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T H I S D O C U M E N T IS 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 ' S GOVERNMENT"
Printed
for the War Cabinet.
February
SECRET.
W.M.
1944.
Copy N o .
(44)
2 0 t h Conclusions.
WAR
CONCLUSIONS
S.W.
CABINET
20
(44).
of a Meeting of the War Cabinet held at 1 0 , Downing
1, on Monday, 14th February,
1 9 4 4 , at 6 j).m.
Street,
Present: T h e R i g h t H o n . WINSTON S. CHURCHILL, 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 . ATTLEE, M . P . ,
L o r d P r e s i d e n t of the Council.
T h e R i g h t H o n . ANTHONY EDEN, M . P . ,
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 . S i r JOHN ANDERSON,
T h e R i g h t H o n . ERNEST BEVIN, M . P . ,
M . P . , C h a n c e l l o r of t h e E x c h e q u e r .
M i n 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 R i g h t H o n . OLIVER LYTTELTON, T h e R i g h t H o n . HERBERT MORRISON,
M . P . , S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for t h e
M . P . , M i n i s t e r of P r o d u c t i o n .
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
H o n . 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. BRUCE, 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 . LORD BEAVERBROOK,
L o r d P r i v y Seal.
T h e R i g h t H o n . S i r JAMES GRIGG,
M . P . , S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for W a r .
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- D o m i n i o n
Affairs.
T h e R i g h t H o n . 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 .
The
Right
Hon.
Sir
ARCHIBALD
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 . R. A . BUTLER, M . P . ,
P r e s i d e n t of t h e B o a r d of E d u c a t i o n .
T h e R i g h t H o n . S i r STAFFORD CRIPPS,
K . C , M . P . , M i n i s t e r of A i r c r a f t
Production.
T h e R i g h t H o n . LORD CHERWELL,
T h e R i g h t H o n . BRENDAN BRACKEN,
Paymaster-General.
M . P . , M i n i s t e r of I n f o r m a t i o n .
A
d
m i r a l of t h e F l e e t S i r ANDREW
T h e H o n . S i r ALEXANDER CADOGAN,
CUNNINGHAM, F i r s t Sea ' L o r d a n d
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
Chief of N a v a l Staff. (Items 1 - 6 . )
for F o r e i g n Affairs. (Items 1 - 5 . )
F i e l d M a r s h a l S i r ALAN BROOKE, Chief
M a r s h a l of t h e A i r F o r c e S i r CHARLES
of
the I m p e r i a l
General
Staff.
F . A . PORTAL, Chief of t h e A i r Staff.
(Items 1 - 6 . )
(Items 1 - 6 . )
Secretariat:
Sir EDWARD BRIDGES. L i e u t e n a n t - G e n e r a l S i r HASTINGS L . ISMAY. M r . W . S. MURRIE. M r . L. F . BURGIS. [26948-2]
B
W A R C A B I N E T 20
(44).
CONTENTS.
Minute
No.
1
Subject.
Naval, M i l i t a r y a n d A i r O p e r a t i o n s
....
....
....
Page
91
Air Operations—
Home Theatre.
Mediterranean.
Pacific.
Naval Operations—
Indian Ocean.
Military Operations—
Italy.
Pacific.
Russia.
2
B o m b i n g of Germany....
....
....
....
....
....
91
3
D a n g e r Z o n e s ....
....
....
...
....
....
92
4
Poland
....
....
....
....
92
5
Foreign Language Periodicals
....
....
....
....
9'2
6
W i t h d r a w a l of Civil Staffs from Service D e p a r t m e n t s
....
93
7
Staffing of Civil Service i n t h e I m m e d i a t e
Period
Post-War
....
....
94
8
....
....
.......
India
95
Proposed United Kingdom-United
Economic Assistance.
9
P o l i t i c a l W a r f a r e T r a i n i n g School
States
Enquiry
into
....
95
Naval, Military
and Air
Operations.
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 not u n d e r t a k e n
(Previous
a n y m a j o r r a i d s . A n a t t a c k h a d been made, however, on the
Kef erence:
A n t h e o r V i a d u c t n e a r Nice a n d a very successful a t t a c k on a factory
W.M. (44) 16th n e a r Limoges.
Conclusions,
U n i t e d S t a t e s bombers h a d a t t a c k e d F r a n k f u r t , L u d w i g s h a v e n ,
Minute 1.)
Wiesbaden and Brunswick.
" 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 .
Coastal
Air Operations.
Home Theatre. C o m m a n d h a d m a d e t w o p r o m i s i n g a t t a c k s on U - b o a t s a n d possibly
d a m a g e d six others.
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 t o 170 destroyed, 32 p r o b a b l y destroyed
a n d 123 d a m a g e d .
A l l i e d losses a m o u n t e d to 104, i n c l u d i n g
4 3 fighters a n d 52 U n i t e d S t a t e s bombers.
Mediterranean.
B a d w e a t h e r h a d a g a i n i n t e r f e r e d w i t h flying operations, b u t
a t t a c k s h a d been m a d e on enemy communications, p o r t s a n d air­
fields. E n e m y losses a m o u n t e d to 41 destroyed, a g a i n s t 43 Allied.
Pacific.
J a p a n e s e a i r c r a f t claimed as destroyed d u r i n g the week
a m o u n t e d to 108, as a g a i n s t 11 Allied. T h e claims for J a p a n e s e
a i r c r a f t destroyed for the y e a r e n d i n g t h e 11th F e b r u a r y totalled
3,784 in the air, 955 on the g r o u n d a n d 1,001 probably destroyed.
Naval
Confirmed s h i p p i n g losses by enemy action for the previous
Operations.
week a m o u n t e d t o 17,487 tons. Confirmed losses for F e b r u a r y
a m o u n t e d to 31,839 tons.
F i v e G e r m a n U - b o a t s h a d been destroyed a n d 3 probably
destroyed so f a r t h i s month.
The W a r C a b i n e t R e q u e s t e d the F i r s t Sea L o r d to convey t h e i r c o n g r a t u l a ­
tions to t h e Officer C o m m a n d i n g t h e Second E s c o r t G r o u p ,
w h i c h h a d s u n k 4 U-boats a n d probably sunk a n o t h e r
d u r i n g one p a t r o l .
Indian Ocean.
Military
Operations.
Italy.
Pacific.
Eussia.
A l a r g e G e r m a n t a n k e r h a d been i n t e r c e p t e d a n d s u n k by one
of o u r destroyers. T h e Khedive Ismail, w i t h t r o o p s on b o a r d from
E a s t A f r i c a in convoy to Ceylon, h a d been t o r p e d o e d ' a n d sunk w i t h ,
i t w a s feared, heavy loss of life.
D u r i n g the previous week the fighting i n the A n z i o b r i d g e h e a d
h a d been of a serious n a t u r e , w i t h t h e result t h a t o u r line h a d been
d r i v e n back a small d i s t a n c e on the left flank. T h e r e w a s no reason,
however, for serious a n x i e t y about our being able to hold our
positions. O n t h e m a i n I t a l i a n front some small p r o g r e s s h a d been
m a d e in t h e Cassino a r e a a f t e r heavy fighting.
A u s t r a l i a n Forces a d v a n c i n g along the coast of N e w G u i n e a
h a d j o i n e d u p w i t h U n i t e d S t a t e s Forces a t Saidor.
I n the N o r t h the R u s s i a n s h a d been p r e s s i n g along the E a s t
B a n k of L a k e P e i p u s a n d h a d t a k e n L u g a . T h i s advance seriously
t h r e a t e n e d the G e r m a n salient South of L a k e I l m e n . T h e G e r m a n s
c o n t i n u e d to r e p o r t heavy R u s s i a n a t t a c k s a t Vitebsk. T h e G e r m a n s
w e r e still e n d e a v o u r i n g , unsuccessfully, to relieve t h e 10 encircled
divisions N o r t h of Shpola.
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. The Prime Minister
said t h a t one or t w o cases h a d been
r e p o r t e d in w h i c h aspersions h a d been t h r o w n on t h e R . A . F . by
c e r t a i n members of the U n i t e d S t a t e s A i r Forces because we d i d
n o t bomb G e r m a n y by day. I f t h i s w e r e t o continue, i t m i g h t lead
t o difficulties. H e t h o u g h t t h a t the best w a y of d e a l i n g w i t h the
m a t t e r would be for t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s A u t h o r i t i e s themselves to
e x p l a i n to t h e i r personnel t h e facts of the position, a n d t h e e x t e n t
of o u r own a i r effort a n d a i r losses as compared w i t h those of the
[26948-^2]
2
B o m b i n g of
Germany.
B
U n i t e d S t a t e s . H e suggested t h a t it would be a s well if t h e Chief of
the A i r Staff could see G e n e r a l S p a a t z a n d p u t t h i s suggestion
to h i m .
The Chief of the Air Staff
M i n i s t e r s suggestion.
u n d e r t o o k to c a r r y o u t t h e P r i m e
Danger Zones.
3. The First Lord of the Admiralty
said t h a t the S p a n i s h
fishermen
h
a
d
a
n
n
o
u
n
c
e
d
t
h
e
i
r
i
n
t
e
n
t
i
o
n
of
fishing to the n o r t h of
(Previous the e x i s t i n g s i n k - a t - s i g h t zone. I f they a d o p t e d t h i s course, i t
Reference: W.M. (41) 69th would give rise t o difficulties, a n d he therefore proposed t h a t the
e x i s t i n g s i n k - a t - s i g h t zone should be e x t e n d e d t o a line r u n n i n g
Conclusions,
from t h e t i p of L a n d ' s E n d to t h e south of I r e l a n d . T h i s p r o p o s a l
Minute 4 ;
h a d been discussed w i t h t h e F o r e i g n Office, w h o were i n a g r e e m e n t
see also
W.P. (43) 207.) w i t h it.
The W a r C a b i n e t Approved t h e course proposed.
Poland.
(Previous
Reference:
W.M. (44) 16th
Conclusions,
Minute 3.)
Foreign
Language
Periodicals.
(Previous
Reference:
W.M. (44) 15th
Conclusions,
Minute 1.)
4. The Prime Minister gave t h e W a r C a b i n e t t h e latest infor­
m a t i o n about P o l i s h affairs. T h i s is recorded i n t h e S e c r e t a r y ' s
S t a n d a r d F i l e of W a r C a b i n e t Conclusions.
5. A t t h e m e e t i n g of the W a r Cabinet on t h e 4 t h F e b r u a r y
the M i n i s t e r of I n f o r m a t i o n h a d informed t h e W a r C a b i n e t t h a t
he h a d a r r a n g e d for the s u p p l i e s of n e w s p r i n t to be cut off from a
P o l i s h O p p o s i t i o n n e w s p a p e r w h i c h continuously a t t a c k e d the
R u s s i a n Government.
I n discussion, reference w a s m a d e to t h e e x i s t i n g p o w e r s for
d e a l i n g w i t h t h e foreign l a n g u a g e periodicals published i n t h i s
c o u n t r y w h i c h p e r s i s t e n t l y a t t a c k e d a n o t h e r ally or in a n y w a y
imperilled A l l i e d u n i t y .
The Minister
of Information,
w h o h a d circulated a Memo­
r a n d u m on t h i s p o i n t ( W . P . (44) 101), said t h a t he w a s satisfied on
balance t h a t i t w o u l d be u n d e s i r a b l e t o seek f u r t h e r powers from
P a r l i a m e n t t o deal w i t h t h i s m a t t e r . H e t h o u g h t t h a t i t w a s best
to continue t o rely on t h e M i n i s t r y of S u p p l y ' s licensing powers,
which were based on the p a p e r control.
G e n e r a l a g r e e m e n t w a s expressed w i t h t h i s view. B u t i t should
be m a d e clear t h a t t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y for g i v i n g decisions on t h i s
m a t t e r lay w i t h t h e M i n i s t r y of I n f o r m a t i o n , a n d t h a t i t w a s for
t h e M i n i s t r y of S u p p l y t o act p r o m p t l y on a n y r e c o m m e n d a t i o n
received from the former M i n i s t r y i n t h i s m a t t e r .
T h i s w a s approved.
Discussion t h e n t u r n e d on t h e controversy w h i c h w a s being
conducted between t h e P o l e s a n d t h e R u s s i a n s in t h e i r respective
periodicals. The Prime Minister
suggested t h a t , a s p a r t of o u r
policy of f o s t e r i n g better r e l a t i o n s between t h e Poles a n d R u s s i a n s ,
we should p o i n t o u t t o t h e R u s s i a n s t h e action w h i c h w e h a d a l r e a d y
taken, a n d w h i c h w e w e r e p r e p a r e d to t a k e i n f u t u r e , i n r e g a r d t o
the P o l i s h press, a n d should i n d i c a t e t h a t we hoped t h a t t h e
R u s s i a n s i n r e t u r n w o u l d exercise some degree of r e s t r a i n t i n t h e
n e w s p a p e r s u n d e r t h e i r control.
The Secretary
of State for Foreign
Affairs
undertook to
p r e p a r e a s t a t e m e n t s u g g e s t i n g w h a t action could be t a k e n o n these
lines.
Withdrawal of
Civil Staffs
from Service
Departments.
6.
T h e W a r Cabinet h a d before t h e m —
W . P . (44) 62 : A N o t e by the Secretary c i r c u l a t i n g , by
d i r e c t i o n of the P r i m e M i n i s t e r , a copy of a M i n u t e a d d r e s s e d
to h i m by t h e Service M i n i s t e r s ; a n d
W . P . (44) 79 : A M e m o r a n d u m by t h e L o r d P r e s i d e n t of
the Council,
dealing w i t h t h e question of w i t h d r a w a l of civil staffs from Service
Departments.
I n t h e i r M i n u t e to the P r i m e M i n i s t e r t h e Service M i n i s t e r s
p o i n t e d out t h a t the question h a d been considered by t h e L o r d
P r e s i d e n t s C o m m i t t e e as p a r t of the proposals of 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 to o b t a i n a d d i t i o n a l women for u r g e n t
h i g h p r i o r i t y w o r k of n a t i o n a l i m p o r t a n c e ( L . P . (43) 77th M e e t i n g ) .
T h e L o r d P r e s i d e n t s C o m m i t t e e h a d then h a d before them a
proposal m a d e in a M e m o r a n d u m by the F i r s t L o r d of t h e
A d m i r a l t y ( L . P . (43) 288) t h a t t h e Service D e p a r t m e n t s should be
g r a n t e d t o t a l e x e m p t i o n from the w i t h d r a w a l of civil staffs, w i t h o u t
reference to t h e K e n n e t Committee, b u t h a d decided t h a t i t w o u l d
not be possible t o g r a n t t h i s exemption. I n view of t h e t h r e a t t o
t h e efficiency of t h e i r D e p a r t m e n t s , the Service M i n i s t e r s felt t h a t
they could n o t accept t h i s decision of the L o r d P r e s i d e n t s
Committee w i t h o u t reference to t h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r a n d M i n i s t e r
of Defence. T h e y claimed t h a t , a t a t i m e w h e n t h e t h r e e Service
D e p a r t m e n t s w e r e a t t h e p e a k of t h e i r w a r effort, they o u g h t not t o
be subjected to t h e loss of efficiency w h i c h would r e s u l t from t h e
w i t h d r a w a l of y o u n g a n d active clerks who k n e w t h e i r work, a n d
t h e y a r g u e d t h a t , in any event, t h e K e n n e t C o m m i t t e e ' w a s n o t a n
a p p r o p r i a t e body for d e c i d i n g w h a t staffs were essential a n d t h a t
t h e task of s u b m i t t i n g proposals t o the K e n n e t Committee w o u l d
absorb effort w h i c h ought, especially in the Service D e p a r t m e n t s ,
a t the p r e s e n t t i m e to be devoted t o more positive objectives.
I n his M e m o r a n d u m ( W . P . (44) 79) the L o r d P r e s i d e n t of the
Council suggested t h a t it w a s n o t unreasonable t h a t t h e Service
D e p a r t m e n t s should be called on, like other D e p a r t m e n t s , to satisfy
a n i m p a r t i a l body t h a t the proposed w i t h d r a w a l s would seriously
i m p a i r t h e i r efficiency. H e also p o i n t e d o u t t h a t the a r g u m e n t t h a t
t h e K e n n e t C o m m i t t e e h a d n o responsibility for the a d m i n i s t r a t i v e
results of t h e i r decision could be equally well used by m a n y o t h e r
D e p a r t m e n t s a n d m u s t be rejected as being incompatible w i t h a n y
o r d e r l y system for t h e equitable allocation of our m a n - p o w e r
resources.
I n o p e n i n g the discussion the Lord President
of the
Council
s a i d t h a t the scheme for w i t h d r a w i n g women of the 1923 age-class
from G o v e r n m e n t D e p a r t m e n t s p r o v i d e d for a number of exemp­
t i o n s a n d gave t h e r i g h t of a p p e a l to the K e n n e t Committee. H e
felt that, in view of this, t h e position of the Service D e p a r t m e n t s
w a s fully s a f e g u a r d e d .
The First Lord of the A dmiralty pointed o u t t h a t t h e staffs of
t h e Service D e p a r t m e n t s h a d been excluded from the .scope of the
e n q u i r y c a r r i e d o u t by the C o m m i t t e e on the R e d u c t i o n of N a t i o n a l
Government Staffs, a l t h o u g h they h a d been covered by t h e p r o ­
g r a m m e for t h e w i t h d r a w a l of 10 per cent, of mobile women
employed in G o v e r n m e n t D e p a r t m e n t s . H e stressed the difficulties
w h i c h would a r i s e if the Service D e p a r t m e n t s were compelled to
p a r t w i t h fully t r a i n e d women at a time w h e n they w e r e about to
u n d e r t a k e i m p o r t a n t a n d difficult operations.
T h e r e w a s no
g u a r a n t e e of p r i o r s u b s t i t u t i o n , a n d the substitutes who would be
p r o v i d e d would be inferior in q u a l i t y a n d would not be able to s t a n d
t h e pace a t t h e p r e s e n t time. The Secretary of State for War a n d
the Secretary of State for Air s u p p o r t e d the views p u t f o r w a r d by
t h e F i r s t L o r d of t h e A d m i r a l t y .
The Chancellor
of the
Departments were granted
b o u n d to be discontent. T h e
n o t a u t o m a t i c a l l y exempted
e x e m p t i o n from t h e K e n n e t
Exchequer
said t h a t , if t h e Service
a u t o m a t i c exemption, there would be
fact t h a t the Service D e p a r t m e n t s were
w o u l d not preclude them from g e t t i n g
C o m m i t t e e for essential staffs.
The Minister
of Labour and National
Service s a i d t h a t to
g r a n t a t o t a l e x e m p t i o n to t h e Service D e p a r t m e n t s w o u l d p u t h i m
i n a n extremely difficult p o s i t i o n b o t h as a g a i n s t other D e p a r t m e n t s
a n d in P a r l i a m e n t .
H e w a s , however, r e a d y t o consider some
d e f e r m e n t of the d a t e of w i t h d r a w a l of staffs from t h e Service
Departments.
The Home Secretary and Minister of Home Security said t h a t
he d o u b t e d w h e t h e r i t w a s wise to w i t h d r a w women of t h e 1923 class
from a n y G o v e r n m e n t D e p a r t m e n t s a t t h e p r e s e n t t i m e . I n any
event, he m u s t ask t h a t , if a n e x e m p t i o n w e r e g r a n t e d to the staffs
employed in Service D e p a r t m e n t s , t h e same e x e m p t i o n should a p p l y
to t h e staff of t h e M i n i s t r y of H o m e S e c u r i t y e n g a g e d on o p e r a t i o n a l
duties.
The Prime Minister
said t h a t he h a d considerable s y m p a t h y
w i t h the views of the Service M i n i s t e r s . H e recognised t h a t to give
t o t a l e x e m p t i o n to staffs i n the Service D e p a r t m e n t s m i g h t be
i n e q u i t a b l e from the p o i n t of view of the i n d i v i d u a l a n d m i g h t lead
to a c e r t a i n a m o u n t of discontent. H e was, however, opposed t o any
step w h i c h would i m p a i r the efficiency of t h e Service D e p a r t m e n t s
in p r e p a r i n g for the o p e r a t i o n s which w e r e i m p e n d i n g t h i s year.
H e suggested t h a t the Service D e p a r t m e n t s should accept, i n
p r i n c i p l e , the same t r e a t m e n t as t h e o t h e r D e p a r t m e n t s ; b u t t h a t ,
h a v i n g r e g a r d to the special circumstances of t h e moment, no staffs
should be w i t h d r a w n from t h e Service D e p a r t m e n t s for a p e r i o d of
t h r e e m o n t h s . D u r i n g t h a t p e r i o d t h e r e w o u l d be a n o b l i g a t i o n on
t h e Service D e p a r t m e n t s to t a k e t h e i n i t i a t i v e in d o i n g e v e r y t h i n g
possible to release a n y staffs w h o could be s p a r e d . T o w a r d s t h e end
of t h e p e r i o d the question w h e t h e r w i t h d r a w a l s from t h e Service
D e p a r t m e n t s should be c a r r i e d out would be reviewed i n the l i g h t
of t h e releases w h i c h h a d been m a d e . T h e same p r i n c i p l e s should
a p p l y in the case of t h e staffs in t h e M i n i s t r y of H o m e S e c u r i t y t o
w h i c 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 S e c u r i t y had
referred.
The W a r C a b i n e t A g r e e d to the p r o p o s a l m a d e by t h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r .
Staffing of Civil
Service in t h e
Immediate
Post-War
Period.
7. 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
Chancellor of t h e E x c h e q u e r ( W P . (44) 86) d e a l i n g w i t h t h e staffing
of the Civil Service i n the i m m e d i a t e p o s t - w a r p e r i o d . A p p e n d e d
to t h e M e m o r a n d u m w a s a d r a f t s t a t e m e n t w h i c h t h e Chancellor
of t h e E x c h e q u e r proposed to m a k e a t a very early d a t e i n the H o u s e
of Commons.
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 d e t a i l e d p r o p o s a l s h a d been
worked out in consultation with the Departments and that
discussions h a d begun w i t h the Staff S i d e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o n t h e
N a t i o n a l W h i t l e y Council. Some t i m e w o u l d elapse before t h e
r e s u l t s of the discussions could be s u b m i t t e d for final M i n i s t e r i a l
a p p r o v a l , a n d i t w a s desirable t h a t in t h e i n t e r v a l a n i n d i c a t i o n
should be given of the G o v e r n m e n t s g e n e r a l a p p r o a c h to t h e
problem. T h e b r o a d p r i n c i p l e s h a d a l r e a d y been a g r e e d by t h e
M i n i s t e r s p r i n c i p a l l y concerned a n d t h e Staff Side r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s
c o n c u r r e d in t h e p r o p o s a l t h a t a s t a t e m e n t should be m a d e .
The Chancellor of the Exchequer
said that the proposals had
been a p p r o v e d by the M i n i s t e r i a l C o m m i t t e e on the M a c h i n e r y of
G o v e r n m e n t . T h e proposed s t a t e m e n t , w h i c h w o u l d be m a d e i n very
g e n e r a l terms, would i n d i c a t e t h a t the G o v e r n m e n t s i m m e d i a t e
objective w a s to r e c r u i t a t the earliest possible m o m e n t p r o p e r l y
qualified personnel, t h a t the m a i n source of r e c r u i t s w o u l d be from
those w h o would have h a d a n o p p o r t u n i t y of c o m p e t i n g for t h e Civil
Service b u t for the i n t e r r u p t i o n of w a r , a n d t h a t t h e r e w o u l d be a
s u b s t a n t i a l preference for ex-Service c a n d i d a t e s .
The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs said t h a t he w o u l d
be g r a t e f u l if, in m a k i n g his s t a t e m e n t , the Chancellor of t h e
E x c h e q u e r w o u l d say t h a t a s t a t e m e n t w o u l d follow shortly on t h e
subject of r e c r u i t m e n t to the F o r e i g n Service. The Chancellor of
the Exchequer
a g r e e d to do this, a n d a d d e d t h a t c e r t a i n other m i n o r
a m e n d m e n t s w e r e b e i n g m a d e to t h e d r a f t s t a t e m e n t .
The W a r C a b i n e t A p p r o v e d the m a k i n g of a s t a t e m e n t on the lines set o u t
i n t h e A n n e x to W . P . (44) 86.
India.
Proposed United
KingdomUnited Stats
Enquiry into
Economic
Assistance.
8. T h e W a r C a b i n e t h a d before t h e m a note by the P r e s i d e n t
of the B o a r d of E d u c a t i o n covering a M e m o r a n d u m by the I n d i a
Office ( W . P . (44) 96) about a proposal, m a d e in the first i n s t a n c e by
the U n i t e d S t a t e s Chiefs of Staff, t h a t a combined committee should
be formed in I n d i a to d e t e r m i n e t h e extent of economic assistance
necessary for I n d i a to be b u i l t u p as a base for forthcoming o p e r a tions in South-East Asia.
I n discussion, doubts were expressed as to the w i s d o m of
associating United States representatives in an enquiry which was
likely to have a very w i d e r a n g e . On the o t h e r h a n d , it w a s p o i n t e d
o u t t h a t t h e p r o p o s e d t e r m s of reference h a d been so d r a w n as to
be l i m i t e d to t h e economic assistance r e q u i r e d to enable I n d i a to be
a p r o p e r base for o p e r a t i o n s a n d specifically excluded a n y e n q u i r y
i n t o the g e n e r a l financial a n d economic policy of the G o v e r n m e n t
of I n d i a .
The Prime Minister said t h a t t h e need for the proposed e n q u i r y
would t o some e x t e n t d e p e n d o n c e r t a i n s t r a t e g i c decisions affecting
S o u t h - E a s t A s i a w h i c h h a d not yet been t a k e n .
The W a r Cabinet—
I n v i t e d t h e P r e s i d e n t of t h e B o a r d of E d u c a t i o n , on behalf
of the S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e for I n d i a , to o b t a i n the comments
of the G o v e r n m e n t of I n d i a on t h e proposed t e r m s of
reference, e m p h a s i s i n g the d a n g e r s of a combined e n q u i r y
w i t h a very w i d e scope, a n d i n d i c a t i n g p r i v a t e l y to the
V i c e r o y t h a t t h e decision a s to t h e need for t h i s e n q u i r y
w a s i n p a r t d e p e n d e n t on c e r t a i n decisions on o p e r a t i o n a l
m a t t e r s now p e n d i n g .
Political
Warfare
Training School,
9. T h e W a r C a b i n e t h a d before them a M e m o r a n d u m by the
M i n i s t e r of I n f o r m a t i o n ( W . P . (44) 92) d e a l i n g w i t h the provision
of domestic staff for the r e s i d e n t i a l t r a i n i n g school w h i c h h a d been
set u p to t r a i n personnel for front-line a n d occupational p r o p a ­
g a n d a i n connection w i t h o p e r a t i o n s in W e s t e r n E u r o p e .
The Minister
of Information
said t h a t the staff r e q u i r e d
n u m b e r e d a b o u t 100 women. H e h a d been unable to get a n y of t h e
Service D e p a r t m e n t s to t a k e responsibility for p r o v i d i n g t h e
necessary staff, a n d h a d therefore b r o u g h t t h e m a t t e r before t h e
W a r C a b i n e t . H e h a d a l r e a d y t r i e d , w i t h o u t success, t o o b t a i n
assistance from t h e W o m e n ' s V o l u n t a r y Services.
The Secretary
of State for War said t h a t he doubted w h e t h e r
the p r o v i s i o n of t h i s domestic staff could be r e g a r d e d - as f a l l i n g
w i t h i n t h e scope of t h e W a r Office, a n d t h a t , i n a n y event, he h a d
not t h e resources t o meet the request of the M i n i s t e r of I n f o r m a t i o n .
On t h e suggestion of the P r i m e M i n i s t e r , the W a r C a b i n e t —
I n v i t e d t h e L o r d P r i v y Seal to decide w h i c h D e p a r t m e n t
should be responsible for p r o v i d i n g t h e necessary staff. T h e
w i t h d r a w a l of a n y staff from a Service D e p a r t m e n t for
t h i s p u r p o s e w o u l d be t a k e n into account in the review of
t h e question of t h e w i t h d r a w a l of civil staffs from Service
D e p a r t m e n t s w h i c h h a d been agreed earlier
[see
Minute 6].
Offices of the War Cabinet, S.W.
14th February,
1944.
1,