Alexander Cadogan

Sir Alexander George Montagu Cadogan PC OM GCMG KCB (25 November 1884–9 July 1968) was a British civil servant. He was Permanent Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs from 1938 to 1946. Cadogan was the eighth son and youngest child of George Cadogan, 5th Earl Cadogan, and his first wife Lady Beatrix Jane Craven, and was educated at Eton and Balliol College, ...

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Documents about Alexander Cadogan

Wednesday 7th February 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Supreme War Council agrees to send 3 divisions to Finland. PM: “Finland must not be allowed to disappear off the map”
person Alexander Cadogan
person Stafford Cripps
person Sydney Brenner
person Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim
place Finland
place Russian Empire
place Trondheim
place East Germany
place Hungary
place Moscow
place Republic of China
place Rome
place West Germany
organisation New Zealand Treasury
 

Saturday 2nd March 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Finnish Minister requests delivery of 100 UK bombers. Cabinet to delay response.
extract Britain insists to Finns that opposition by other Scandinavian governments will not prevent despatch of UK force
person Alexander Cadogan
person Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim
place Finland
place Northern Ireland
organisation Royal Air Force
 

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 Swedes putting pressure on Finns to make peace. Recent Russian attacks a “catastrophic surprise” to Finnish High Command
person Alexander Cadogan
person Swedes (Germanic tribe)
person Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim
place Finland
 

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
 

Meeting minutes

extract “Berlin better blacked out than London” says US envoy. Ambassador to Vatican reports Hitler and Mussolini to meet shortly
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Sumner Welles
person Samuel Hoare
person Adolf Hitler
person Joachim von Ribbentrop
place Finland
place Vatican City
place Hong Kong
place Singapore
place Turkey
place Berlin
place Rome
organisation Luftwaffe
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

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 Chiefs of Staff: “very little we could do to prevent Holland being overrun”. Effect of air action would be “very limited”
extract PM Chamberlain keen on mining operation on Rhine and Norwegian waters. Cabinet agrees to urge this in Allied War Council
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Harold Wilson
place Ankara
place Russian Empire
place Narvik
place Turkey
place Europe
place Rome
place West Germany
organisation Home Office
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
organisation 335th Fighter Squadron
 

Monday 13th May 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Prime Minister to send personal message to President Roosevelt to attempt to gain more American support
extract Lord Halifax warns of “fresh outburst of Italian animosity”. He is now “less confident” that Mussolini will not go to war
extract Situation in Holland “very precarious”. German tanks advancing along whole western front. French forces being pushed back
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person Franklin D. Roosevelt
person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
place Halifax Peninsula
 

Meeting minutes

extract Chief of Air Staff has received naval intelligence suggesting Italy “seeking an excuse for entering the war”
extract Lord Halifax urges consideration of possibility of German paratroop attack on Ireland. Eire government to be informed
extract Belgian Ambassador complains British troops moving through Brussels which his government has declared an open city
extract Lord Gort reports “satisfactory” position of British Expeditionary Force. Belgians and French withdrawing to Antwerp line
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
place Halifax Peninsula
place Gibraltar
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Rome
organisation Royal Marines
 

Meeting minutes

extract Home Security Minister calls for internment of enemy aliens. PM: “Better that these persons should be behind barbed-wire”
extract German attack on Switzerland today “possible”. PM: Swiss “brave and determined”. "Confident they would fight the invader”
extract PM to send personal message to Mussolini expressing “hope that this country and Italy should not be divided by bloodshed”
extract Chief of Air Staff reports loss of over 100 British fighter aircraft. Pilots “in tremendous fettle, but weary”
extract Belgian government has not yet evacuated Brussels. UK command “confident” Belgians can hold position
extract Lord Halifax confirms Dutch government will continue war from exile and in Colonies. Information Minister to announce
extract Churchill “refuses to accept” PM Reynaud’s “gloomy” analysis of "serious" military situation. French Generals “calm”
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Franklin D. Roosevelt
person John Anderson (Australian politician)
person Winston Churchill
person Paul Reynaud
person Alan Keyes
place Great Britain
place Portugal
place Halifax Peninsula
place Republic of China
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet approves process of “thinning out” UK shipping in the Mediterranean in case of attack by Italy
extract BEF Commander reports French considering withdrawal to defensive line. PM to visit France at once to prevent this retreat
extract British occupation of Iceland proceeding. Small force sent North to occupy aerodrome
extract Situation on Western Front “most critical”. French counterattack of vital importance says Chief of Imperial General Staff
extract Urgent request for more fighter aircraft received from French. Four squadrons to be despatched, two more held in reserve
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Franklin D. Roosevelt
person John Dill
place Iceland
place Gibraltar
 

Meeting minutes

extract UK force in Norway told to expect no new troops to support operations around Narvik. Town will be captured “any moment”
extract PM orders 12 new fighter squadrons in a month. Air Production Minister to discuss how to meet “impossible” target
extract Air Chief: Germans made “considerable advance” overnight. Situation “very serious”. Information Minister to warn public
extract PM reports on visit to France. Demanded "supreme effort" in exchange for more aircraft because of "grave risk" to UK
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.
place Great Britain
place Halifax Peninsula
place Narvik
place Paris
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Hopatcong High School
 

Meeting minutes

extract UK to “stiffen up” measures against aliens and fifth column. Home Secretary: Action against British fascists “difficult”
extract PM: Germans will not adopt "policy of indiscriminate bombing". "More profitable" to concentrate on military targets”
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
place Halifax Peninsula
 

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax announces signs “some arrangement” with USSR possible. Stafford Cripps to be sent to Moscow to explore agreement
extract Telegram from Ankara warns of secret Italian full mobilisation within 48 hours. Rumour Germans have crossed Brenner Pass
extract Japan has requested “economic advantages” from Dutch East Indies. Halifax to inform US of these “sinister” demands
extract Information Minister reports UK air attacks on Germany “being hushed up”. Suggests they are “not ready to retaliate”
extract PM: “On the whole” military situation in France “better”. RAF have “covered themselves with glory”
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Stafford Cripps
person Samuel Hoare
person Sydney Brenner
place Great Britain
place Ankara
place Egypt
place Brussels
place Madrid
place Iceland
place Moscow
place Cairo
place Madrid, New York
organisation KEF
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet agrees no further refugees should be admitted to UK until the military situation becomes clearer
extract UK Ambassador Belgrade reports rumour Germany may make peace offer before a “decisive attack” on England
extract Halifax and Churchill express concern at UK operations in Norway. Force used “urgently needed elsewhere”
extract As “precautionary measure” PM directs Admiralty to gather large number of small vessels ready to proceed to French coast
extract Le Havre subjected to intense air attack overnight. RAF has lost a further 23 aircraft in last 24 hours
extract German units advancing on Arras, held by "partially trained" 23rd Division. BEF holding: “Tired but in very good heart”
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Samuel Hoare
person Francisco Franco
person John Reith, 1st Baron Reith
place Great Britain
place Lancaster, Lancashire
place Halifax Peninsula
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation Hopatcong High School
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM does not feel “every aspect of the problem” covered. Cabinet to reconsider elements of the planning over the next week
extract UK to send demolition parties to Calais, Boulogne. PM: “no immediate risk of Germans occupying French ports in strength”
extract BEF "seen practically no fighting so far". Casualties around 500. Refugees are hampering military and need to be cleared
extract General Ironside criticises French "indecision". "Nothing wrong" with army in Flanders. General Billotte "doing nothing"
extract PM: “No reason” counter-attack on Cambrai should not succeed. Force must "fight hard under open warfare conditions”
extract PM stresses "overwhelming" Allied superiority of numbers in France. “Very small" German forces holding captured towns.
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Alan Keyes
place Great Britain
place Lancaster, Lancashire
place Halifax Peninsula
place Narvik
 

Meeting minutes

extract Sir Stafford Cripps has suggested buying aircraft from USSR - direct or via Chinese government. Lord Halifax to pursue
extract Churchill reports on meetings in France. PM Reynaud called possible UK success at Narvik an “enheartening contribution”
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Stafford Cripps
person Winston Churchill
person Paul Reynaud
place Halifax Peninsula
place Narvik
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet orders Chiefs of Staff to prepare plans for total UK evacuation of Norway. Naval chiefs warn could take 2 months
extract UK Ambassador Rome reports Mussolini “only awaiting” German seizure of Channel ports to declare war
extract French troops at Calais “completely demoralised”. Supply position “very anxious”. UK force “heavily hammered” at Courtrai
extract War Secretary reports Boulogne under heavy attack. UK forces in danger of being surrounded and cut off. Should hold today
extract If attack fails UK to form new strategy with object of “saving and bringing back” as many troops and weapons as possible
extract “Whole success” of joint Weygand attack depends on French taking offensive. At present they show “no signs of doing so”
extract PM: Situation around the Channel ports “critical”. Unexpectedly large German forces. UK and Belgian troops in a “trap”
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Samuel Hoare
place Greece
place Egypt
place Rome
organisation Hopatcong High School
 

Meeting minutes

extract Chamberlain circulates proposed new restrictions on enemy and neutral aliens in UK. PM favours deportation
extract US warns of planned German sabotage of UK communication centres. Home Secretary: "All possible steps" already being taken
extract Dunkirk filled with French soldiers. Only “certain small” UK units. General Ironside warns town may not hold more troops
extract Three British battalions holding position in Calais as town is shelled. So far unable to clear forward road to St. Omer
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Franklin D. Roosevelt
person Alan Keyes
place Great Britain
place Halifax Peninsula
place Calais
place Rome
organisation Home Office
organisation Royal Air Force
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM: Night bombing of Middlesbrough “welcome stimulus” to domestic air raid precautions. Urges penalties for unprepared
extract German aircraft confused with returning UK bombers overnight. Attacks on Yorkshire, E Anglia. Damage and casualties minor
extract Churchill: “Imperative we should hold on to Calais”. “Heartening message” to be sent to British forces there
extract Calais force held at Cassel, Belgians facing Courtrai attack, French only holding part of Amiens and outskirts of Peronne
extract General Ironside: Gort's communications almost severed. Unclear if he is advancing to ports, Amiens or “fighting it out”
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson (Australian politician)
person Winston Churchill
person Robert Vansittart, 1st Baron Vansittart
person Alan Keyes
place Great Britain
place Morocco
place Portsmouth
 

Meeting minutes

extract War Cabinet informed French Prime Minister Paul Reynaud arriving in London for meetings with British government
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Paul Reynaud
place Halifax Peninsula
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
 

Meeting minutes

extract War Secretary Eden: “Now clear” Calais has fallen. UK troops "cut off from the quay", holding positions in the streets
extract No information on Army casualties. “Some personnel” withdrawn from France. Ship leaving Dunkirk “heavily attacked”
extract PM informs War Cabinet King Leopold of Belgium seeking Armistice - to take effect from Midnight. “Certainly not heroic”
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson (Australian politician)
person Alan Keyes
place Halifax Peninsula
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Belgian Land Component
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM opposed. US “given us practically no help in the war”, keep "everything which would help us for their own defence”
extract British Ambassador to Washington suggests lease of UK bases overseas to America to help pay war debts
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson (Australian politician)
person John Dill
person Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.
place Halifax Peninsula
place Brussels
place Iceland
place Bermuda
place Washington
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Hopatcong High School
organisation Indian National Congress
 

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 UK Ambassador Rome says Italy's entry into the war “now a certainty” and the delay can “no longer be reckoned in months”
extract Cabinet informed French and Norwegian troops have occupied Narvik Decision on UK to evacuate postponed http://ow.ly/1Rvsg
extract RAF switching from continuous patrols over Dunkirk to “occasional patrols of much greater strength”
extract HMS Wakeful and HMS Grafton sunk while evacuating troops. Over 630 casualties
extract PM: Latest information from Admiralty that 40,000 BEF troops now returned to UK. 2000 men being evacuated every hour
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Herbert Morrison
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
person Franklin D. Roosevelt
person Kingsley Wood
place Great Britain
place Halifax Peninsula
place Morocco
place Rome
 

Meeting minutes

extract Evacuation of children from vulnerable UK coastal towns to begin in 72 hours. London registration will begin June 3rd
extract Cabinet discuss possible German plans for invasion of UK and home defence. PM suggests using gas to defend UK beaches
extract Home Secretary prepares deportation of 1,500 Italians (“desperate characters”) if Anglo-Italian relations worsen further
extract French government makes clear their intention to approach Signor Mussolini without the UK
extract Air Chief: Bad weather over France "in our favour" preventing Germany bombing beaches
extract Admiralty and War Office put number of troops evacuated at over 100,000. Information Minister to tell press of withdrawal
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Clive Anderson
person Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.
place Halifax Peninsula
place Dunkirk
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation United States Navy
 

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
 

Meeting minutes

extract Latest evacuation figures (1200 BST) 139, 244 returned from BEF, 14811 Allied troops. Evacuees classed as casualties 9480
extract Rumours Germans developing amphibious tanks for UK landings. Beach mines being produced at rate of 10,000 a week
extract In last 24 hours 5 ships have been sunk, 3 on fire, 4 damaged. 222 Navy vessels and 665 ships and boats used in operation
extract First Sea Lord has ordered "equal opportunities" for British and French troops for embarkation from beaches
extract Eden to order Lord Gort's departure for his own safety. French troops to be evacuated until "not safe" for UK to remain
extract First Sea Lord says "swell on the beaches" delaying embarkations. Will "probably abate later"
extract Signs of major German attack; unclear for today or tomorrow. Lord Gort hopes most remaining troops will sail tonight
extract War Secretary Eden reports Dunkirk evacuation figures as at 0700 BST: 133,878 men from BEF and 11,666 Allied troops
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
person Ernest Bevin
person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
place Portugal
place Halifax Peninsula
place Lisbon, New York
place Rome
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation United States Navy
organisation United States Congress
 

Saturday 1st June 1940

Meeting minutes

extract US State Department warns appeal to US from UK and France counterproductive. Suggests broadcast to the Empire. PM agrees
extract PM: Dunkirk "first real trial of strength" for RAF and Luftwaffe. Germany has "failed consistently", far heavier loss
extract Chief of Air Staff reports 42 confirmed and 14 unconfirmed German aircraft shot down yesterday against 26 British losses
extract PM: "Now clear" embarkation must be completed tonight. "No hope" for French troops outside our perimeter. Navy concur
extract Lord Gort reports shelling and bombing of Dunkirk beaches "extremely severe". General Alexander struggling to hold line
extract Cabinet to consider more help for France. Suggestion to send bombers to southern France ready to attack Italian industry
extract PM informs Cabinet of discussions at Allied War Council in Paris. French satisfied with Dunkirk, Norway evacuation plans
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
place Great Britain
place Afghanistan
place Greece
place Halifax Peninsula
place Brussels
place Dunkirk
place Paris
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation United States Department of State
organisation United States Navy
 

Meeting minutes

extract Dominions Secretary to invite Canadian government to take over defence of Iceland from occupying British force
extract Cabinet approves changes to UK bombing rules. Chamberlain: German action provides "fullest justification" for proposals
extract Report from Rome of German plan to move troops from Naples to Cadiz for attack on Ireland. Halifax: “Unwise to ignore”
extract Total number of evacuees at 0600 BST: 292,380. Halifax: Total not to be released to Press because of French objections
extract Situation confused. Unclear how many French now at bridgehead. Germans not pressing attack but beach under artillery fire
extract PM: Personnel of BEF have been withdrawn to this country "practically intact". French could do more to evacuate
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
place Halifax Peninsula
place Iceland
place Dunkirk
place Paris
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Rome
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Hopatcong High School
organisation United States Navy
organisation Government of Canada
 

Meeting minutes

extract Navy Chief: “Still a number of small craft in the Channel.” Air reconnaissance carried out, some small vessels brought in
extract French request further air help, anti tank weapons. PM to examine with Chiefs of Staff
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson (Australian politician)
place Halifax Peninsula
organisation Royal Navy
organisation Canadian Forces Maritime Command
 

Meeting minutes

extract UK 51st Division madeto give ground after heavy attack. "Generally speaking" position "more satisfactory" than expected
extract Germans have penetrated Front 10-12 miles, French counterattacking “energetically”. PM: French Command gaining confidence
extract Air Chief reports 134 air raids on UK overnight. Very little damage, casualties "very few". No intercepts by RAF fighters
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Dill
place Malta
 

Meeting minutes

extract US Embassy in Germany informs government that UK's ambassador to Belgium Sir Laurence Oliphant is a prisoner in Berlin
extract Rumour received from Barcelona of German “secret weapon”: aircraft painted in British colours to attack Royal Navy
extract UK 51st Division “very hard pressed”, situation “cause for considerable anxiety”. No reinforcements for 2-3 days
extract PM: French seem to be resisting German attack “fairly well” in spite of the weight of the assault
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person John Anderson (Australian politician)
person Clive Anderson
place Greece
place Brussels
place Berlin, New York
organisation Royal Navy
 

Meeting minutes

extract Report Egypt wishes to remain neutral in UK-Italy conflict. Egyptian PM told with "brutal straightness" this impossible
extract General Dill: Situation in France "generally more favourable". But concern at possible German breakthrough near Rouen
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person John Anderson (Australian politician)
place Egypt
place Gisborne, New Zealand
place Halifax Peninsula
place Iceland
 

Meeting minutes

extract General Dill: Battle "in progress along the whole Western Front." PM Reynaud again urges fast despatch of UK forces
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Charles de Gaulle
person Paul Reynaud
place Iceland
place Narvik
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Rome
place Libya
organisation United States Congress
 

Meeting minutes

extract General Dill: "Generally speaking" French holding German attacks. "Real anxiety" whether they have adequate reserves
extract Chief of Naval Staff fears German claims to have sunk HMS Glorious “almost certainly true”
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Francisco Franco
place Halifax Peninsula
place Sudan
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation RAF Coastal Command
 

Meeting minutes

extract Home Security Minister now taking into custody Italians resident in the UK. Cabinet keen to deport "as many as possible"
extract General Dill: French "fighting well", German advance "much slower" than expected. News scant due to move of French HQ
extract UK Ambassador Paris reports French morale "now everywhere good", sees "a general determination to fight to a finish"
extract PM to go to France for Supreme War Council meeting. Aims to find out French intentions, discourage move to separate peace
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson (Australian politician)
person John Dill
place Portugal
place Egypt
place Halifax Peninsula
place Turkey
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet agree not to bomb Vatican but tell Papal Nuncio safety of rest of Rome depends on Italy observing "rules of war"
extract Roosevelt will not publish his message of support to France. PM: US holding back will have "disastrous effect" on French
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
place Egypt
place Halifax Peninsula
place Vatican City
place Turkey
place Sicily
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Rome
organisation KEF
 

Meeting minutes

extract General Dill: "No confirmation" of report of Soviet forces massing on the frontier of East Prussia
extract Report Swiss government to capitulate to military coup, allowing German troops free passage. Halifax: "A wild story"
extract BEF no longer under overall French command. "Grave risk" if French agree Armistice force "involved and unable to escape"
extract General Brooke reports that organised resistance in France has "come to an end". French army "disintegrating"
extract Roosevelt says his message "in no sense" promised US military action. PM: "Nothing short" of this will sustain France
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person William Patrick Stuart-Houston
person Franklin D. Roosevelt
person Adolf Hitler
place Iraq
place Turkey
place Malta
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Libya
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
organisation United States Congress
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet Secretary: Cabinet members “consulted again individually” on de Gaulle broadcast. Now agree should be allowed
extract Cabinet adopts plan by Lord Halifax for return of Emperor to Abyssinia. UK to foment anti-Italian action in the country
extract Cabinet agrees de Gaulle should not broadcast as long it remains possible French government may act in Allied interests
extract General de Gaulle has submitted text of broadcast saying France not defeated and inviting French soldiers to rally to him
extract Stafford Cripps in Moscow warns he sees "no prospect of drawing the Soviet Union into a common front against Germany"
extract Navy Vice Chief: SS Lancastria sunk in Loire yesterday with 3,000 troops on board. Not yet possible to assess casualties
extract Evacuation continuing from Cherbourg, St Nazaire, St Malo, Brest. 42,502 personnel returned to UK
extract Chief of Air Staff has despatched aircraft to Bordeaux after Polish reports General Sikorski somewhere in France
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Charles de Gaulle
person Walter Hines Page
person Herbert Morrison
person Stafford Cripps
person Samuel Hoare
place East Germany
place Halifax Peninsula
place Moscow
place Narvik
place Malta
place Gibraltar
place Kenya
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation RAF Coastal Command
 

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 Directive from PM on morale to Civil Service. Must "set an example", report those spreading "alarm and despondency"
extract Cabinet rejects request by Chiefs of Staff for east coast evacuation. "Public opinion already somewhat jumpy"
extract Cabinet agrees UK air raid casualty figures will no longer be released. Gives enemy information, might demoralise country
person Alexander Cadogan
person Andrew Greenwood
person Stafford Cripps
person Joseph Stalin
person Malcolm MacDonald
place Gisborne, New Zealand
place Halifax Peninsula
place South Wales
organisation Home Office
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation British Army
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
 

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 "Energetic protest" from French Embassy over UK naval action. Warns situation so grave "impossible to foretell" response
extract PM to send personal telegram to President Roosevelt making "further strong appeal" for US to supply destroyers to Britain
extract Dominions Secretary informs Cabinet that Eire government will "turn a blind eye" to UK ships in Irish territorial waters
extract Lord Halifax registers "disfavour" at Cabinet's view that Burma Road should be closed. Believes Japanese position "bluff"
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person Stafford Cripps
person John Maffey, 1st Baron Rugby
person Robert Craigie (diplomat)
person Chiang Kai-shek
place Great Britain
place Halifax Peninsula
place Singapore
place Gibraltar
place Republic of China
place Burma
organisation Home Office
organisation Hopatcong High School
organisation Morning Star (UK newspaper)
 

Meeting minutes

extract Minister of Food requests Cabinet approve tea rationing with immediate effect. Margarine to be rationed within two weeks
extract Members of French overseas missions in UK to be temporarily "segregated" at Worcester College, Oxford
extract Chief of Air Staff reports 27 casualties overnight in bomb attacks on south coast ports and shipping in Straits of Dover
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person Charles de Gaulle
person Stafford Cripps
person Richard Kiel
person Robert Vansittart, 1st Baron Vansittart
place Kassala
place Egypt
place Isle of Portland
place Sudan
place Malta
place Gibraltar
place Libya
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

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 Newspapers are reporting French government is to move to German occupied territory at Paris or Versailles
extract PM rejects draft statement on India's future. Must declare "no avoidable delay" in making India a self-governing country
extract Cabinet approves widening membership of Viceroy's executive council in India to include "representative Indians"
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person John Anderson (Australian politician)
person Leo Amery
place Great Britain
place Ankara
place Turkey
place Paris
place Europe
place Africa
place Burma
organisation Home Office
organisation Indian National Congress
organisation United States Congress
organisation Canadian Forces Maritime Command
 

Meeting minutes

extract War Secretary requests leave for the Army be resumed "on a limited scale". Stoppage having "bad effect". Cabinet approves
extract Air Chief: Overnight enemy action slight. Minelaying in Thames Estuary, Harwich areas, attacks on Bristol, Kent, Suffolk
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Charles de Gaulle
person Clement Attlee
person Robert Craigie (diplomat)
place Guernsey
place Halifax Peninsula
place Malta
place Europe
place Gibraltar
place Kenya
place Bristol
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM asks Cabinet if they object to future commando operations. Chamberlain: "No, provided that they are successful"
extract Naval Chief: Overnight commando operation on Guernsey failed. PM: Lack of report "unsatisfactory" but raid "a pin-prick"
extract Air Chief admits "serious damage" to Slough aluminium works caused by accidental release of bomb by RAF pilot
person Alexander Cadogan
person Stafford Cripps
person Roger Keyes, 1st Baron Keyes
place Guernsey
 

Meeting minutes

extract Signs Stafford Cripps in Moscow may be exceeding his instructions. Lord Halifax instructed to put out "a smothering paw"
extract PM calls Guernsey raid a "super flop". General Bourne to be replaced at Combined Operations by Admiral Sir Roger Keyes
person Alexander Cadogan
person Claude Auchinleck
person Stafford Cripps
person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
person Roger Keyes, 1st Baron Keyes
place Guernsey
place Malta
place Libya
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet rejects plan to transfer British fascists to St. Helena. To be kept in UK "under suitable conditions"
extract Cabinet divided over a response to the recent speech by Herr Hitler. PM Churchill to consult more widely
extract Halifax warns of impact of possible US oil embargo on UK stocks, Japan may be "stung" into seizing Dutch East Indies
extract First Sea Lord: Enemy air attacks on Malta continuing, three raids yesterday. "Only slight damage"
extract Air Chief: Enemy air activity concentrated against Channel shipping and Straits of Dover. "A few isolated raids" inland
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Hugh Dalton
person John Maffey, 1st Baron Rugby
person Adolf Hitler
person Clement Attlee
person Miles Lampson, 1st Baron Killearn
person Farouk of Egypt
place Hamburg
place Portugal
place Trondheim
place Egypt
place Halifax Peninsula
place Madrid
place Sicily
place Malta
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation RAF Coastal Command
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet discusses UK response to a future Japanese invasion of Dutch East Indies. Chiefs of Staff cannot agree a policy
extract General de Gaulle to be consulted before Cabinet responds to French complaints over leaflet drops, detention of officials
extract Halifax reports arrest of 9 British citizens in Tokyo. Rumour USSR will shortly extend its control of Polish government
extract Admiralty to examine apparent delay in getting anti-aircraft defences into action when enemy aircraft appear
extract Air Chief: Enemy losses so far today 8 for certain, 8 probable, 6 possible. One UK pilot killed, several machines damaged
person Alexander Cadogan
person Andrew Greenwood
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Charles de Gaulle
person Stafford Cripps
person Robert Craigie (diplomat)
place Tokyo
place Morocco
organisation Home Office
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation House of Commons of Canada
organisation United States Army
organisation Bank of England
 

Thursday 1st August 1940

Meeting minutes

extract PM: UK "considerably more secure" than 2 months ago. Now possible to take a "less rigid attitude" to internment of aliens
extract 7 UK subjects still held in Tokyo. "A certain number of Japanese subjects" will be arrested without prior notice to Japan
extract Press reporting US ban on aviation fuel exports. Effect on UK imports, attitude of Japan "not clear"
extract Stafford Cripps in Moscow complains Foreign Minister Molotov will not meet him. Halifax to discuss with USSR Ambassador
extract First Sea Lord: Nothing has been heard of H.M. Submarine Narwhal for over a week. She must therefore be regarded as lost
extract PM "glad" at boost in UK supply of fighter aircraft. Air Secretary: Supply of pilots "still not altogether satisfactory"
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Walter Citrine, 1st Baron Citrine
person Stafford Cripps
person Bob Kerslake
person Robert Craigie (diplomat)
person Leo Amery
place Afghanistan
place Moscow
place Singapore
place North China
place South America
place Tokyo
place Republic of China
place Burma
organisation Home Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract Inquiry to be held into the selection of aliens for passage on the Arandora Star and conditions at Huyton Internment Camp
extract Air Chief: Air casualties yesterday 25, 60 enemy confirmed. Number of raids currently in progress including on Portsmouth
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 Charles de Gaulle
person Clement Attlee
person William Anderson (RAAF officer)
place Somaliland
place Isle of Portland
place Gibraltar
place Toulon
organisation Home Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet told three Australian government ministers and Chief of Australian General Staff killed in Canberra air accident
extract Air Chief: Total civilian and service casualties during 24 hours ending at 0600 this morning 63 killed and 155 injured
extract Air Chief: So far today 6 confirmed, 11 unconfirmed enemy losses. 3 of our own aircraft crashed, 2 unaccounted for
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Stafford Cripps
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
place East Germany
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation United Nations
organisation Home Fleet
organisation Bank of England
 

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
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM: President Roosevelt hopes to begin supplying destroyers this week (up to 50) with additional rifles, aircraft, ships
extract Information Minister to address false press reports RAF has bombed 5 divisions of troops in France massing for invasion
extract Cabinet approves violating Swiss airspace in raids on N. Italy. Air Secretary: Necessary "to attack certain targets"
extract General Haining: Evacuation of our forces in British Somaliland complete with little loss. HMAS Hobart remaining in area
extract Cabinet express concern at ground losses of RAF aircraft, 40 destroyed at one aerodrome. Air Secretary to order inquiry
extract RAF report casualties today 22 machines lost (12 pilots saved). Enemy 126 confirmed, 26 probable and 13 downed by AA fire
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Walter Hines Page
person Kingsley Wood
person Bob Kerslake
person Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso
person Clement Attlee
person Frederick Marquis, 1st Earl of Woolton
place Somaliland
place Moscow
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation New Zealand Treasury
 

Meeting minutes

extract War Cabinet agrees "every endeavour must be made to limit dollar expenditure to vital needs"
extract Air Chief: Attacks yesterday mainly small, by single aircraft along the East and SE coasts. "Good proportion" intercepted
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Herbert Morrison
person Kingsley Wood
place Greece
place East Germany
place Egypt
place Bermuda
place Singapore
place Washington
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Hopatcong High School
organisation House of Commons of Canada
 

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax to assure Greek government UK will provide "immediate military and financial help" in event of attack by Italy
extract PM concerned at "heavy" merchant shipping losses, "serious" if they continue at this rate. Admiralty planning new tactics
extract Air raid casualty figures "fairly heavy". Cabinet agrees release: total "not high" compared to peace-time road casualties
extract Air Chief: Germans unload bombs whether or not targets located. RAF ordered to return bombs if targets cannot be located
extract Air Chief: Weather prevented some aircraft locating their target last night in mission to bomb military targets in Berlin
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
person Clement Attlee
place South Africa
place Athens
place Greece
place Gibraltar
place Burma
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax: Looks as if whole of French Equatorial Africa and Cameroons as well as Chad territory "swinging away" from Vichy
extract PM Churchill: We can "not afford to allow any of our aerodromes to be out of action"
extract PM complains arrangements for filling aerodrome bomb craters "very inadequate". Runways must be repaired within 24 hours
extract Beaverbrook: Recent air fighting has made considerable inroads on reserves. Effect of bombing on production "not serious"
extract PM: In view of German indiscriminate bombing considering temporary "marked departure" from bombing only military targets
extract Air Chief: Bombing of Berlin targets last night "most successful". PM to send congratulatory message to Bomber Command
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Charles de Gaulle
person William Lyon Mackenzie King
place South Africa
place New Caledonia
place Bermuda
place Caribbean
place British Cameroons
place Washington
place Africa
place Newfoundland, Kentucky
place Chad
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
 

Monday 2nd September 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax: Agreement has been reached with the Americans over bases for destroyers. Meeting in London will follow
extract Cabinet notes air raid warnings are now "almost continuous" across SE England. Civilian casualties for August were 700
extract Churchill: Our own Air Force "stronger than ever", "every reason to be optimistic about the 1940 Air Battle of Britain"
extract PM reviews results of recent air fighting before Cabinet: "every right to be satisfied". Enemy may be at "maximum effort"
extract PM Churchill visiting Fighter Command during German air attack today. PM: "Very instructive" to watch deployment
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person Charles de Gaulle
person Herbert Morrison
person Samuel Hoare
person Clement Attlee
person Robert Craigie (diplomat)
place Fiji
place Tokyo
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation United States Department of State
organisation RAF Fighter Command
 

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
 

Meeting minutes

extract Air Secretary to consider reprisals against one of 20 named German towns if indiscriminate attacks on London continue
extract Air Chief: Overnight raids on Germany "on the whole successful". Potsdam Station (Berlin) attacked, 6 direct hits claimed
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person Maxime Weygand
person Clement Attlee
place Halifax Peninsula
place Sudan
place Berlin
place Kenya
place Morocco
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
 

Meeting minutes

extract Swiss to issue further "stiff protest" over RAF violations of their airspace. Foreign Office and Air Ministry to discuss
extract Home Secretary "most grateful" for the increased support. City of London has escaped serious damage two nights running
extract Air Secretary: London anti-aircraft defence "being more than doubled". Third of raiders turned back by barrage last night
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Clement Attlee
place Turin
place Gibraltar
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet told dive-bombing attack carried out on Buckingham Palace. PM: "Too dangerous for Parliament to sit after dark"
extract Cabinet agree Tube should not be used as shelter. Police opposed and "more important" to keep it available for transport
extract Home Secretary: This tendency due in part to a number of street shelters having suffered direct hits
extract Health Minister: Silvertown evacuated due to failure of water supply. A reluctance to use public shelters in some areas
extract Health Minister: AA fire has transformed London morale. People who "clamoured to be taken away" now reluctant to leave
extract Air Chief: Enemy activity on "reduced scale" in past 24 hours, not more than 100 aircraft. No UK air casualties
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 John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person John Anderson (Australian politician)
person Malcolm MacDonald
person Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso
person Clive Anderson
person Andrew Duncan
place Egypt
place South America
organisation Home Office
organisation House of Lords
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
 

Meeting minutes

extract Home Secretary: "Some signs of organised demonstrations". Agree with PM, "necessary to take strong action"
extract PM: Report people seeking raid shelter entered Savoy Hotel. "Episodes of this kind could easily lead to serious trouble"
extract General Dill: In Egypt Sollum "now in the hands of the Italians". Signs of Italian advance in two columns towards Buq-buq
extract Air Chief: Fighting yesterday "most successful". Enemy "adopted bolder tactics...only to increase his losses"
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Andrew Greenwood
person Malcolm MacDonald
person Clement Attlee
person Leo Amery
place Egypt
place Berlin
place Burma
organisation Home Office
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation Indian National Congress
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet agrees new honours for civilian bravery. George Cross suggested. PM: Civil population "now in the front line"
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person Clement Attlee
person John Dill
place Malta
 

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
 

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 discusses report on the Black-out. PM hopes streets can be "cheerfully illuminated" by November 1941
extract War Secretary: "Bad" press photos "giving an exaggerated idea" of London damage. Information Minister "to take steps"
extract Home Secretary: Waterloo, Victoria, London Bridge stations restored to partial working. "Little damage" to Foreign Office
extract Air Secretary: Air casualties yesterday nil. Enemy 5. One Junker 88 captured complete and undamaged with crew and bombs
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 Samuel Hoare
person Malcolm MacDonald
place West Germany
organisation Home Office
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM: US has now agreed to release 250,000 further rifles to us. Negotiations proceeding over aircraft and flying boats
extract First Sea Lord: Severe loss by enemy attack on convoys approaching UK in last 3 days. 7 ships in one convoy, 4 in another
extract Air Chief: Number of enemy fighters crossed SE coast this morning. Casualties so far 9 aircraft. Enemy 10 (+5 probable)
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Charles de Gaulle
person William Lyon Mackenzie King
person Kingsley Wood
person Andrew Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope
person Clement Attlee
person Andrew Duncan
place Egypt
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Libya
organisation Home Office
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Monday 14th October 1940

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 Churchill: We are "straining every nerve" to counter night bombing. "The people of this country must stick it out."
extract Cabinet concerned civilians in London beginning to wonder if UK "hitting back hard enough at Germany" in bombing attacks
extract PM blocks moving more ships to protect NW Approaches. Intelligence German plans for invasion "still moving forward"
extract Admiralty: Sweep by HMS Ajax has sunk 3 Italian destroyers. Italian claims to have damaged one of our cruisers untrue
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Herbert Morrison
person Stafford Cripps
person William Patrick Stuart-Houston
person Kingsley Wood
person Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso
person Andrew Duncan
place Russian Empire
place East Germany
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Moscow
place Turkey
place Gibraltar
place Berlin
place Northern Ireland
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation Royal Air Force
 

Meeting minutes

extract Admiralty: UK cannot currently assemble strong fleet at Straits of Gibraltar. Again urge "tolerable agreement" with Vichy
extract Halifax opposes bombing Vichy if France attacks Gibraltar. Ambassador authorised to deliver this "threat" to deter attack
extract "Serious damage" to Treasury overnight in London bombing. "Minor scale of attack on Birmingham and Liverpool"
extract Air Chief: All overnight UK bomber missions cancelled due to adverse weather. Equipment for landings in fog being fitted
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Walter Hines Page
person Stafford Cripps
person Samuel Hoare
person Ernest Bevin
person Kingsley Wood
person Bob Kerslake
person Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso
person Robert Craigie (diplomat)
place Newcastle upon Tyne
place Cranborne
place Hong Kong
place Gibraltar
place Dakar
place Africa
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation ING Group
 

Meeting minutes

extract UK Ambassador Washington: "Almost miraculous change of opinion" in US now it is clear UK effectively resisting air attack
extract Halifax: Prospect of trade agreement with USSR "promising". Marshal Chiang Kai-shek also desires "closer co-operation"
extract Home Secretary: 370 casualties in London last night, damage to railways. Londoners "at the moment a little pessimistic"
extract Admiralty "certain" Germans using radio detection to locate convoys. "Taking all steps possible" to deal with situation
extract Admiralty: Shipping losses over weekend "the worst ever experienced". Germans using new tactics, attacking at night
extract Air Chief: Pilot detailed to attack Berlin overnight came down to 2,000ft and dropped four 500lb bombs on the Chancellery
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person Herbert Morrison
person Stafford Cripps
person Samuel Hoare
person Francisco Franco
person Kingsley Wood
person Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso
person Clement Attlee
person Chiang Kai-shek
person Andrew Duncan
place Egypt
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Turkey
place Gibraltar
place Africa
place Republic of China
organisation Home Office
 

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
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet rejects New Zealand request for air support. UK will supply up-to-date aircraft as soon as it can manage to do so
extract PM: Neither UK "nor the Americans" have received any news on talks between Germany and Vichy. Position "extraordinary"
extract Halifax: General Metaxas asks for our "immediate help" to defend Corfu by sea and Athens by air and for financial aid
extract Cabinet told of unconfirmed reports Athens bombed, 10 Italian divisions ("perhaps 200,000 men") moving into Greece
extract Admiralty: Germans have adopted acoustic mines. Experts "working day and night" to discover secret of these new mines
extract Admiralty: Enemy minelaying taking place on considerable scale in Home Waters. Most ports temporarily closed most nights
person Alexander Cadogan
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 Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso
place Kassala
place Athens
place Greece
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Gibraltar
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation British Army
 

Friday 1st November 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax: A fortnight since our last communication with Vichy. "Still no reply" on the status of their talks with Germany
extract UK Miltary Attaché in Athens reports "weak advances" made by Italy are being held by Greek forces
extract Air Chief: Enemy air activity over this country "on a reduced scale both by day and night." Several towns machine-gunned
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 Herbert Morrison
person Samuel Hoare
person Kingsley Wood
person John Dill
person Miles Lampson, 1st Baron Killearn
person Farouk of Egypt
place Athens
place Greece
place Egypt
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Malta
place Gibraltar
place South America
place Bulgaria
organisation Home Office
organisation KEF
 

Meeting minutes

extract General Dill: "Possibility" of Italian advance into Egypt. Greece situation "still obscure". RAF will report tomorrow
extract Air Chief: Enemy air attacks "on a low scale" over weekend. A number of attacks on East Coast convoys, no casualties
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 Herbert Morrison
person Samuel Hoare
person Ernest Bevin
person Kingsley Wood
person Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso
person Clement Attlee
person John Dill
person Jean Bart
place Greece
place Egypt
place Cranborne
place Gisborne, New Zealand
place Halifax Peninsula
place Malta
place Toulon
organisation Home Office
organisation Government of Canada
organisation Daily Mirror
 

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 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
 

Meeting minutes

extract General Dill: Greeks advancing again towards Kalamas river. Italian troops "unenthusiastic" over move to Albanian front
extract Air Chief: 5 Italian airmen taken prisoner yesterday. Fiat bomber landed with engine still running. Fighter escort fled
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 Stafford Cripps
person Stephen King
person William Lyon Mackenzie King
person Kingsley Wood
person John Dill
person Leo Amery
place Greece
place Egypt
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Sudan
place Albania
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
 

Meeting minutes

extract Lord Halifax concerned Bulgaria may join Axis. King Boris "thought to have been pressed by Herr Hitler and Ribbentrop"
extract India Secretary: If arrest required Viceroy already told "he would have full support in allowing Gandhi to fast to death"
extract Viceroy warns of worsening political situation in India. Cabinet refuses request to outlaw Congress party, arrest Gandhi
extract PM: America must appreciate we are "fighting for our lives". Certain secret information we cannot possibly divulge
extract Cabinet agrees release of limited secret data to US. UK Scientists say US has "less to tell us than we have to tell them"
extract PM de Valera "in a very agitated and bitter mood" over use of Irish ports. PM Churchill refuses to rule out seizing them
extract General Dill: Italians have "retired in disorder" from Epirus sector. Greeks to do utmost to maintain momentum of advance
extract Air Chief: Duisberg main target for RAF overnight. Enemy attacks focused on Midlands including Birmingham and Coventry
person Alexander Cadogan
person John Maffey, 1st Baron Rugby
person Adolf Hitler
person Winston Churchill
place Kassala
place Greece
place Egypt
place Birmingham
place North America
place Sicily
place Sudan
place Malta
place Valona, California
place Bulgaria
organisation Home Office
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation Indian National Congress
organisation Congress Working Committee
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet approves cancelling Boxing Day Bank Holiday "for workers engaged on essential production" after talks with unions
extract Britain to urge Turkey and Yugoslavia to announce they would declare war if German troops were allowed to enter Bulgaria
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 Herbert Morrison
person Stafford Cripps
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
place Egypt
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Birmingham
place Turkey
place Gibraltar
place Berlin
place Albania
place Bulgaria
organisation Home Office
 

Monday 2nd December 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet rejects plea from General Wavell to deport SS Patria survivors from Palestine. Decision to admit them will stand
extract PM: It might be that the President is waiting "for the election atmosphere to disperse before taking any striking action"
extract PM Churchill: "Rather chilled" by attitude of the United States since the Election
extract Morrison: Fire situation in Southampton remains "serious" but Fire Brigade have "stood up very well to their ordeal"
extract General Dill: Greek forces between 10 and 25 miles into Albanian territory. Thought they will attempt to advance further
extract Admiralty: German Destroyers proving "faster than ours". Measures being considered to give ours "an extra turn of speed"
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person Oliver Lyttelton, 1st Viscount Chandos
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
person Malcolm MacDonald
person Kingsley Wood
person Ernest Brown
person Clement Attlee
person Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Turkey
place Sudan
place Africa
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
 

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax: Diplomats in Washington and Geneva receiving reports of "growing restiveness and discontent in Italy"
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Samuel Hoare
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
person John Dill
person Andrew Duncan
place Greece
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Birmingham
place North America
place Sicily
place Valona, California
place Bristol
place Madrid, New York
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation RAF Fighter Command
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet to "continue consultations" on action against Eire to force UK access to Irish ports. Diplomats to meet in London
extract Chiefs of Staff: UK economic action against Eire could lead to either "sullen animosity" or "state of open hostility"
extract Admiralty reports very bad weather in NW Approaches. 7 merchant ships adrift - no reason to think they will not make port
person Alexander Cadogan
person Duff Cooper
place Greece
place Egypt
place Sudan
place Gibraltar
place Northern Ireland
place Portsmouth
organisation Hopatcong High School
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet concerned at Spanish action in Tangiers: "an unpleasing analogy with the conduct of Italy" before entry into war
extract Morrison: 10,000 people made homeless in Sheffield overnight in addition to 10,000 homeless from raid on 12th December
extract PM Churchill: These operations constitute an event of first-class importance. Results "more than we had dared to hope"
extract General Dill: Enemy air attacks now chief menace but 30,000 prisoners taken, 100 guns and 50 tanks. UK casualties 500
extract General Dill: Halfaya cleared, Sollum and Fort Capuzzo still held by the enemy. Weather has turned from sandstorm to rain
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Herbert Morrison
person Samuel Hoare
person Miles Lampson, 1st Baron Killearn
place Egypt
place Tangier
place Malta
place Alexandria
place Madrid, New York
place Libya
organisation Home Office
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation United States Navy
 

Meeting minutes

extract Morrison: Glasgow tramworkers refusing to work after "alert" sounded. Minister of Labour to take what action he can
extract Cabinet agrees to make further concessions to USA in Caribbean. Colonial Secretary: This will "lead to major friction"
extract PM Churchill: President's speech yesterday "satisfactory". US committed to "implacable hostility and resistance" to Axis
extract Eden: US Naval Attaché Berlin has given a "depressing account" of the lack of success of our bombing raids on Berlin
extract Morrison: Recent raid on Manchester and last night's attack make it clear our firewatching organisation is "inadequate"
extract PM Churchill: "Fullest publicity should be given to the damage caused". No military objectives were aimed at
extract Morrison: Overnight damage to London comparable in severity to 7th September raid. Over 300 casualties
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
person Herbert Morrison
person Telesforo Trinidad
place City of London
place Plymouth
place Hungary
place Bermuda
place Caribbean
place Manchester, New Hampshire
place Liverpool
place Gibraltar
place Berlin
organisation Home Office
organisation Minister of Economic Warfare
organisation United States Congress
 

Thursday 2nd January 1941

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet approves Chancellor's plan of economic action against Eire. Irish food imports and shipping to be disrupted
extract American Naval Attaché in London to be informed of defects in US supplied Destroyers. President not to be told directly
extract President expects financial aid bill for UK to be passed around February 15th. Possible to meet our payments until then
extract President Roosevelt proposes sending Red Cross food aid to France and Spain. PM: Not politically possible to oppose this
extract General Heywood reports "very rigorous conditions" on Greek Front causing frostbite but Greek forces "in very good heart"
extract Air Chief: Last night's attack on Bremen appears "from preliminary reports to have been highly successful"
person Anthony Eden
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 Ernest Bevin
person Clement Attlee
person John Dill
person Frederick Marquis, 1st Earl of Woolton
place South Africa
place Greece
place Cranborne
place Gibraltar
place Washington
organisation Home Office
organisation International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
 

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 Cabinet approves seizure of 4 French ships. Vessels to be held until Vichy releases Allied vessels held in French ports
extract Admiralty: Attacks on UK shipping now "on a greatly reduced scale" due to wintry weather and "our protective measures"
extract Unconfirmed reports Gazala (30 miles west of Tobruk) abandoned by the enemy. 35 enemy aircraft "burnt out and abandoned"
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Hugh Dalton
person Ernest Bevin
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
person Leo Amery
place Cranborne
place Gibraltar
place Tobruk
place Burma
organisation Home Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet approves compulsory civil defence service of up to 48 hours a month for "men and women (subject to age limits)"
extract PM has met with personal envoy of President Roosevelt (Mr Harry Hopkins). "Very favourably impressed with his attitude"
extract General Wavell reports preparations for attack on Tobruk "proceeding satisfactorily". Garrison estimated at 15-20,000
extract Air Chief: Italian aircraft losses in Egypt last month 207 (ours 17). Losses in Greece 47 (ours 23), Malta 50 (ours 4)
extract Air Chief: Raid on Venice last night "very successful". Oil refinery received a direct hit from a 1,000 lb. bomb
person Alexander Cadogan
person Andrew Greenwood
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
person John Dill
place Greece
place Somaliland
place Egypt
place Cranborne
place Malta
place Ethiopia
place Eritrea
place Africa
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Morning Star (UK newspaper)
organisation United States Congress
 

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 Eden urges Yugoslavia and Turkey to make clear they would regard any German infiltration of Bulgaria as an open invasion
extract Weather on Continent makes invasion unlikely in next few weeks. War Secretary to consider extended leave for Home Forces
extract Information Minister to publicise an Italian cavalry charge on Sudan Front. Cavalry charged our gun position, losing 25
extract General Dill: Italian retreat continuing on Kassala front but Italians fighting better than in Libya
extract PM to send "private congratulatory telegram to General Wavell" on Tobruk capture. Number of prisoners taken not yet known
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
person Clement Attlee
place Kassala
place Greece
place Cranborne
place Turkey
place Sudan
place Ethiopia
place Africa
place Bulgaria
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Libya
organisation Home Office
 

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
 

Monday 3rd February 1941

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet approves construction of Burma-China railway if border agreed. Secretary of State to inform Burmese government
extract Eden: Resignation of Iraq government "not to be regretted". New one "not very satisfactory but might be only a stop-gap"
extract General Wavell reports enemy making "determined stand in difficult country" in Eritrea. Rapid progress "unlikely"
extract General Heywood: Greek First Corps "in good heart". Few casualties suffered from the enemy, but many from frost bite
extract Admiralty: Swordfish bombers attacked dam in Sardinia. Met heavy anti-aircraft fire, claimed 3 hits on dam with torpedoes
extract Air Chief: Enemy aircraft have dropped bombs and mines in the Suez Canal. A number of the mines have now been detonated
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 Rashid Ali al-Gaylani
person Kingsley Wood
person Ernest Brown
person Clement Attlee
person John Dill
place Greece
place Cranborne
place Iraq
place Eritrea
place Washington
place Morocco
place Africa
place Burma
organisation Home Office
 

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 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: President Roosevelt had "frank talk" with Japanese Ambassador. Tension in the Far East seems to have lessened
extract General Dill: Greeks again taking offensive in Albania, apparently with success, but so far only 400 prisoners confirmed
extract General Dill: "Not yet known what success, if any" achieved in Operation Colossus before our parachutists taken prisoner
extract Air Chief: 3 lost enemy aircraft have landed or tried to land at UK aerodromes. One captured intact with crew
person Alexander Cadogan
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
person Francisco Franco
place Greece
place Cranborne
place Iraq
place Turkey
place Europe
place Kismayo
place Albania
place Thailand
place Africa
place Bulgaria
place Libya
organisation Home Office
 

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)
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM Churchill: Japanese Ambassador denies "aggressive intentions" against Australia, Singapore or Dutch East Indies
extract President Roosevelt has "advised against interception" of Japanese vessel Asaku Maru. Vessel allowed to leave Lisbon
extract General Haining: Allied forces in Italian Somaliland have captured Jumbo and are advancing on Brava. 3000 prisoners taken
extract PM Churchill welcomes PM Menzies to all War Cabinet meetings while in UK. Commonwealth relationship "unique in history"
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 E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
person Robert Craigie (diplomat)
place Somaliland
place Cranborne
place Madagascar
place Singapore
place Eritrea
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Libya
organisation Home Office
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
organisation Commonwealth of Nations
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet approves non compulsory "thinning out" of coastal towns. PM: "Undesirable to exercise too great pressure"
extract Cabinet votes to approve double summer-time from around 1st May to 8th August. Home Secretary to take necessary steps
extract Admiralty: 19 convoy vessels sunk or damaged off Ireland. PM: Effort against this danger must "be our supreme exertion"
extract Air Chief: RAF bombed Cologne and invasion ports overnight. 1st use of Manchester bombers. 150 fires observed in Cologne
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
person Ernest Bevin
person Kingsley Wood
person Ernest Brown
person Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso
person Clement Attlee
place Somaliland
place Manchester
place Cranborne
place Malta
place Eritrea
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
 

Monday 24th March 1941

Meeting minutes

extract PM Menzies to try and arrange meeting with Mr De Valera in Ireland
extract Report received from Belgrade that Yugoslav PM and Foreign Minister leaving tonight for Vienna to sign pact with Germany
extract PM: Royal Navy "stretched to their fullest extent", Home Fleet dispersed. "Undoubtedly serious" but "no cause for alarm"
extract General Haining: Our forces have captured Jarabub in eastern Libya. 800 prisoners taken
person Alexander Cadogan
person Herbert Morrison
person Richard Kiel
place Greece
place Cranborne
place Belgrade
place Malta
place Eritrea
place Vienna
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Madrid, New York
place Libya
organisation Home Office
organisation Royal Navy
 

Thursday 3rd April 1941

Meeting minutes

extract General Haining: Some of our forward posts overrun in Libya. Our troops withdrawing to a position north of Agedabia
extract PM: President Roosevelt has allotted funds to build a further 200 ships for us. I stated urgent need for escort vessels
extract Admiralty: The air attack against our shipping was more intense during March than in any previous month
person Alexander Cadogan
person Herbert Morrison
place Greece
place Finland
place Cranborne
place Iceland
place Narvik
place Malta
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Libya
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cadogan: Looks as though a "show of force" might be necessary before the position in Iraq can be redressed
extract Cadogan: Our Ambassador at Budapest "told to leave as soon as possible". Yugoslav government has left Belgrade
extract General Haining: Germans moving into Yugoslavia advanced towards Skoplje and Stip yesterday against slight resistance
person Alexander Cadogan
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
person Stafford Cripps
person William Patrick Stuart-Houston
place Athens
place Cranborne
place Iraq
place Belgrade
place Hungary
place Moscow
place Turkey
place Basra
place Eritrea
place Addis Ababa
place Bulgaria
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Libya
 

Monday 5th May 1941

Meeting minutes

extract Eden: Iraqi Ambassador told if matters continue his country will "be at war with the whole of the British Empire"
extract Morrison: Other places attacked during the last four nights include Portsmouth, Tyneside, Barrow-in-Furness and Belfast
extract Morrison: Merseyside has suffered air attacks for 4 nights. Repeated attacks on towns "present many difficult problems"
extract General Dill: We are holding perimeter of Tobruk except part of west side. Germans using flamethrowers for first time
person Alexander Cadogan
person Herbert Morrison
person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
place Ankara
place Baghdad
place Iraq
place Jamaica
place Gibraltar
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Libya
place Portsmouth
organisation Home Office
organisation United States Department of State
 

Meeting minutes

extract Minister of Labour suggests "further consideration" of the possibility of conscription being applied to Northern Ireland
extract PM: Operation "TIGER" successfully completed. Result will be greatly to increase General Wavell's strength in heavy tanks
extract Air Chief: Enemy concentrated larger part of attack against our bomber aerodromes overnight. Practically no damage done
person Alexander Cadogan
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
place Cranborne
place Iraq
place Basra
place Syria
place Northern Ireland
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation United States Navy
 

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 Cabinet delays a final decision on extending conscription to Northern Ireland until the likely degree of opposition known
extract General Dill: Little definite news available. Our losses so far light. No sea-borne landing yet reported
extract General Dill: Enemy on Crete believed not to control any large areas and has suffered heavy casualties in the process
extract Air Chief: Considerable number of our aircraft damaged recently on the ground in attacks on Western aerodromes
person Alexander Cadogan
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
place Portugal
place Cranborne
place Northern Ireland
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
 

Thursday 12th June 1941

Meeting minutes

extract Home Secretary reports overnight raids at Bristol, Dover and Huddersfield. Fires quickly brought under control
extract Chiefs of Staff to give preliminary consideration to arrangements for despatch of a Military Mission to Moscow
extract General Dill: British and Free French forces "slowly advancing" in Syria. Vichy troops "resisting strongly"
person Alexander Cadogan
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
person Duff Cooper
person Ronnie Campbell
person Stafford Cripps
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
person Samuel Hoare
person Francisco Franco
place Great Britain
place Portugal
place Egypt
place Cranborne
place Syria
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Hopatcong High School
organisation United States Department of State
 

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
 

Friday 4th July 1941

Meeting minutes

extract PM: All defences to very highest state of anti-invasion efficiency by September 1st. "No vigilance should be relaxed"
extract General Dill: Russians do not seem to have lost confidence. Their latest type of fighter "doing well"
extract General Dill: Progress continues to be slow in Syria. Telegram sent to C-in-C Middle East urging "a quick decision"
extract Air Chief: During last two days we have made successful raids on shipping at Tripoli, during which five enemy vessels hit
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
place Moscow
place Syria
place Libya
organisation RAF Coastal Command