Neville Chamberlain

Arthur Neville Chamberlain (18 March 1869 – 9 November 1940) was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from May 1937 to May 1940. Chamberlain is best known for his appeasement foreign policy, and in particular for his signing of the Munich Agreement in 1938, conceding the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia to Germany. When ...

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Documents about Neville Chamberlain

Thursday 18th January 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet discusses supply and manpower. 48th Division moved to France, joining the British Expeditionary Force
person Anthony Eden
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Ernest Brown
person Andrew Duncan
person Neville Chamberlain
person John Simon, 1st Viscount Simon
person Oliver Stanley
organisation New Zealand Treasury
 

Meeting minutes

extract Progress in Italy talks, Soviets may swap Polish territory for German aid in Finland, explosion at Royal Gunpowder Factory
person Anthony Eden
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Ernest Brown
person Andrew Duncan
person Neville Chamberlain
person Arthur Robinson (Australian politician)
person John Simon, 1st Viscount Simon
person Oliver Stanley
place Greece
place Finland
place Slovakia
place Brussels
organisation United States Navy
 

Meeting minutes

extract Churchill announces loss HMS Exmouth. Finns bomb Kronstadt, Baltiski. German press accuse UK of violating Dutch neutrality
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Winston Churchill
person Neville Chamberlain
person John Simon, 1st Viscount Simon
person Oliver Stanley
place Finland
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation BBC
 

Meeting minutes

extract Confidential Annexe: Intelligence reports of new German heavy bombers. Chamberlain suggests naval attack on Petsamo
person Neville Chamberlain
place Murmansk
place Finland
place Turin
organisation Royal Navy
 

Monday 4th March 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax believes Finns have “no immediate intention of making terms” with USSR. Chamberlain predicts outcome in 24 hours
extract UK Ambassador Helsinki reports Finnish Foreign Minister “querulous not to say defeatist”. Repeats request for 100 bombers
extract Swedish government formally refuses to allow passage of Allied troops to assist Finland
person Alexander Cadogan
person Adolf Hitler
person Neville Chamberlain
person Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim
place Finland
place Russian Empire
place Narvik
place Berlin
place West Germany
organisation Hopatcong High School
 

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 Chief of Imperial General Staff says German offensive most likely on France-Luxembourg frontier
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Ronnie Campbell
person Neville Chamberlain
place Brussels
place Singapore
place Malta
place Libya
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation Scapa
organisation 335th Fighter Squadron
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet told leaflet drops now secondary to air reconnaissance. Danish Attaché: “Extensive damage” done by Sylt attack
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Neville Chamberlain
place Hong Kong
place Paris
place Gibraltar
place Denmark
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
organisation French Army
 

Meeting minutes

extract Dutch Foreign Minister rejects discussions with UK government over arrangements to resist German invasion of Netherlands
extract USSR offers to reopen trade talks with UK. Ambassador Maisky denies military alliance with Germany
person Harold Wilson
person Neville Chamberlain
place Athens
place Ankara
place Russian Empire
place Iraq
place Turkey
place Rome
organisation Home Office
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation RAF Coastal Command
 

Wednesday 3rd April 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Chamberlain: “Matters have now gone too far for us not to take action.” Date of April 8th set for operation
extract Halifax urges delay of minelaying to inform governments. War Secretary warns this would cause fall of French government
extract War Secretary: “Garbled report” of German force collecting at Rostock for action in Scandinavia. Swedish sources confirm
person Neville Chamberlain
place Ankara
place Halifax Peninsula
place Paris
place Oslo
place Istanbul
place Stockholm
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation Royal Navy
organisation Royal Marines
organisation Canadian Forces Maritime Command
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM Chamberlain defers decision on prize money for the Navy to the end of the war
extract French War Minister Daladier continues to resist Rhine mining operation. PM Chamberlain to personally intervene
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Neville Chamberlain
organisation Home Office
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
organisation United States Department of State
organisation Minister of Economic Warfare
organisation Scapa
organisation French Air Force
 

The Royal Message of Condolence, Memorial Scrolls and Plaques, the King's Certificate and Badge on Discharge.

extract PM presents agreed text from King George for message of condolence to relatives when family members are killed in service
person Neville Chamberlain
person Arthur Robinson (Australian politician)
organisation Ministry of Supply
organisation Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (Netherlands)
organisation Home Office
organisation Royal Navy
organisation Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
 

Meeting minutes

extract UK to support Afghans in case of Soviet aggression. Rhine mining operation abandoned at French insistence
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Ronnie Campbell
person Harold Wilson
person Neville Chamberlain
place Afghanistan
place Halifax Peninsula
place Singapore
place North America
place West Germany
organisation Home Office
organisation New Zealand Treasury
 

Sunday 12th May 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Germans advancing in Holland, Belgium. RAF has lost 76 aircraft in 48 hours. UK forces continuing to retreat in Norway
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Neville Chamberlain
place Great Britain
place Halifax Peninsula
 

Dispersal of Persons Resident in the Immediate Neighbourhood of Specific Targets.

extract Chamberlain circulates report on evacuation. No chance of "any appreciable response" from public until air attacks occur
person Neville Chamberlain
organisation New Zealand Treasury
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet meets for a second time. Chamberlain proposes near "totalitarian" powers for government in event of France's fall
person Neville Chamberlain
place Paris
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Additional Powers.

extract Chamberlain circulates report on government’s suggested new powers over labour, property and UK stock exchange and banks
person Neville Chamberlain
organisation Ministry of Supply
organisation New Zealand Treasury
 

Meeting minutes

extract Chamberlain reveals MP Maule Ramsay connected with treasonable “pro-German activities”. Cabinet favours his internment
person Neville Chamberlain
 

Meeting minutes

extract War Cabinet rejects French suggestion of an appeal to the US. Would confirm American “fears as to our weakness”
extract Chamberlain presents draft reply to French. "Intended to paint a picture" to persuade them worthwhile "to go on fighting"
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
person Neville Chamberlain
place Halifax Peninsula
 

Meeting minutes

extract Churchill: "Our success must depend first on our unity, then on our courage and endurance."
extract Churchill: “If we both stand out we may yet save ourselves from the fate of Denmark or Poland”
extract Churchill informs French PM Reynaud that the War Cabinet has decided it is not “the right moment” to approach Mussolini
extract Churchill: "Nations which went down fighting rose again but those which surrendered tamely were finished"
extract Chamberlain: Better for both UK and France “to play their part in the struggle” than to open negotiations with Mussolini
extract Halifax: UK may get better terms now, before France went out of the war and UK aircraft factories bombed than in 3 months
extract PM: “Clear” French wish Mussolini to act as intermediary with Herr Hitler. “Determined” not to get into this position
extract French again urge talks with Mussolini. Halifax says Italians want UK to request their mediation in European conflict
person Alexander Cadogan
person William Patrick Stuart-Houston
person Maxime Weygand
person Adolf Hitler
person Winston Churchill
person Bob Kerslake
person Neville Chamberlain
person Edward Spears
place Great Britain
place Malta
place Europe
place Gibraltar
place Denmark
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation United States Navy
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
organisation United Nations
organisation French Army
 

Meeting minutes

extract Chamberlain warns IRA “almost strong enough” to overrun “weak” Eire forces. UK must be ready to send troops
extract PM to send "encouraging message" to PM Reynaud. To focus on RAF success and rumours of low German morale and heavy losses
extract Press reports German paratroops landed near Paris. General Dill doubts this though next German move likely a Paris attack
extract 60,000 men behind perimeter line. Can hold for “two or three days” before Germans move artillery and beaches under fire
extract PM: Latest information that 77,000 men from BEF back in UK, 4000 en route. Conditions difficult, more small boats needed
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
person Neville Chamberlain
person Edward Spears
person Paul Reynaud
place Great Britain
place Paris
place Calais
 

Monday 10th June 1940

Meeting minutes

extract PM Churchill cancels proposed attack on German ships in Trondheim harbour on advice of Chamberlain and Chiefs of Staff
person Neville Chamberlain
place Trondheim
organisation Home Fleet
 

Meeting minutes

extract Belgian PM and 50 staff flown into London from Nantes. 1000 Canadian troops arriving for defence of Iceland today
extract Eden: Report from Information Minister on UK public opinion "not very encouraging". PM to broadcast speech on 18th
extract South African PM calls for UK occupation of Irish ports ahead of Germany. Chamberlain: UK should "insist" on IRA roundup
extract PM Reynaud offers meeting in France this afternoon. Churchill declines, UK sending assent for France to ask for terms
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Charles de Gaulle
person John Anderson (Australian politician)
person Winston Churchill
person Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso
person Neville Chamberlain
person Paul Reynaud
place South Africa
place Halifax Peninsula
place Iceland
place London, Ontario
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
 

Meeting minutes

extract Chamberlain: We must keep the ships. Sweden knows that she cannot bully Germany "but might succeed in bullying us"
extract Halifax: Sweden taken "gravest possible view" of UK seizure of Destroyers. Germany may offer "protection" against us
extract Lord Halifax informs Cabinet that British Ambassador and his staff will leave France today for the UK on HMS Galatea
extract HMS Dunedin to intercept French vessel en route to Martinique to seize cargo of £60m in gold.
extract First Sea Lord: Mutiny by Germans being transported to Canada aboard SS Duchess of York. Further rising on vessel feared
extract PM urges War Office "push forward" with creation of a Foreign Legion. General Pownall says action already being taken
extract General Pownall reports 10000 Czech and Pole troops, 8000 French heading to coast for UK. HMS Keppel to arrange transport
person Charles de Gaulle
person Walter Hines Page
person Ronnie Campbell
person Neville Chamberlain
place Hamburg
place Malta
place Europe
place Algeria
place Africa
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation French Foreign Legion
 

Saturday 13th July 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Foreign Office inform Cabinet Roumania has left League of Nations. Sign of "complete subservience of Roumania to Germany"
extract Chamberlain rules out guarantee by UK to restore "the independence and territorial integrity of France" and French Empire
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
person Charles de Gaulle
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
person Robert Craigie (diplomat)
person Neville Chamberlain
place Portugal
place Madrid
place Europe
place Algeria
place Morocco
place Burma
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place West Germany
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax: Japan situation does "not look very favourable". Rejects call for deal to be made before new government in place
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Clement Attlee
person Neville Chamberlain
place Halifax Peninsula
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

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
 

Home Defence (Security) Executive. Special Operations Executive.

extract PM requests Chamberlain "set on foot" new Special Operations Executive for subversion and sabotage in occupied Europe
person Neville Chamberlain
place Great Britain
place Europe
 

Army Expansion - Use of Public Schools and Universities.

extract Eden and Chamberlain agree that schools will not be used for army training but university campuses will be made available
person Neville Chamberlain
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation Royal Navy
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM suggests scheme for defection of Vichy ministers to N. Africa. Chamberlain: Better de Gaulle "raise his flag there"
person Charles de Gaulle
person Ronnie Campbell
person Neville Chamberlain
place Africa
 

Thursday 8th August 1940

Meeting minutes

extract King George VI: My peoples "would rather all perish in the common ruin than fall or falter in their duty"
extract Halifax circulates draft rejection by King George of offer of mediation between UK and Germany by King Gustav of Sweden
extract PM Churchill: "We could never stand by and see a British Dominion overwhelmed by a yellow race"
extract PM: Invasion of Australia "could be retrieved" by USA. "In the last resort" UK would "abandon" Mediterranean and Mid-East
extract PM: We hope "to avoid war" but it could occur "at any moment". "Opening moves" likely to be against Hong Kong, Singapore
extract Churchill outlines policy in the event of Japanese aggression: UK Fleet needed in Mediterranean "to beat the Italians"
person William Lyon Mackenzie King
person Adolf Hitler
person Winston Churchill
person Neville Chamberlain
place Great Britain
place Egypt
place Fiji
place Hong Kong
place Singapore
place Europe
place Gibraltar
place Alexandria
place Africa
place Republic of China
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Tuesday 10th September 1940

Meeting minutes

extract PM Churchill tells Air Secretary Sinclair that his decision to reject indiscriminate bombing "may stand for the present"
extract Air Secretary tells PM that he will not issue new orders to RAF because UK policy is to attack "only military objectives"
extract Homeless in East End of London to be transferred to districts further west. Cabinet approves relief fund by Lord Mayor
extract First Sea Lord: Destroyers sweeping French coast to find small craft bound for UK. Report of force off Ostend "incorrect"
extract Air Chief: London attacks "quite indiscriminate". Cabinet agree RAF to unload bombs whether or not their target located
extract Air Chief: UK air casualties in last 24 hours 20 (15 pilots safe). Enemy: 52 destroyed, 11 more probable, 13 damaged
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 Ernest Brown
person Neville Chamberlain
place Halifax Peninsula
place Berlin
place Kenya
organisation Home Office
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
 

Air Raid damage in the London area.

extract Chamberlain: Everything turns on whether we get breathing space to repair damage already done or whether it intensifies
extract Mr Chamberlain returns to Cabinet, reports on effect of Blitz. No "impairment of essential services for any long period"
person Neville Chamberlain
organisation Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (Netherlands)
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet inclined to approve attack "if the Commanders on the spot" agree. Chamberlain: "Question of balancing the risks"
extract Cabinet meet to discuss telegram from De Gaulle arguing Operation Menace against Dakar go ahead "as originally planned"
person Alexander Cadogan
person Charles de Gaulle
person Neville Chamberlain
person Edward Spears
place Freetown
place Madrid
place Paris
place Dakar
place Africa
 

Monday 11th November 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet discuss death of Mr Chamberlain. PM: Loss will "be felt most deeply by all those who had worked with him"
extract Halifax "a little anxious" at Molotov visit to Berlin. May be "a face-saving device" or to discuss an anti-Turkish policy
extract Admiralty: General De Gaulle has taken Gabon capital Libreville. Vichy claims UK bombed the city and sunk vessels untrue
extract General Dill: Greeks could hold up Italians for a considerable time. "A different matter" if Germans attack on this front
extract Air Chief: 12 Italian aircraft shot down over UK today. Total enemy losses for the weekend now 47 confirmed, 31 probable
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 Charles de Gaulle
person Samuel Hoare
person Kingsley Wood
person Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso
person Clement Attlee
person John Dill
person Jean Bart
person Neville Chamberlain
place Greece
place Egypt
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Sudan
place Libreville
place Malta
place Berlin
place Africa
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office