Stafford Cripps

Politician

Sir Richard Stafford Cripps (24 April 1889 – 21 April 1952) was a British Labour politician of the first half of the 20th century. During World War II he served in a number of positions in the wartime coalition, including Ambassador to the Soviet Union and Minister of Aircraft Production. After the war he served in the Attlee Ministry, firstly ...

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Documents about Stafford Cripps

Wednesday 7th February 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Informal notes on recent meetings: London red balloon scare, jokes about Sir Stafford Cripps
person Stafford Cripps
person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
place Finland
place Moscow
 

Meeting minutes

extract Russia delivers "a series of hammer blows” against Finland. Lord Halifax: Mussolini “no longer convinced” of Nazi victory
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Stafford Cripps
person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
person John Anderson (Australian politician)
person Kingsley Wood
place Finland
place Gisborne, New Zealand
place Iran
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation Hopatcong High School
 

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
 

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax to ministers: “hope of peace without a blood bath”, Stafford Cripps reports Soviets “uneasy” with Nazi alliance
person Stafford Cripps
person Adolf Hitler
person Roger Keyes, 1st Baron Keyes
place Finland
place Russian Empire
place East Germany
place Halifax Peninsula
place Moscow
place Europe
place Bulgaria
place West Germany
place Iran
organisation Morning Star (UK newspaper)
organisation Labour Party (UK)
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
 

Wednesday 6th March 1940

Meeting minutes

extract UK Ambassador Vatican passes on anxiety at Mussolini’s “increasingly pro-German course”
extract Cripps in Moscow says USSR wishes to improve relations with UK, does not want to be “too closely tied” to Germany
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Stafford Cripps
person Samuel Hoare
person Maxime Weygand
person Kingsley Wood
person John Simon, 1st Viscount Simon
place Hamburg
place Finland
place East Germany
place Moscow
place Turkey
place Rome
organisation Home Office
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Minister of Economic Warfare
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet informed of German raid on British lines in the Saarland. Two soldiers killed, 16 captured
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Stafford Cripps
person Samuel Hoare
person Kingsley Wood
person Ernest Brown
person Harold Wilson
person Andrew Duncan
place Finland
place Egypt
place Rome
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation RAF Coastal Command
 

Saturday 18th May 1940

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 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
 

Tuesday 18th June 1940

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
 

Meeting minutes

extract Report from Bordeaux that German armistice conditions have been received. Not possible to telegraph lengthy full text
extract King Farouk refusing to replace Egyptian PM. Situation dangerous. Farouk to be warned Cabinet would "welcome" his removal
extract Halifax: Concentration of Soviet forces in Baltic States "defensive". Sir Stafford Cripps to meet Marshall Stalin shortly
extract PM urges demand to France for information on Germany talks. Inconsistent with French honour to pass equipment to enemy
extract Halifax presents series of contradictory telegrams from France. Fears expressed that government may not now move overseas
person Walter Hines Page
person Ronnie Campbell
person Stafford Cripps
person Miles Lampson, 1st Baron Killearn
person Farouk of Egypt
place Great Britain
place Portugal
place East Germany
place Egypt
place Hong Kong
place Cairo
place Calais
place Lisbon, New York
organisation Home Office
 

Wednesday 3rd July 1940

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 "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 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 Despite "some risk" Cabinet agrees to supply arms and equipment to Eire to protect the country against German invasion
extract France refusing to resume diplomatic contact with UK without "unacceptable" conditions being met. Halifax to consider
extract Overnight air attack on Dover shipping "most serious attack yet experienced". 5 UK vessels sunk, 26 enemy aircraft downed
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Stafford Cripps
person Clement Attlee
place Lancaster, Lancashire
place Halifax Peninsula
place Moscow
place Turkey
place Europe
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation Royal Air Force
 

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 Cabinet agrees to maintain blockade of Europe. PM: Talk of food shortages can be put to German "Guns, not Butter" policy
extract Halifax: Sir Stafford Cripps met M. Moltotov yesterday in Moscow. He does "not appear to be making very much progress"
extract War Cabinet congratulate Secretary of State for Air and the Chief of the Air Staff "on this fine achievement"
extract Air Chief: Air action yesterday "great success". 66 enemy losses. Loss of 18 RAF fighters. "Thought" 6 pilots saved
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person Stafford Cripps
person Adolf Hitler
person Clement Attlee
place Moscow
place Europe
 

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
 

Monday 30th September 1940

Meeting minutes

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

Thursday 3rd October 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Swiss Minister now discussing UK airspace violations "with complete good humour". Hopes RAF will use mainly Geneva route
extract Cabinet agrees to reopen Burma Road. PM: Right decision, do not believe Japan will "declare war upon us as a result"
extract Air Chief: Air casualties 1 machine (pilot safe but wounded), Enemy 10. Weather very bad but a few bombers reached Berlin
extract Air Chief: 250 enemy aircraft over UK yesterday "only dropped a few bombs on the South Coast"
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Stafford Cripps
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
person Leo Amery
place Berlin, New York
place Singapore
place Malta
place Burma
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation Hopatcong High School
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM: We should "take advantage" of any delay caused by a German "Eastward thrust" to develop our army in the Middle East
extract War Secretary Eden to make personal visit to Middle East. PM: Sure that such a visit will be of great value
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person Stafford Cripps
person Miles Lampson, 1st Baron Killearn
person Sydney Brenner
place Russian Empire
place Egypt
place Turkey
place Kenya
place Khartoum
place Syria
place Libya
 

Meeting minutes

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

Meeting minutes

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

Meeting minutes

extract PM 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 India Secretary approves arrest of Pandit Nehru for anti-war speeches "calculated to stir up agrarian discontent"
extract Halifax: Diplomats suggest "cocksureness" of Germans disappearing. "Less power of resistance" to air attack than Britons
extract Home Secretary: Birmingham New Street Station badly damaged overnight. Bombs dropped this morning in Parliament Square
extract Cabinet told of reports German vessels in the Channel making eastwards. "Too early" to say risk of invasion has receded
extract General Dill: Tatoi aerodrome (Athens), Patras, Preveza and Corinth Canal bombed. No enemy action against Corfu as yet
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 Samuel Hoare
person Francisco Franco
person Kingsley Wood
place Athens
place Greece
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Birmingham
place Burma
organisation Home Office
organisation Luftwaffe
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation Indian National Congress
 

Tuesday 12th November 1940

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 Cabinet approves package of loans and credit for China. Ministers to examine possibility of supplying "obsolete" aircraft
extract UK Diplomats report Italy did not expect Greece to resist attack. Italians "still retreating in disorder from Konitza"
extract PM: This "naval occasion" brings home importance of hitting Italy as hard as we can. "We should press this advantage"
extract Admiralty: Fleet Air Arm has carried out "very successful attack" with torpedoes and bombs on Italian fleet at Taranto
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Stafford Cripps
person Samuel Hoare
person Kingsley Wood
place Lancaster, Lancashire
place Greece
place Halifax Peninsula
place Turkey
place Sudan
place Valona, California
place Albania
place Bulgaria
place Burma
place Libya
organisation Hopatcong High School
 

Meeting minutes

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

Meeting minutes

extract 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 31st March 1941

Meeting minutes

extract Eden to warn Italy any attempt to scuttle ships at Massawa will result in UK ceasing food shipments to Eritrea, Abyssinia
extract President Roosevelt has sent details of first allotments under Lease and Lend Act. 180 'planes, 5,500 Oerlikon guns...
extract PM: Have telegraphed congratulations to Sir Andrew Cunningham and Sir Arthur Longmore on this fortunate and timely action
extract Admiralty: 3 enemy cruisers and 2 destroyers sunk and an Italian battleship torpedoed at Matapan. Our losses two aircraft
person Stafford Cripps
person Andrew Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope
place Greece
place Russian Empire
place Cranborne
place Gibraltar
place Africa
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Ministry of Supply
organisation United States Navy
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Monday 7th April 1941

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
 

Meeting minutes

extract General Dill: Now clear the Germans had assembled "a considerably stronger force in Libya than we had reckoned on"
extract Attlee: "Somewhat surprised at the rapidity and force" of Libya attack in face of telegrams received from Desert Front
extract Eden: Hitler's plans "retarded and thrown out of gear" by Greek resistance and Yugoslav coup - both with our support
extract Foreign Secretary Eden and the Chief of the Imperial General Staff outline discussions held in Balkans and Middle East
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person Stafford Cripps
person Adolf Hitler
place Republic of Macedonia
place Athens
place Greece
place Egypt
place Belgrade
place Turkey
place Sicily
place Malta
place Tobruk
place Cyprus
place Alexandria
place Bulgaria
place Libya
place Tripoli
organisation United States Navy
 

Meeting minutes

extract Eden: "We should try to open up discussions with the Soviet Union", although I am "not very sanguine of good results"
extract Air Chief: In my view our bombers are "flying too low over Germany". Issuing orders to deal with this
person Stafford Cripps
person Francisco Franco
place East Germany
place Cranborne
place Iraq
place Madrid
place Moscow
place Turkey
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
 

Wednesday 28th May 1941

Meeting minutes

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

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 Stafford Cripps: Likely Germany intends to "deliver an ultimatum to Russia" when her military concentrations are complete
person Stafford Cripps
place Russian Empire
place East Germany
place Egypt
place Turkey
 

Meeting minutes

extract Stafford Cripps: In my judgement the Soviet Government will "go to considerable lengths to appease Hitler"
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
person Stafford Cripps
person William Patrick Stuart-Houston
place Moscow
organisation German Army
 

Meeting minutes

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