House of Commons of the United Kingdom

The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords. Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members (since 2010 General Election), who are known as Members of Parliament (MPs). Members are ...

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Documents about House of Commons of the United Kingdom

Tuesday 30th January 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet suppresses report on health, housing conditions in West Indies. PM: “Would inflict serious damage on war effort”
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Samuel Hoare
person John Reith, 1st Baron Reith
place Finland
place Caribbean
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
 

Friday 1st March 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet told shipping situation “greatest bottleneck" in whole war effort. Losses cause 10% cut in projected food supply
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Samuel Hoare
person Harold Wilson
person Andrew Duncan
person John Simon, 1st Viscount Simon
place Great Britain
place Finland
place Isle of Portland
place Narvik
organisation Ministry of Supply
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM Chamberlain arranges question to be asked in House of Commons to publicly confirm UK commitment to Finland
person Alexander Cadogan
person William Lyon Mackenzie King
place Finland
place Moscow
place Narvik
place Stockholm
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Labour Party (UK)
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Congress and the War.

extract Marquess of Zetland circulates Viceroy’s summary of India talks. Gandhi: “No meeting ground whatever” with Mr. Jinnah
place Great Britain
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Indian National Congress
organisation Congress Working Committee
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet resolves to order dispersal of ground forces prepared for Scandinavian expedition within hours
place Finland
place Narvik
place West Germany
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
 

Meeting minutes

extract Approach to be made to Japanese government to limit trade with Germany and Russia. Military aid to Finland halted
place Great Britain
place Finland
place Russian Empire
place East Germany
place Hong Kong
place Europe
place Tokyo
place Iran
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation United States Department of State
organisation Minister of Economic Warfare
 

Meeting minutes

extract Churchill reports on defences after Scarpa attack. Warns of general feeling “Germans used bombs…we only dropped leaflets”
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Walter Hines Page
person Adolf Hitler
person Winston Churchill
person Neville Chamberlain
place Finland
place Gisborne, New Zealand
place Hong Kong
place Turkey
place Gibraltar
place South America
organisation Home Office
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
organisation Scapa
organisation Home Fleet
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet approves development of standard men’s suit to save wool. Halifax warns against “depression” over policy failures
person Sumner Welles
person Harold Wilson
person Frederick Marquis, 1st Earl of Woolton
place New York, Lincolnshire
place Finland
place Halifax Peninsula
place Brussels
place Turkey
place Europe
place West Germany
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Scapa
 

Meeting minutes

extract Paul Reynaud likely to be new Prime Minister of France. No change in policy apparent after Hitler-Mussolini meeting
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Adolf Hitler
place South Africa
place Great Britain
place Paris
place Rome
organisation Home Office
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Hopatcong High School
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
organisation Home Fleet
 

Monday 17th June 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet told French have ceased fire. Petain has broadcast that “with a broken heart” he requested Armistice last night
extract General Dill: UK must "take a leaf out of the Germans book", organise special squadrons of Storm Troopers. Cabinet agrees
extract Anthony Eden warns local defence volunteers "largely a broomstick army". Shortage of good officers in home defence forces
extract Halifax: “No information” on Soviet plan in Baltic. Clear extension of influence in Lithuania, similar designs on Estonia
extract Belgian Foreign Minister requests facilities for evacuation of 30-35,000 Belgian troops to UK. PM: We will “do our best”
extract Cabinet directs telegram permitting French to negotiate Armistice only in exchange for their fleet be resent to M. Petain
extract RAF ordered to evacuate from south of France. BEF now evacuating via Nantes and Cherbourg. 50,000 troops currently remain
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person Ronnie Campbell
person Farouk of Egypt
place Great Britain
place Russian Empire
place Egypt
place Halifax Peninsula
place West Germany
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation German Army
organisation British Army
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Hopatcong High School
organisation House of Lords
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
 

Monday 1st July 1940

Meeting minutes

extract War Cabinet approves despatch of troops from India to Iraq. Colonial Secretary: Early introduction of force "essential"
extract PM: Growth in scheme to evacuate children abroad "defeatist", must be "sternly discouraged". Entry to scheme to be closed
extract General Dill: De Gaulle has been addressing French troops in UK. 1,900 volunteers have been assembled at White City
extract Admiralty reports ten Italian submarines have been sunk in three weeks since Italy joined war
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Charles de Gaulle
person Clive Anderson
person Robert Craigie (diplomat)
person Leo Amery
place Great Britain
place Halifax Peninsula
place Madagascar
place Iraq
place Hong Kong
place British Cameroons
place North America
place Nigeria
place Syria
place Burma
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation French Foreign Legion
 

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax informs Cabinet President Roosevelt has agreed to joint Anglo-American "technical naval discussions" in London
extract Minister of Labour admits that over 75,000 women registered for war work in London alone have no jobs available for them
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person Samuel Hoare
person Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso
person Clement Attlee
person Robert Craigie (diplomat)
place Portugal
place Halifax Peninsula
place North America
place Tokyo
organisation Home Office
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation Royal Navy
 

Meeting minutes

extract Attlee warns of "disquiet" in House of Commons over conditions in UK internment camps. Cabinet asks him investigate
extract Cabinet concerned at likely fall of Japanese government. May be replaced by anti-British regime "who might declare war"
extract Halifax: Signs France will not "close down" relations with UK entirely. Proposes UK Consul at Vichy. Cabinet accepts
extract Admiralty to tell France UK will "take no further action" against French ships in French Colonial or North African ports
extract General Dill: "No doubt" Germans assembling force in Norway. "Might" be for raid on Scotland, Shetland, Orkney or Faroes
extract Air Chief: “Harassing raids” on south and west coast ports yesterday. (Docks, shipping). Casualties “greater than usual”
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person Jean Bart
person Robert Vansittart, 1st Baron Vansittart
place Halifax Peninsula
place Eyre Peninsula
place Turkey
place Malta
place Gibraltar
organisation Home Office
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract UK to pay compensation to families of French sailors killed in Oran attacks. "Little hope" restoring diplomatic relations
extract Lord Halifax: Much depends on new Foreign Minister. If M. Hiratore UK will "have to expect a definitely pro-Axis policy"
extract Reuters reporting Japanese Government has fallen, likely to be replaced by a "fusion of parties" under Prince Konoye
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Samuel Hoare
person Clement Attlee
person Robert Craigie (diplomat)
place Tokyo
organisation Home Office
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation House of Commons of Canada
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet moves control of camps from War to Home Office. Internees "actively hostile" to fascist regimes to be released
extract Chamberlain tells Cabinet he is "disturbed greatly" by a "large number of complaints" over internment conditions
extract Food Ministry to add vitamins to white bread for public health. Public will not "eat brown bread if they could get white"
extract 11,000 French sailors at Aintree "becoming very restive". War Cabinet approves immediate repatriation in French ships
extract Air Chief reports little activity due to weather conditions. German losses in last two days amount to two "possibles"
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person Neville Chamberlain
place Somaliland
place Egypt
place Halifax Peninsula
organisation Home Office
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
 

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax: If Britons arrested in Tokyo not returned within 2-3 days UK should “seize ten or twelve Japanese subjects”
person Robert Craigie (diplomat)
place Cranborne
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
 

Thursday 15th August 1940

Meeting minutes

extract General Dill: UK forces in Somaliland withdrawing after Italian attack "with hopelessly superior forces and fire power"
extract Home Secretary believes find of dropped German parachutes "plan to undermine morale". No evidence of paratroops landing
extract Air Secretary: Despite "intense air fighting" British figures carefully tested and "almost certainly under the mark"
extract UK Embassy Washington warns UK/German claims of downed aircraft "so contradictory" US may think both sides "telling lies"
extract Air Chief: Figures for fighting over UK yesterday: 8 RAF machines lost (3 pilots saved), 30 Enemy destroyed, 8 probable
extract Air Chief: RAF attacked targets overnight in France, Belgium and Holland. "Good results" against oil target near Bordeaux
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Clive Anderson
person William Anderson (RAAF officer)
place Somaliland
place Northern Ireland
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Wednesday 4th September 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet approves the use of troops on harvest work. "Arrangements to be made for them to get free beer"
extract Aircraft Production Minister reports unauthorised work stoppages in Solihull due to air raid warnings. Cabinet to discuss
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Walter Hines Page
person Kingsley Wood
place Singapore
place Europe
place Republic of China
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation House of Lords
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation 335th Fighter Squadron
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet authorise Home Security Ministry to evacuate non-essential population of s.coast towns and Canterbury, Ipswitch
extract PM emphasises importance of attacking Calais and Boulogne to affect morale of Germans "assembled ready to invade" Britain
extract Home Security Minister: Hospitals hit "will be quickly repaired". All fires now under control despite renewed attack
extract Air Chief: "Considerable damage" done but "comparatively little effect" on factories engaged on war production
extract Air Chief: Enemy air activity yesterday "on a considerably reduced scale". Our losses 4, Enemy losses 7 (+3 probable)
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
place Gisborne, New Zealand
place Sudan
organisation Home Office
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation House of Lords
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation KEF
 

Telegrams Exchanged with His Majesty's Minister in Stockholm.

extract Halifax: UK Embassy Stockholm has received apparent German peace offer ("World to be divided"). Draft rejection attached
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
person Adolf Hitler
place Great Britain
place Finland
place East Germany
place Egypt
place Europe
place Republic of China
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
 

Meeting minutes

extract Foreign Office: Swiss do not believe story UK overflights due to navigational errors. Flights to be suspended temporarily
extract General Dill: Two Italian columns have occupied Sidi Barrani. It now seem three divisions have crossed Egyptian frontier
extract Air Secretary: Bad weather cancelled all UK bomber missions last night. Two German machines downed, 1 by barrage balloon
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Malcolm MacDonald
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
place Freetown
place Egypt
organisation Home Office
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM: Magnetic mines dropped on this country overnight. Blast will destroy glass "over a wide area". Glass to be conserved
extract Air Chef: Enemy activity mainly directed against London and SE yesterday. "A few raids" on Wales and the Midlands
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person Clement Attlee
place Malta
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM: US making "very large demands" over use of UK bases but "no further action" over supplying weapon. Diplomats to press
extract Foreign Office: Swiss took reply on airspace violations "fairly well". RAF now free to resume attacks on Northern Italy
extract Cabinet agrees UK will retaliate against German parachute mines "by dropping mines over Berlin"
extract Home Secretary: Considerable damage to London in last 24 hours. Continued dropping of parachute mines damaging wide area
extract First Sea Lord: Only 15 children reported safe from City of Benares. Cabinet consider ending overseas evacuation scheme
extract Air Chief: UK bombing to concentrate on "invasion ports". Attacks on Berlin to resume "as soon as the weather favourable"
extract Air Chief: Air casualties during past 24 hours twelve aircraft, but 9 pilots safe. Enemy 46 (+ 16 probable, 19 damaged)
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
person Miles Lampson, 1st Baron Killearn
place Kassala
place Egypt
place Sudan
place Malta
place Nigeria
organisation Home Office
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet to temporarily suspend Government evacuation of children overseas. Parents still permitted to arrange privately
extract Cabinet cancel upcoming Newmarket race meeting but agrees "restricted number of race meetings should continue"
extract Sir Stafford Cripps in Moscow to "sound" M. Molotov on Soviet reaction to the new Pact between Germany, Italy and Japan
extract War Secretary Eden to consider request that military authorities make soldiers available to help clear London's streets
person Anthony Eden
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Stafford Cripps
person John Anderson (Australian politician)
person Clement Attlee
person Robert Craigie (diplomat)
place Egypt
place South Wales
place Moscow
place Liverpool
place Sudan
place East Anglia
organisation Home Office
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation KEF
 

Tuesday 1st October 1940

Compensation for War Damage to Property.

extract Chancellor of the Exchequer proposes 3% tax on property to pay for repair and reconstruction of bombed out houses
person Kingsley Wood
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
 

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax: Report Germans "sending train-loads of gas" to Belgium. PM unhappy with UK gas preparations. Attlee to enquire
extract Halifax: UK Ambassador Tokyo has informed Japanese that the Burma Road will reopen. Interview "passed off satisfactorily"
extract Halifax: UK Minister in Bucharest preparing to leave. "No doubt that British subjects being ill-treated in Roumania"
extract First Sea Lord: 5 more US Destroyers received and first 50,000 of 250,000 US rifles delivered. More "on their way"
extract First Sea Lord: Reports of "arrival of certain of General de Gaulle's forces" at ports in French Equatorial Africa
person Anthony Eden
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Charles de Gaulle
person Herbert Morrison
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
person Robert Craigie (diplomat)
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Singapore
place London, Ontario
place Africa
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Morning Star (UK newspaper)
organisation Daily Mirror
 

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax: Report invasion of UK postponed to Spring 1941. PM: "Premature to dismiss possibility of an attempt being made"
extract Air Chief: Enemy activity "rather heavier than usual" overnight. St. Paul's Cathedral hit, choir and altar badly damaged
extract Cabinet postpones Jewish recruiting campaign until US Presidential Election. Halifax: "No question" of abandoning scheme
extract Cabinet told Coventry aircraft factory strike now in 3rd week. Public feeling "said to be running high against strikers"
person Anthony Eden
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
person Stafford Cripps
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
person John Dill
place East Germany
place Egypt
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Sudan
place Libreville
place Washington
place Africa
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation British Army
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
 

Meeting minutes

extract Anderson: One-eighth of consumers in London cut off from domestic gas supplies. Position has been "static for some days"
extract Minister of Labour: Baking industry offering "time and a half" during air raid warnings. Will end "dangerous precedent"
extract Halifax: Washington opposed to "anything like a conference" in US, London or Singapore. Cooperation to remain technical
extract Admiralty: "Great improvement" in shipping losses last week but enemy sowing "very large quantities" of mines around UK
extract Air Chief: Main concentration of overnight bombing again on London. Liverpool also received "considerable attention"
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Stafford Cripps
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
person Samuel Hoare
person Malcolm MacDonald
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
person Miles Lampson, 1st Baron Killearn
place Egypt
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Iceland
place Singapore
place Sudan
place Washington
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM: If new measures not successful "necessary to raise again" question of the use of certain bases in Irish Free State
extract PM Churchill: Shipping losses of last few days "without precedent", 100,000 tons sunk. "Certain measures decided upon"
extract PM authorises strengthening Whitehall buildings to resist bombardment. Move to new steel framed buildings where possible
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
person Kingsley Wood
person Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso
person Clement Attlee
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
 

Meeting minutes

extract General Dill: "No confirmation" of this morning's Press report UK inflicted 400 losses on Italian forces in the Sudan
extract Air Chief: Enemy activity yesterday "on a reduced scale". Attacks mostly from Norway where weather conditions were better
extract Cabinet directs War Secretary to decline invitation to Iraq on security grounds. Foreign Office will blame lack of time
extract PM proposes new Supreme War Council including Dominions, Free France, Holland, Belgium, Norway, Poland and Czechoslovakia
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
person Stafford Cripps
person Maxime Weygand
person Kingsley Wood
place Egypt
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Iraq
place Madrid
place Sudan
place Khartoum
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Czechoslovakia
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Hopatcong High School
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
organisation Government of Canada
 

Wednesday 6th November 1940

Meeting minutes

extract UK Naval Attaché Washington has seen "hypothetical" US Navy plans for entering war. Far East "second place" to Europe
extract Cabinet told Roosevelt likely to be re-elected "by a large majority". Election may turn out to be "democratic landslide"
extract General Dill: Indications Italian advance in Western Desert may be resumed. We might expect an attack about 9th November
extract Halifax to press Bulgaria for assurance she will not attack Greece, in order to release Greek troops for Albanian front
extract General Dill: Greek army now mobilised, Italian morale low. UK reinforcing Crete so Greek Division can fight on mainland
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Charles de Gaulle
person Duff Cooper
person Samuel Hoare
person Ernest Bevin
person Kingsley Wood
person John Dill
place Greece
place Egypt
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Europe
place Dakar
place Bulgaria
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation House of Lords
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation United States Navy
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet to take no action over criticisms of MI5 over Arandora Star sinking. "A pity" to revive public interest in this
extract Prime Minister Churchill sends personal message to FDR Roosevelt congratulating him on his re-election as US President
extract General Dill: Greeks "getting worried" by Italian attacks in Epirus sector. "Rather diminished satisfaction" at Greek HQ
extract General Dill: Greeks advancing in Northern sector. "Considerable number" of Italian prisoners taken, Greek losses few
extract Admiralty: Heavy attacks on convoys by Luftwaffe yesterday. PM: Attacks emphasise need for more air support of convoys
extract Air Chief: Overloaded aircraft from Malta have crashed on bombing runs to Italy. Orders issued to prevent this in future
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Oliver Lyttelton, 1st Viscount Chandos
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
person William Lyon Mackenzie King
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
person John Dill
place Wellington, Nevada
place Greece
place Egypt
place Cranborne
place Sudan
place Malta
place Kismayo
place Berlin
place Valona, California
place Syria
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
 

Meeting minutes

extract Chancellor: Greeks have misunderstood Treasury's position. UK offering "them more than they had asked". First advance £5m
extract Halifax: Greek government "keenly disappointed" by "ungenerous attitude" of UK Treasury in supplying financial aid
extract Morrison: Local people "shaken" and "bitter" but "kept their heads". King's visit "of the utmost value" recovering morale
extract Morrison: Damage to munitions production in Coventry less extensive than feared but water and gas positions "bad"
extract PM Churchill: Clear we cannot increase our air reinforcements to Greece beyond what we have already arranged to send
extract General Dill: Greeks have crossed Albanian border, captured town of Bilishti. General Papagos requests more air support
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Stafford Cripps
place Athens
place Greece
place Malta
place Gibraltar
place Berlin
place Albania
organisation Home Office
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
organisation United States Navy
organisation BBC
 

Meeting minutes

extract War Cabinet approves "only one day" of holiday for workers at Christmas
person Herbert Morrison
person Duff Cooper
person Jean Bart
place Athens
place Greece
place Madrid
place Malta
place Gibraltar
place Washington
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
 

Meeting minutes

extract Morrison: Information on Birmingham attack "rather scanty" but though bad, seemingly not so serious as that on Coventry
extract PM Churchill: We are not in a position to increase our air reinforcements
extract General Dill: Greeks holding position. Advance into Albania "hardly practicable" until enemy air attacks countered
extract PM to make further appeal to Roosevelt to ask whether USA could spare more destroyers to counter this "additional strain"
extract Admiralty: U-Boat activity has extended to West Africa coast, a "new and important area". 4 vessels sunk in last few days
extract Air Chief: 400 enemy aircraft over UK overnight. Attacks on London, Birmingham ("considerable damage") Midlands, E.Anglia
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Charles de Gaulle
person Herbert Morrison
person Miles Lampson, 1st Baron Killearn
place Freetown
place Greece
place East Anglia
place Berlin
place Albania
place Africa
place Bulgaria
place West Germany
place Libya
organisation Home Office
organisation Luftwaffe
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Home Fleet
 

Meeting minutes

extract Churchill: If Eire had been willing to come into the war "public opinion might well have brought about a united Ireland"
extract PM De Valera remains "totally unreceptive" to UK use of Irish ports, thinks US entry to the war would make no difference
extract Air and Information Ministers to meet newspaper editors over reports of bombing which convey information to the enemy
extract General Dill: Greeks making further advances in Northern and Pindus sectors, meeting with more resistance in the Epirus
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
person Samuel Hoare
person John Maffey, 1st Baron Rugby
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
person John Dill
place Plymouth
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Albania
place Bristol
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
 

Monday 9th December 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Morrison: Execution of 2 enemy spies, captured entering country, tomorrow. "No reason" to accept appeal for clemency
extract Beaverbrook: "Promising developments" in progress against night raiders but "immediate and spectacular results" unlikely
extract Morrison: Overnight attack on London caused "considerable damage". Large number of incendiaries, several heavy fires
extract Admiralty: Gales causing "distress" to convoy shipping. Destroyers also damaged by the bad weather. Tugs despatched
extract General Dill: Albanian Italian resistance "still energetic" at Pogradets but Kelcyre evacuated. Greeks advancing steadily
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Herbert Morrison
place Greece
place Valona, California
place Bristol
place Republic of China
place Libya
place Tripoli
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation Luftwaffe
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation House of Lords
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
 

Meeting minutes

extract Morrison: Many fires reported in Birmingham but all under control. 12 factories, 8 schools, 5 churches, 2 cinemas damaged
extract PM Churchill to consult with President Roosevelt before ordering economic action against Ireland
extract Chiefs of Staff: RAF have inflicted severe losses on Italian Tank Group and a Blackshirt Division withdrawing to Sollum
extract Chiefs of Staff: Sidi Barrani captured by British forces. 4th Armoured Brigade making for Sollum, now west of Buq Buq
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Herbert Morrison
person John Maffey, 1st Baron Rugby
person Andrew Duncan
place Greece
place Egypt
place North America
place Valona, California
place Morocco
place Madrid, New York
place Libya
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation House of Lords
 

United States activities in the West Indies and other British Dependencies.

extract Colonial Secretary: "Gravely disturbed" by US demands in Caribbean. We risk "being false" to the Colonies and UK public
person Telesforo Trinidad
place Bermuda
place Caribbean
place Jamaica
place Washington
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation United States Department of State
 

Monday 6th January 1941

Meeting minutes

extract Eden: News from Bulgaria "disquieting". A number of indications government coming "under strong pressure from Germany"
extract PM: Attack "brilliantly executed", casualties "extraordinarily small". No need to emphasise there was not "much fighting"
extract General Dill: 25,000 prisoners taken at capture of Bardia "including 2 Corps Commanders and 4 Senior Generals"
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Samuel Hoare
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
person John Dill
place Gibraltar
place Albania
place Bulgaria
place West Germany
place Libya
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM: We must consider whether we can "now afford some further assistance to Greece" by reinforcing our air detachment
extract Chiefs of Staff: We have "greatly relieved the pressure on our forces in the Middle East"
extract Chiefs of Staff: Operations in the last month have accounted for a third of the total Italian strength in Libya
extract Cabinet informed total number of prisoners captured at Bardia now over 32,000. Rapid advance being made towards Tobruk
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person John Anderson (Australian politician)
person Kingsley Wood
place Greece
place Libya
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Hopatcong High School
 

Meeting minutes

extract Renewed warning of German plans for gas attack. "Very few people" now carry gas masks. Home Secretary to consider steps
extract Morrison: "Sporadic, but widespread" air attack yesterday. "As many as 100 people might be trapped" by bomb in Lambeth
extract Air Chief: Overnight raid on Wilhelmshaven "very successful". Two enemy machines brought down near London last night
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Hugh Dalton
person Herbert Morrison
person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
person John Dill
person Andrew Duncan
place Greece
place Cranborne
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation House of Lords
 

Meeting minutes

extract General Dill: Preparations for attack on Tobruk delayed owing to sand storms. Italians falling back on the Kassala front
extract Admiralty: Damage to HMS Illustrious not serious but 10 ships lost in last 4 days, 3 by U-boat action, 3 by raider action
extract PM: Important to maintain strong air defence at Malta. Fighter reinforcements must be sent, AA ammunition reserve checked
extract "Cheerful telegram" from Air Officer Commanding Malta: about 37 enemy aircraft downed in the recent heavy air attacks
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Oliver Lyttelton, 1st Viscount Chandos
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
person Clement Attlee
place Greece
place Cranborne
place Malta
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Libya
organisation Home Office
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Hopatcong High School
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet agrees "some easement" of ban on Press and broadcast publicity of anti-gas measures
extract PM: President hopes "Lease-Lend" Bill will be passed into law "towards the end of February"
extract PM Churchill: President Roosevelt has requested a cable of "a list of our most immediate demands" for the next few months
extract Eden: Warning Belgian King "might make a deal" with Germany. Private messages should be sent "to stiffen his attitude"
extract PM: "White population in Abyssinia" might be "in great danger" if anti-Italian revolt spreads. Eden to watch situation
extract General Dill: In Eritrea our forces are closing in on positions round Agordat and Barentu. Over 1,100 prisoners captured
extract General Dill: In Libya, the enemy force at Mechili "stronger than anticipated" but plans are in hand for dealing with it
extract Air Chief: Evidence 20% of German air strength moved from aerodromes facing UK to other theatres or to German interior
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
person Kingsley Wood
person Ernest Brown
person John Dill
person Andrew Duncan
place Cranborne
place Eyre Peninsula
place Eritrea
place Africa
organisation Home Office
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation United States Navy
organisation Royal Navy
 

Thursday 6th February 1941

Meeting minutes

extract PM: US to despatch 250,000 more rifles and 50m rounds of ammunition. This cargo must be distributed between several ships
extract General Dill: Signs of Italian movements out of Benghazi. General Wavell has ordered our Forces to press on rapidly
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
person Malcolm MacDonald
person Ernest Brown
person Clement Attlee
person John Dill
person Leo Amery
place Cranborne
place Turkey
place Burma
place Libya
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
 

Meeting minutes

extract Foreign Secretary Eden to consult President Roosevelt on whether to detain the Asaka Maru at "the risk of war" with Japan
extract PM Churchill: In what way should our forces in the Middle East now be employed?
extract Admiralty: 24,000 tons of merchant shipping lost since last report made to the War Cabinet
person Anthony Eden
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
person Duff Cooper
person Francisco Franco
person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
person Kingsley Wood
person Ernest Brown
person Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso
person Clement Attlee
person John Dill
place Cranborne
place Gibraltar
place Republic of China
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Libya
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation House of Lords
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
 

Political and economic relations with Belgium.

extract Eden: Belgian government willing to pool gold reserves with us in exchange for trade concessions after the war
person Anthony Eden
place Great Britain
place Europe
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM directs Japanese vessel Asaka Maru be permitted to travel to Lisbon to "give more time" to consider action to be taken
extract Cadogan: Unconfirmed report all Japanese ships have received orders to return to Japan by the 1st March
extract Cadogan: Yugoslavia seems to be "under German pressure". Report Italian forces in Tripoli being evacuated by sea to Italy
extract PM: Hope Bomber Command realise we do not press for bombing operations to be undertaken when weather unfavourable
extract Air Chief: Fog on 11th rendered landing impossible. Crews ordered to bale out, 22 aircraft lost. All but 5 crew safe
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Andrew Greenwood
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Kingsley Wood
place Cranborne
place Malta
place Kismayo
place Lisbon, New York
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cadogan: General Franco refused "abject appeal for help" from Signor Mussolini at their recent meeting
extract Remaining UK assets in America to be given to US government. PM: We will receive "far more than we could possibly give"
extract PM: Japan offers to mediate between Hitler and ourselves. Will make clear our war purpose is the eradication of Hitlerism
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
person Duff Cooper
person William Patrick Stuart-Houston
person Francisco Franco
person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
person Adolf Hitler
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
place Cranborne
place Africa
organisation Home Office
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
 

Tuesday 4th March 1941

Meeting minutes

extract PM Churchill: "If resolutely tackled over the next four months, the position should show great improvement"
extract PM Churchill: "Above all, the offensive spirit must be retained in meeting the enemy's attacks on our merchant shipping"
extract PM Churchill: This is the Battle of the Atlantic which must be fought out in the shipyards and the docks, and on the seas
extract PM describes measures being taken to improve shipping situation, reduce the volume of merchant shipping awaiting repair
extract General Wavell predicts "difficulties" for German forces "if they tried to stage an early offensive against Cyrenaica"
extract Admiralty: Preliminary reports indicate raid against the Lofoten Islands "proceeding satisfactorily"
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
place Gibraltar
place Tripoli, Greece
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
organisation Minister of Economic Warfare
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM: US to send 2 food ships to Unoccupied France. These must be allowed to pass blockade, subsequent ships to be stopped
extract Cabinet Minister suggests attack on Clydebank indicates Germans targeting "centre of communism and disaffection"...
extract Morrison: Serious damage last night at Greenwich, Edmonton and Poplar gasworks. 11 local authorities without gas
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
person Herbert Morrison
place Greece
place Cranborne
place Washington
place Africa
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation United States Department of State
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
organisation International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
 

Thursday 1st May 1941

Meeting minutes

extract PM Churchill pays tribute to Prime Minister Menzies who is attending his final meeting of the War Cabinet "on this visit"
extract Eden: Iraqi Army has taken up positions on hills surrounding our aerodrome at Habbaniya. RAF will be used if need be
extract Morrison: Plymouth has suffered air attack 5 nights running. Report of unofficial nightly exodus to surrounding districts
extract General Dill: Evacuation operations from Greece now complete. Total Army personnel got away about 43,000 (out of 55,000)
person Herbert Morrison
person Duff Cooper
place Greece
place Cranborne
place Iraq
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Hopatcong High School
 

Meeting minutes

extract Eden: I think Stalin's open assumption of power shows he realises the clouds are gathering
extract PM: Enemy "short of ammunition, petrol and food". "With good fortune the Battle of Egypt might well turn in our favour"
extract PM informs Cabinet Operation Tiger, to send tank reinforcements to General Wavell through the Mediterranean, is underway
extract Air Chief: "Light night" led to 23 enemy aircraft being brought down. Air Secretary to congratulate Fighter Command
person Walter Hines Page
person Herbert Morrison
person Joseph Stalin
place Egypt
place Iceland
place Manchester, New Hampshire
place Syria
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation United Nations
 

Meeting minutes

extract War Secretary directed to announce Ethiopia under temporary "military guidance". PM: No need to concern ourselves unduly
extract Minister of Information to "give guidance" to Press on Hess's "bloody" record. Coverage has been "almost laudatory"
extract PM: Rudolf Hess will be held as a prisoner of war. He is also a prisoner of State and should be kept in isolation
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
place Greece
place Cranborne
place Iraq
place Caribbean
place Ethiopia
place Africa
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract Home Secretary to inform Northern Ireland PM War Cabinet "disposed to apply conscription" and seek view of NI government
extract General Dill: All objectives taken in recent Libya operations but Capuzzo afterwards lost to a counter-attack
extract PM Churchill to bring the shipping position in the Central Atlantic "to the notice of President Roosevelt"
person Alexander Cadogan
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
person James Craig, 1st Viscount Craigavon
place Cranborne
place Iraq
place Turkey
place Tobruk
place Syria
place Northern Ireland
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Libya
organisation Home Office
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
 

Meeting minutes

extract Admiralty: About 100 German survivors from the Bismarck picked up by our ships
extract Admiralty: Ships returning from action against Bismarck attacked off Irish coast. HMS Norfolk damaged, HMS Mashona sunk
person Herbert Morrison
person Stafford Cripps
place Cranborne
place Syria
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
 

Monday 16th June 1941

Meeting minutes

extract War Cabinet informed German concentration against Russia proceeding and "should be by now nearly complete"
extract General Dill: "No reason to be dissatisfied with the progress made" although a number of tanks put out of action by mines
extract General Dill: Attack in Western Desert underway. Enemy at Halfaya still resisting. Fort Capuzzo, Bir Waer in our hands
person Alexander Cadogan
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
place Portugal
place Russian Empire
place Cranborne
place Turkey
place Gibraltar
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM: Germany should be represented as an insatiable tyrant that attacked Russia to obtain material for carrying on the war
extract Cabinet told "no change" in position between Russia and Germany. Question raised over publicity "line" if war broke out
person Herbert Morrison
place Russian Empire
place Cranborne
place Cairo
place Beirut
place Washington
place Syria
place Burma
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation United States Department of State
 

Meeting minutes

extract Eden: Soviets ready to receive British Military Mission, provided we accept they will "give help as well as receive it"
extract General Dill: No information received from Russo-German front. Russian concentrations appear to be too far forward
extract Cabinet approves daylight bombing of industrial targets in Northern France. Air Chief to consider if warning to be given
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
person Duff Cooper
person Ronnie Campbell
person Stafford Cripps
place Finland
place Russian Empire
place Cranborne
place Moscow
place London, Ontario
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation Morning Star (UK newspaper)
organisation Labour Party (UK)
 

Meeting minutes

extract Attlee to nominate representatives from industry for Mission to United States. "Very unfortunate" details leaked to Press
extract Eden: Russians have bombed Finnish aerodromes. Prospects of Finnish neutrality being maintained "not very bright"
extract Eden: Spanish government apologises, promises compensation for damage to British Embassy Madrid in "organised riot"
extract General Dill: "Stiff fighting in Syria". Damascus and Merjayoun now in our hands. Have advanced 10-12 miles toward Beirut
extract General Dill: No first-hand information from USSR. Germans making some progress but Old Russian frontier not yet reached
person Walter Hines Page
person Duff Cooper
person Walter Citrine, 1st Baron Citrine
person Sumner Welles
place Finland
place Cranborne
place Madrid
place Moscow
place Turkey
place Gibraltar
place London, Ontario
place Beirut
place Syria
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Madrid, New York
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Hopatcong High School
organisation House of Lords
 

Meeting minutes

extract Soviet Ambassador told UK with Russia "up to the hilt in all military and economic measures for the defeat of Germany"
extract Cabinet authorises Foreign Secretary Eden to telegraph terms for a cessation of hostilities in Syria
extract Eden: Of utmost importance Syria operation concluded as early as possible. Delay having unhappy effect on other countries
extract General Dill: Russian military position appears very grave although German air and land losses have been considerable
extract General Dill: Palmyra now completely surrounded. Further reinforcements being sent to Syria
extract Air Chief: Heavy losses of bombers over last week "due to phenomenal light conditions". PM: "Our attacks must continue"
person Claude Auchinleck
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
person Oliver Lyttelton, 1st Viscount Chandos
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Charles de Gaulle
person Max Aitken, Lord Beaverbrook
person Walter Hines Page
place South Africa
place Murmansk
place East Germany
place Cranborne
place Iceland
place Moscow
place Cairo
place Turkey
place Syria
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place West Germany
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom