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THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OP HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT
Printed
for the War Cabinet.
January 1941.
SECRET.
Copy No. 4
W.M. (41)
8th Conclusions.
TO BE K E P T UNDER LOCK A N D KEY.
I t is requested that special care may be taken to
ensure the secrecy of this document.
W A R CABINET 8 (41).
CONCLUSIONS
of a Meeting of the War Cabinet held in the Cabinet War Room, S.W. 1, on Monday, January 20, 194L at 5 P.M. Present:
The Right Hon. WINSTON S. CHURCHILL, M.P., P r i m e Minister (in the Chair).
The R i g h t H o n . C. R. ATTLEE, M.P.,
Lord Privy Seal.
The Right Hon. ANTHONY EDEN, M.P.,
Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs.
The Right Hon. S i r KINGSLEY WOOD,
M.P., Chancellor of the Exchequer.
The Right Hon. Sir JOHN ANDERSON,
M.P., Lord President of the Council,
The R i g h t Hon. A . GREENWOOD, M.P.,
Minister without Portfolio.
The Right Hon ERNEST BEVIN, M.P.,
Minister of Labour a n d Minister of
National Service.
The following were also present:
The Right H o n . HERBERT MORRISON, The Right Hon. VISCOUNT CRANBORNE,
Secretary of State for Dominion M.P., Secretary of State for the
Home Department a n d Minister of
Affairs. Home Security. The R i g h t , Hon. A . V . ALEXANDER, The Right Hon. H . D . MARGESSON,
M.P., Secretary of State for War.
M.P., First Lord of the Admiraltv.
The Right H o n . Sir ARCHIBALD The Right Hon. Sir ANDREW DUNCAN,
M.P., Minister of Supply (Items 5
SINCLAIR, Bt., M . P . , Secretary of
and 6).
State for A i r .
The Right Hon. A. D U F F COOPER, M . P . ,
The Right Hon. OLIVER LYTTELTON,
Minister of Information.
M.P., President of the Board of Trade (Items 5 and 6). Admiral of the Fleet Sir DUDLEY
The H o n . S i r ALEXANDER CADOGAN,
POUND, First Sea Lord and Chief of
Naval Staff.
Permanent Under-Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs.
A i r Chief Marshal Sir CHARLES F . A.
General Sir JOHN DILL, Chief of the
PORTAL, Chief of the A i r Staff.
Imperial General Staff.
Secretariat. '
Sir EDWARD BRIDGES.
Major-General Sir HASTINGS ISMAY.
M r . W . D. WILKINSON.
M r . L . F . BURGIS.
WAR CABINET 8 (41).
CONTENTS.
M inute
No.
1.
:
.;'
2.
Subject.
Naval, Military and Air Operations
Air O p e r a t i o n s :
Naval Operations:
. Shipping losses.
Military O p e r a t i o n s :
Libya.
Abyssinia.
....
....
Page
39
'.
T h e Balkans
39
Assistance to Greece.
3.
France
39
Relations with the Vichy Government.
4.
;.
5.
Chemical Waifare
....
....
....
....
39
Precautionary Measures.
M a n Power
....
....
....
40
Measures to meet Production requirements.
6.
W a r Aims
41
Naval, Military
and Air
Oparations.
(Previous
E e f erence:
W . M . (41) 7th
Conclusions,
M i n u t e 1.)
Air Operations.
Naval
Operations.
Shipping losses.
Military
Operations.
1. The Chiefs of Staff gave the following reports in amplifica­
tion of the information contained in Cabinet War Room Records
502-505.
A cheerful telegram had been received from the A.O.C., Malta.
I n the recent heavy air attacks our fighters had brought down about
25 enemy aircraft and anti-aircraft guns about 12.
The Prime Minister emphasised the importance of maintaining
a strong air defence a t Malta. Adequate fighter reinforcements
must be sent. H e asked the Chief of the Imperial General Staff
to ascertain the state of the A A . ammunition reserve.
The Chief of the Air Staff undertook to make enquiries as to
the damage suffered by the Hipper class cruiser a t Brest.
Particulars were given of the damage sustained by Illustrious
from the dive-bombing attacks on the 10th, 17th and 19th J a n u a r y .
During the previous four days we had lost ten ships, three by
U-boat action, one by mine, two by enemy aircraft and three by
raider action.
I n discussion as to measures to reduce losses the First Lord of
the Admiralty
undertook that statistics should be worked out
showing the losses of stragglers from convoys—
(a) as included among ships sailing in convoys;
(b) as included among ships sailing independently.
Preparations for the attack on Tobruk had been delayed owing
to sand storms.
Libya.
Abyssinia.
The Italians were falling back on the Kassala front.
The W a r Cabinet took note of these statements.
The Balkans.
Assistance
t o Greece.
(Previous ,
Reference:
W.M. (41) 7th
Conclusions,
M i n u t e 2.)
France.
Relations with
the V i c h y
Government.
2. The Lord Privy Seal reported the decisions taken by the
Defence Committee (Operations) on the 16th January.
A record of the discussion is contained i n the Secretary's
Standard File of W a r Cabinet Conclusions.
3. The W a r Cabinet were given the latest information as to
the attitude of the Vichy Government.
:,
A record of the discussion is contained in the Secretary's
Standard File of W a r Cabinet Conclusions.
(Previous
Reference:
W . M . (40) 3 1 1 t h
Conclusions,
M i n u t e 5.)
4. Discussion took place on the state of readiness of our anti­
gas preparations. The following points were made :—
^
Precautionary
Minister of Home Security said t h a t civilian gas­
masks had been examined in the previous summer and
Measures,
found in good condition. The whole question of our
(Previous
anti-gas preparations was being discussed by the Civil
Reference:
Defence Executive Sub-Committee on the following day.
W.M. (41) 7th
H e would report later to the W a r Cabinet.
Conclusions, (ii) There had been reports t h a t the Germans were p u t t i n g new
Minute 6.)
ingredients into the filters of their gas-masks. W e had
Chemical
Warfare,
T
h
e
W A R CABINET 8 (41).
CONTENTS.
Minute
No.
1.
v.:,':
2.
Subject.
Naval, Military and Air Operations
.
Air O p e r a t i o n s :
Naval Operations:
Shipping losses.
Military O p e r a t i o n s :
Libya.
Abyssinia.
Page
39
.
The Balkans
39
A s s i s t a n c e t o Greece.
3.
France
....
39
Relations with the Vichy Government.
4.
i.
5.
Chemical Waifare
39
Precautionary Measures.
Man Power
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
40
Measures to meet Production requirements.
6.
W a r Aims
....
41
Naval, Military
1. The Chiefs of Staff gave the following reports in amplifica­
and Air
tion of the information contained in Cabinet W a r Room Records
Operations.
502-505.
(Previous
Eef e r e n e e :
W.M. (41) 7 t h
Conclusions,
Minute 1.)
Air Operations.
Naval
Operations.
Shipping l o s s e s .
Military
Operations.
A cheerful telegram h a d been received from the A.O.C., Malta.
I n the recent heavy air attacks our fighters had brought down about
25 enemy aircraft and anti-aircraft guns about 12.
The Prime Minister emphasised the importance of maintaining
a strong air defence at Malta. Adequate fighter reinforcements
must be sent. H e asked the Chief of the Imperial General Staff
to ascertain the state of the A.A. ammunition reserve.
The Chief of the A ir Staff undertook to make enquiries as to
the damage suffered by the Hipper class cruiser a t Brest.
P a r t i c u l a r s were given of the damage sustained by Illustrious
from the dive-bombing attacks on the 10th, 17th a n d 19th J a n u a r y .
D u r i n g the previous four days we had lost ten ships, three by
U-boat action, one by mine, two by enemy aircraft and three by
raider action.
I n discussion as to measures to reduce losses the First Lord of
the Admiralty
undertook t h a t statistics should; be worked out
showing the losses of stragglers from convoys—
(a) as included among ships sailing in convoys;
(5) as included among ships sailing independently.
Preparations for the attack on Tobruk had been delayed owing
to sand storms.
Libya.
Abyssinia.
The Italians were falling back on the Kassala front.
The W a r Cabinet took note of these statements.
The Balkans.
Assistance
to Greece.
(Previous ,
Eeference:
W.M. (41) 7 t h
Conclusions,
Minute 2.)
Franee.
Relations w i t h
the V i c h y
Government.
2. The Lord Privy Seal reported the decisions taken by the
Defence Committee (Operations) on the 16th J a n u a r y .
A record of the discussion is contained in the Secretary'&
Standard File of W a r Cabinet Conclusions.
3. The W a r Cabinet were given the latest information as to
the attitude of the Vichy Government.
A record of the discussion is contained in the Secretary's
Standard File of W a r Cabinet Conclusions.
(Previous
Eeference:
W.M. (40) 3 1 1 t h
Conclusions,
Minute 5.)
Chemical
Warfare.
Precautionary
Measures.
(Previous
Eeference:
W.M. (41) 7th
Conclusions, .
Minute 6.)
4. Discussion took place on the state of readiness of our anti­
gas preparations. The following points were m a d e : —
(i) The Minister of Home Security said t h a t civilian gas­
masks h a d been examined in the previous summer and
found in good condition. The whole question of our
anti-gas preparations was being discussed by the Civil
Defence Executive Sub-Committee on the following day.
H e would report later to the W a r Cabinet.
(ii) There had been reports t h a t the Germans wei p u t t i n g new
mgi edients into the filters of their j i c t n - m c t s i '
taken similar steps, but it, would be as well t h a t the
Civil Defence Research Committee should look into the
matter again. .
(iii) If we were to give special publicity to anti-gas precautions
i n this country, the enemy might treat this as a pretext
for starting gas warfare, on the ground t h a t our
precautions showed t h a t we meant to use gas ourselves.
The suggestion was made t h a t the accounts of
German gas preparations might be allowed to become
public in the United States of America.
The W a r C a b i n e t ­
(1) Took note of the above discussion.
(2) Invited the Chiefs of Staff to consider the suggestion in (iii)
above.
Man-Power.
Measures to
m e e t Production
Requirements.
5. The W a r Cabinet had before them a Note by the Minister
of Labour and National Service ( W . P . (G) (41) 8 ) , covering a
Memorandum on Labour Policy submitted by him to the Production
Executive.
The main features of the scheme were that the Minister of
Labour, after consultation with the Supply Department concerned,
might declare the work of any undertaking to be national work;
t h a t restrictions were placed on the termination of employment in
such undertakings, subject to appeal to an Industrial T r i b u n a l ;
that the Minister would use his powers of direction and of registra­
tion to the extent t h a t might be necessary to ensure an adequate
supply of labour on national work; and that the scheme of reserva­
tion from military service should be recast with a view to basing
reservation increasingly on the actual work done by each man, as
well as on his age and occupation.
The Minister of Labour said that the scheme had been approved
t h a t day by the Production Executive, subject to amendments to
paragraphs 3, 6 (ii) and 10.
I n discussion, the Minister of Labour said that the proposals
in the P a p e r would be referred to the Advisory Council of
Employers and Trade Unions. If the scheme was accepted by the
W a r Cabinet, he proposed to include the main features of it, but
not the details, in the speech he was to make in the House of
Commons on the following day in the Debate on Production.
The Minister added, t h a t he would not use his powers under
p a r a g r a p h 6 to assume responsibility for the payment of full wages
to persons compulsorily transferred if found to be incompetent.
-
The Prime Minister said t h a t he favoured the adoption of this
bold and comprehensive scheme: I t was clear t h a t in the ensuing
months we were bound to feel a n increasing stringency of labour
for munitions production.
;
;'.
T
'
'
The W a r C a b i n e t Approved the scheme set out in the Minister of Labour's
Memorandum, subject to the following amendments : ­
(1) The substitution for p a r a g r a p h 3 of the f o l l o w i n g : - r
The Minister will use his powers of registration
and of direction through National Service Officers
to whatever extent may be;necessary to ensure a n
adequate supply of labour on national work. I n t h e
exercise of these powers the Minister is authorised
to satisfy himself t h a t the wages and conditions
of work-are-suitable a n d . t h a t adequate provision
exists for the housing, feeding and transport of the
workpeople concerned.
. (2) The insertion of the word " e x c e p t i o n a l " before
" hardship " in p a r a g r a p h 6 (ii).
(3) The substitution for p a r a g r a p h 10 of the following :—
If in regard to any undertaking declared to be
national work the Minister is satisfied t h a t the
Managers are unable or unwilling to make suitable
arrangements for personnel management Or work­
shop consultation, he may report the matter to the
Supply Minister concerned, who may in his
discretion either (a) appoint a personnel controller
for that undertaking with whom shall rest respon­
sibility for ail engagements and terminations of
employment and for such other matters touching
the welfare of the employees as he may determine;
or (b) replace the managers by others; or (c) take
such other steps as he thinks fit.
War Aims.
(Previous
Reference:
W.M. (40) 2 9 2 n d
Conclusions,
Minute 8.)
6. I n connection with a Question by Mr. Mander, for answer
by the P r i m e Minister on the following day, the War Cabinet had
a short discussion on W a r Aims.
One view p u t forward was that any statement which confined
itself to generalities would not strike home. (In this connection
it was suggested t h a t the draft statement circulated as W . P . (G)
(41) 1, while admirable in many respects, would not, in its present
form, impress public opinion.) On the other hand any statement
which p u t forward specific proposals would be bound to give rise to
difficulties.
Another point of view was t h a t there was a considerable
demand in many sections of opinion for a statement, expressed in
general principles, of what we were fighting for. No such statement
had been issued by the present Government.
I t was also pointed out that, on the last occasion when this
matter had been discussed, it had been urged t h a t a statement
should be made on behalf of this country before President
Roosevelt's I n a u g u r a l Speech. The inaugural speech had now been
made, and there was a good deal to be said for waiting to see how
the position developed in the United States. Would the " LendLease B i l l " pass into law in the United States within, say, the
next month, and without substantial modification?
The Foreign Secretary
informed the W a r Cabinet t h a t
Mr. Maynard Keynes was at work on material to rebut the economic
and financial aspect of Germany's propaganda for a new World
Order under German domination.
The W a r C a b i n e t Invited the P r i m e Minister to reply to Mr. Mander's
Question in such a manner as to leave the way open for a
statement of our W a r Aims to be made in general terms
on behalf of the Government, but without implying t h a t
such a statement was likely to be made in the immediate
future.
-
Great George Street,
S.W.1,
January 20, 1941.