m a n s h i p of t h e
M i n i s t e r of P r o d u c t i o n , to d e a l p r i m a r i l y w i t h i n l a n d t r a n s p o r t
a n d t h e i m p a c t t h e r e o n of " O v e r l o r d " p r e p a r a t i o n s , would, of
course, continue. T h e r e s u l t s of t h i s a n d of a n y o t h e r s i m i l a r
e n q u i r i e s would, however, be r e p o r t e d to t h e new C o m m i t t e e .
General agreement was expressed with this proposal.
Discussion t h e n t u r n e d on t h e p r o p o s a l s in t h e J o i n t
M e m o r a n d u m by the 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 a n d
t h e M i n i s t e r of P r o d u c t i o n .
Objection w a s seen by several
M i n i s t e r s to the t e r m s of p a r a g r a p h 8, w h i c h r e a d a s follows :—*
" I t w o u l d be our j o i n t r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o see t h a t o t h e r
D e p a r t m e n t s w h i c h m i g h t be affected by o u r decisions u n d e r
t h i s h e a d w e r e a d v i s e d as soon as the a p p r o p r i a t e p r o p o s a l s h a d
been a d o p t e d . "
A n x i e t y w a s felt lest t h e effect of t h e p r o c e d u r e r e c o m m e n d e d
m i g h t be t o i n t e r f e r e w i t h v i t a l a r r a n g e m e n t s of w a r p r o d u c t i o n i n
t h e event of a n emergency, such as w a s c o n t e m p l a t e d , a r i s i n g .
The Prime Minister
suggested t h a t t h e p o i n t could be m e t by
r e w o r d i n g the p a r a g r a p h so as t o m a k e i t clear t h a t i t w o u l d be t h e
j o i n t r e s p o n s i b i l i t y of t h e t w o M i n i s t e r s to see t h a t o t h e r D e p a r t ­
m e n t s w h i c h m i g h t be affected by t h e i r decisions u n d e r t h i s h e a d
w e r e consulted i n good t i m e ; a n d equally t h a t i t m u s t be r e c o g n i s e d
t h a t it would be i n c u m b e n t on all D e p a r t m e n t s concerned to do t h e i r
u t m o s t to give effect to t h e p r o p o s a l s p u t to them.
The W a r
Cabinet­
(1) Took note, w i t h a p p r o v a l , of the P r i m e M i n i s t e r ' s p r o p o s a l
to set u p a n e w C o m m i t t e e u n d e r h i s C h a i r m a n s h i p t o
deal w i t h t h e i m p a c t of " O v e r l o r d " p r e p a r a t i o n s o n
civilian life a n d t h e w a r p r o g r a m m e s .
(2) A p p r o v e d g e n e r a l l y t h e p r o p o s a l i n the M e m o r a n d u m by
t h e 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 a n d t h e
M i n i s t e r of P r o d u c t i o n subject to t h e modification
p r o p o s e d by t h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r a t " X . " A n y p o i n t s
of difficulty w h i c h e m e r g e d from the w o r k i n g o u t of t h e
scheme would, of course, be r e p o r t e d t o the n e w
C o m m i t t e e r e f e r r e d to i n (1).
Offices of the War Cabinet, S.W.
24:th January,
1944.
1,
T.130A/4. (CYPHER)
P R I S
FROM FOREIGN OFFICE TO MOSCOW
No.192.
January 24th,
E/C
/
D. 5 . 5 0 p . m . . , / J a n u a r y 2 4 t h ,
\ /
1944.
1944.
MOST IMMEDIATE.
DEDIP.,
MOST SECRET AND PERSONAL.
P l e a s e c o n v e y f o l l o w i n g m e s s a g e from P r i m e M i n i s t e r ­
to Marshal S t a l i n . 1.
We-- a r e s e n d i n g Ambassador C l a r k K e r r b a c k t o
you a t once: i n o r d e r t h a t he may e x p l a i n a s e r i e s o f
d i f f i c u l t i e s w h i c h , a l t h o u g h t h e y a p p e a r t r i f l i n g ait
t h e o u t s e t , may r i p e n i n t o t h e g r e a t e s t e m b a r r a s s m e n t s f o r us both.
,
2.
I h a v e b e e n much i m p r e s s e d and a l s o s u r p r i s e d
b y t h e e x t r a - o r d i n a r y bad; e f f e c t s p r o d u c e d , h e r e b y t h e
Pravda. s t o r y t o w h i c h s o much o f f i c i a l p u b l i c i t y was
g i v e n b y t h e S o v i e t G o v e r n m e n t . . Bven t h e b e s t f r i e n d s
of S o v i e t R u s s i a i n England, h a v e b e e n b e w i l d e r e d .
What
makes i t so i n j u r i o u s i s t h a t we c a n n o t u n d e r s t a n d i t .
I am s u r e you know t h a t I would n e v e r n e g o t i a t e w i t h
t h e Germans s e p a r a t e l y and t h a t we t e l l you. e v e r y o v e r ­
t u r c t h e y make a s you have t o l d u s .
Wo n e v e r t h o u g h t
of making JI s e p a r a t e p e a c e o v o n i n t h e y e a r s when, we
were a l l a l o n e a n d c o u l d e a s i l y h a v e made one w i t h o u t
s e r i o u s l o s s t o t h e B r i t i s h Empire a n d l a r g e l y a t your
expense.
Why s h o u l d we t h i n k of i t nOw when o u r t r i p l e
f o r t u n e s a r c marching forward to v i c t o r y ?
If anything
has occurred or been p r i n t e d i n t h e English newspapers
a n n o y i n g : t o y o u , why c a n you n o t send me a t e l e g r a m o r
make y o u r Ambassador come r o u n d a n d s e e u s about i t ?
I n t h i s way a l l t h e harm t h a t h a s b e e n done and s u s p i c i o n s
t h a t have b e e n a r o u s e d could, b e a v o i d e d .
N
3.
I g e t e v e r y d a y long, e x t r a c t s ; f r ami " W a r a n d t h e
Working C l a s s e s " w h i c h seem t o make c o n t i n u o u s L e f t - w i n g
a t t a c k s on o u r a d m i n i s t r a t i o n i n I t a l y and p o l i t i c s i n
Greece.
C o n s i d e r i n g you. h a w a. r e p r e s e n t a t i v e - on t h e
Commission f o r I t a l y , we s h o u l d hope / t h a t t h e s e o o i s p l a i n t s
would b e v e n t i l a t e d t h e r e a n d we s h o u l d h e a r a b o u t them
a n d e x p l a i n o u r p o i n t of v i e w b e t w e e n G o v e r n m e n t s . . As
t h e s e a t t a c k s a r e ms&e i n . p u b l i c i n t h e S o v i e t news*­
p a p e r s w h i c h on f o r e i g n a f f a i r s a r e b e l i e v / e d r i g h t l y o r
w r o n g l y n o t t o d i v e r g e from t h e p o l i c y of t h e S o v i e t
Union, t h e d i v e r g e n c e b e t w e e n our Governments becomes
1
5
a serious Parliamentary issue.
I have delayed, speaking
t o t h e House of. -Commons t i l l I s e e t h e r e s u l t s of the?
b a t t l e i n I t a l y which i s not going t o o b a d l y , but i n a
week o r ten d a y s I s h a l l have t o a d d r e s s the? House o f
Commons and d e a l w i t h t h e m a t t e r s t o which I h a v e
r e f e r r e d i n t h i s t e l e g r a m as- I cannot a l l o w c h a r g e s
and c r i t i c i s m s t o go u n a n s w e r e d .
hav?e
4,
I
b e e n w r y much b u o y e d up w i t h t h e f e e l i n g
I b r o u g h t b a c k from Tehran, of our good r e l a t i o n s a n d b y
the m e s s a g e you s e n t me t h r o u g h B e n e s , a n d I t r y n i g h t
t h i n g s go the? way you w i s h them a n d t h e
way o u r t r i p l e i n t e r e s t s r e q u i r e .
I am s u r e i f we had
been t o g e t h e r
d i f f i c u l t i e s would n o t haw- o c c u r r e d .
I am w o r k i n g now c o n s t a n t l y at making t h e Second F r o n t
a n d en
work i s
r e n d e r e d , more d i f f i c u l t by t h e kind of pin-pricking t o
w h i c h I have r e f e r r e d .
Of c o u r s e a few words s p o k e n b y
you would-, b l o w the whole " h i n g out o f t h e w a t e r .
We
ha we a l w a y s a g r e e d t o w r l * e f r a n k l y t o e a c h o t h e r , so I
do s o now, b u t I hope you w i l l s e e O l a r k K e r r when he
a r r i v e s and let him e x p l a i n more at l e n g t h t h e p o s i t i o n
a s between
t o g e t h e r i n war b u t
;f u s e d
linked
Twenty Years: T r e a t y ,
and day to make
these
a success
an over larger scale, and my
1
Allies not only
by pur
5.
I haw not yet been a b l e t o t e l e g r a p h a b o u t
my t a l k s with the P o l e s ' b e c a u s e ' I must, i n m a t t e r s of
s u c h f a r - r e a c h i n g i m p o r t a n c e , know where I am w i t h t h e :
U n i t o d States;.
I hope however t o send you a m e s s a g e i n
a few days.
6.
B r i g a d i e r M a c l e a n a n d my son R a n d o l p h
s a f e l y parashooted i n t o T i t o ' s headquarters..
haw
(OTP)
Distribution.
The King
Foreign Secretary S i r B, B r i d g e s G e n e r a l Ismay War C a b i n e t
)
Lord P r i v y S e a l
)
S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e f o r t h e D o m i n i o n s l F o r M i n i s t e r o- A i r c r a f t P r o d u c t i o n
) Information "
Service Ministers
)
U A U