Great Britain

Region

Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles. With a population of about 60.0 million people in mid-2009, it is the third most populous island in the world after Java and ...

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Documents about Great Britain

Monday 8th January 1940

Analysis of German Propaganda, December 1-15, 1939.

extract Foreign Secretary Lord Halifax presents an analysis of the main themes in Nazi propaganda at the beginning of December
person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
place South Africa
place Great Britain
place Finland
place Slovakia
place Russian Empire
place Egypt
place Iraq
place Europe
place Syria
organisation Labour Party (UK)
 

Meeting minutes

extract Informal notes on meeting: “Foolish…no one had the least idea of what was involved.”
place Great Britain
place Kenya
organisation New Zealand Treasury
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet discusses strategy for the Middle East and possibility of Italian pilots supporting Finland against the Russians
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Samuel Hoare
person Kingsley Wood
person Arthur Robinson (Australian politician)
person Oliver Stanley
place Great Britain
place Afghanistan
place Greece
place Finland
place Turkey
place Kenya
place West Germany
place Iran
organisation Hopatcong High School
 

Meeting minutes

extract Secret Annexe: Vatican passes on peace plan from German officers. PM opposes suggestion by Churchill of invasion of Sweden
person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
person Adolf Hitler
place Great Britain
place Finland
place Russian Empire
place Vatican City
place Oslo
place Stockholm
place Rome
place Czechoslovakia
organisation German Army
organisation Hopatcong High School
 

Wednesday 7th February 1940

Meeting minutes

extract President Roosevelt sends Sumner Welles peace mission to European capitals
person Sumner Welles
person Adolf Hitler
place Great Britain
place Finland
place Russian Empire
place Vatican City
place Europe
place Berlin
place Washington
 

Military Assistance to Finland.

extract Secret memo by MP Philip Noel Baker outlines in detail situation on Finnish-Russian front “and the prospects of peace”
person Joseph Stalin
place Great Britain
place Finland
place Russian Empire
place East Germany
place Moscow
place Stockholm
place Denmark
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM Chamberlain: “good chance that Italian policy might develop in the direction that we desire”
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Samuel Hoare
person Malcolm MacDonald
person Ernest Brown
place Great Britain
place Finland
 

Meeting minutes

extract Secret Annexe: Russia informs UK of required terms for settlement with Finland. Halifax to urge dialogue
place Great Britain
place Murmansk
place Finland
place Russian Empire
place East Germany
place Helsinki
place Iran
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
organisation Minister of Economic Warfare
organisation French Foreign Legion
 

Friday 1st March 1940

Meeting minutes

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

Royal Marine Operation.

extract Churchill circulates Admiralty plan to mine the River Rhine. Operation will be ready at 24 hours notice from 12th March
person Winston Churchill
place Great Britain
place Paris
organisation Air Force F.C.
 

Propaganda: Appreciation of Action taken and its Effect. Sixth report submitted by the Minister of Information covering the period January and February 1940.

extract Minister of Information Sir John Reith delivers a report on Britain's propaganda work in the year so far
person John Reith, 1st Baron Reith
place Great Britain
place Portugal
place Greece
place Finland
place Russian Empire
place Hungary
place Paris
place Europe
place Kenya
place Bulgaria
place Denmark
place West Germany
 

Assistance to Finland.

extract Cabinet agrees to offer 50 more aircraft to Finnish government. Chiefs of Staff question the wisdom of further support
person Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim
place Great Britain
place Finland
place Russian Empire
 

Military implications of hostilities with Russia in 1940.

extract Chiefs of Staff report on "military implications of hostilities with Russia in 1940"
place Great Britain
place Afghanistan
place Murmansk
place Finland
place Russian Empire
place Egypt
place Iraq
place Narvik
place Turkey
place Basra
place Syria
place West Germany
place Iran
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
organisation Minister of Economic Warfare
 

Meeting minutes

extract Finnish delegation reportedly in Moscow for Soviet negotiations. Air Staff consider bombing raid on Russian positions
place Great Britain
place Finland
place Moscow
place Stockholm
organisation House of Lords
 

Congress and the War.

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

Meeting minutes

extract PM on Sumner Welles mission: “aiming for the impossible”. No peace without “real change of outlook in Germany”
person Sumner Welles
person Adolf Hitler
person Harold Wilson
person Joachim von Ribbentrop
place Great Britain
place Finland
place Halifax Peninsula
place Singapore
place Europe
place Berlin
place Rome
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
organisation Canadian Forces Maritime Command
 

Meeting minutes

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

Meeting minutes

extract Belgian Foreign Minister calls reports of “vast quantities of German troops” opposite Belgian frontier “disquieting”
extract Churchill suggests bombing shipping in Swedish port of Lulea to block harbour and disrupt German iron ore imports
person Winston Churchill
place Great Britain
place Finland
place Brussels
organisation German Army
organisation Hopatcong High School
 

Suggested Anglo-French Declaration not to Conclude a Separate Peace.

extract Halifax circulates draft of joint memorandum with France: both nations to agree not to make a separate peace with Germany
place Great Britain
place Paris
place Northern Ireland
organisation Government of Canada
 

Meeting minutes

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

Analysis of German Propaganda, March 1 to 16, 1940.

extract Lord Halifax presents analysis of recent Nazi propaganda themes. British weakness up, brutality and lies down
person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
person Adolf Hitler
person Winston Churchill
person Joachim von Ribbentrop
person John Reith, 1st Baron Reith
person Oliver Stanley
place Great Britain
place Finland
place Ankara
place Slovakia
place Russian Empire
place Caribbean
place Berlin
place Rome
organisation Ministry of Supply
 

Policy to be adopted towards Norway and Sweden in consequence of their attitude during the Finnish War.

extract Halifax concerned French plans against Norway will alienate neutrals. Suggests speaking “frankly” to Norway and Sweden
place Great Britain
place Finland
place East Germany
place Halifax Peninsula
place Narvik
place Europe
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
 

Monday 1st April 1940

Broadcasting during daylight to Germany and other Countries of Europe.

extract Information Minister requests approval for construction of radio mast on east coast to beam propaganda to the continent
place Great Britain
place Iceland
place Europe
place Denmark
place Czechoslovakia
organisation Luftwaffe
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
 

The Air Strengths of Great Britain, France and Germany.

extract Air Ministry estimates German air force at 5000 aircraft, Britain has 1840. Projects 2146 by June to Germany’s 5350
person Kingsley Wood
place Great Britain
place Finland
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation Minister of Economic Warfare
 

Friday 10th May 1940

Seaborne and airborne attack on the United Kingdom.

extract Cabinet gives general approval to plan from Chiefs of Staff on UK's response to sea and air attack
extract Italian aircraft carrier at Suez Canal. Concern a “convenient” ship for blockade. UK to block Canal as “play for time”
extract War Cabinet approves establishment of Netherland government in London
person Adolf Hitler
place Great Britain
place Gisborne, New Zealand
place Brussels
place Northern Ireland
place Denmark
organisation Luftwaffe
organisation French Air Force
 

Meeting minutes

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

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
 

Invasion of Great Britain: Possible Co-operation by a "Fifth Column".

extract Home Secretary confident his internment measures have "disorganised completely" fifth column action in the UK
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
place Great Britain
place Czechoslovakia
 

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
 

The Air Defence of Great Britain.

extract Chiefs of Staff inform Cabinet UK has reached “absolute limit” of air support to French. Contemplate “collapse” of France
place Great Britain
place Europe
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation French Army
 

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 PM: Plans should be made for RAF to bombard German factories. UK air defence must focus on our own aircraft factories
person Maxime Weygand
place Great Britain
 

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
 

Military implications of a complete withdrawal from Norway.

extract Chiefs of Staff recommend withdrawal from Norway to strengthen home defence. Urge “every effort” to capture Narvik first
person Claude Auchinleck
place Great Britain
place Murmansk
place Finland
place Narvik
organisation Canadian Forces Maritime Command
 

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 King Leopold informs British government he is “determined to stay with his army” in Belgium
extract PM: Operation may be a great failure. Or our troops may "fight magnificently" and save considerable portion of the Force
extract PM anxious “orders for march to the coast should be issued as soon as possible”. Order from Reynaud to Weygand drafted
extract Halifax urges talks with Mussolini. Italy may be able to “persuade Herr Hitler to take a more reasonable attitude”
extract Reynaud: No peace terms yet but France “could get an offer if they wanted one”. Taking Paris “the dream of all Germans”
extract PM Reynaud tells War Cabinet France has 50 divisions to Germany’s 150. “Clear that the war could not be won on land”
person John Maffey, 1st Baron Rugby
person Maxime Weygand
person James Craig, 1st Viscount Craigavon
person Adolf Hitler
person Roger Keyes, 1st Baron Keyes
place Great Britain
place Somaliland
place Russian Empire
place Paris
place Malta
place Europe
place Gibraltar
place Washington
place Northern Ireland
place Rome
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Suggested approach to Signor Mussolini.

extract Halifax meeting with Italian ambassador. Says UK would consider "any proposal" that promised "secure and peaceful Europe"
person Adolf Hitler
place Great Britain
place Paris
place Europe
place Rome
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
organisation ING Group
 

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
 

Invasion of the United Kingdom.

extract Chiefs of Staff: Germany could deliver “full scale attack” on UK before France falls. UK neither warned nor organised
place Great Britain
place East Anglia
organisation German Army
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 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
 

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
 

Western Front - British Military Policy.

extract Chiefs of Staff set out case for and against more help for France. Despatch of even two divisions "grave" security risk
person Francisco Franco
person Winston Churchill
person Edward Spears
person Paul Reynaud
place Great Britain
place Turkey
organisation British Army
 

Meeting minutes

extract General Ironside briefs on Home Defence plans: police powers, road blocks, production of new “Ironsides”
extract Intelligence report that Italians may make ultimatum to Allies. PM: "Our rejection should take the form of an air attack"
extract General Dill:”No doubt” Germans planning attack towards Paris. Expects this “in four or five days' time, or even earlier”
extract First Sea Lord: Navy "keeping a look-out for individual British soldiers who might reach the French coast"
extract General Dill: 20,700 men remain "unaccounted for. Most of these must have been killed or taken prisoner."
extract General Dill informs Cabinet "final measure" of Dunkirk evacuation completed overnight. Men evacuated (0000 BST) 310,216
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Herbert Morrison
person Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.
place Great Britain
place Dunkirk
place Paris
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation United States Navy
 

Meeting minutes

extract Air Chief reports on German bombing of Paris overnight. UK gave French "full warning", yet pilots not ready for action
extract PM reconsiders air support for France. UK cannot hold back RAF for defence while French “fighting for their lives”
person Ronnie Campbell
person Edward Spears
place Great Britain
place Dunkirk
place Paris
organisation French Air Force
 

Compulsory Censorship.

extract Information Minister Duff Cooper lays out new plan to censor "military matters" appearing in the Press
place Great Britain
place City of London
place Birmingham
place Northern Ireland
 

Preparations against Invasion. Leaflet submitted by the Minister of Information.

extract Information Minister presents draft leaflet for public on invasion: "If the INVADER comes - what to do and how to do it"
person Duff Cooper
person Adolf Hitler
place Great Britain
organisation Air Force F.C.
 

Plans to meet a certain eventuality.

extract Chiefs of Staff predict German victory will cause "more actively opportunist" Japan but end support from "alarmed" Russia
place Great Britain
place Caribbean
place Singapore
place Turkey
place Europe
place South America
organisation Hopatcong High School
organisation French Navy
organisation United States Congress
 

Meeting minutes

extract Press uncertainty over possible announcement of neutrality by Spain. UK Ambassador: "We should take nothing for granted"
extract Turkey considering whether to declare war on Italy. Egyptian government has severed diplomatic relations
extract UK 52nd division having a "very good" morale effect on French. Eden: Their arrival "might make all the difference"
extract General Dill: Germans claim to be "within 12 miles of Paris already", capital being encircled. Rheims cut off to the east
extract PM Churchill and Lord Halifax in France for further meeting with French government. PM to return tonight to brief Cabinet
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Dill
place Great Britain
place Lancaster, Lancashire
place Greece
place Egypt
place Turkey
place Paris
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
organisation Home Office
organisation Royal Air Force
 

Evacuation of Children from Great Britain Overseas.

extract Home Security Minister presents possible programme for evacuation of UK children to Dominion countries and America
person John Anderson (Maine)
place South Africa
place Great Britain
organisation Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (Netherlands)
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
 

Meeting minutes

extract Churchill: “Absolute condition” of granting assent that French fleet sail for Britain "forthwith"
extract Halifax: Ambassador Kennedy hints President saving declaration of war as “last card” if France offered “impossible” terms
extract PM: "Some possibility" that if terms too harsh French Government might carry on the struggle from outside France
extract French government request UK authorisation to enquire "what armistice conditions would be offered to France by the enemy"
person Charles de Gaulle
person Ronnie Campbell
person Winston Churchill
person Jean Bart
place Great Britain
place New York, Lincolnshire
place Alexandria
organisation French Navy
organisation Canadian Forces Maritime Command
organisation French Air Force
organisation French Army
 

Meeting minutes

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

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax: Decision “distasteful” but cannot see Cabinet can reach conclusion other than that proposed by Chiefs of Staff
extract Cabinet discuss Channel Islands report. PM: “Repugnant” to abandon territory held by Crown since the Norman Conquest
extract Halifax announces receipt of telegram from Japan threatening war if UK will not immediately comply with a list of demands
extract Halifax reports French colonies may “be willing in most cases to cooperate with us” whatever decided by Petain government
extract Admiralty to make arrangements to embark Polish and Czech troops at French ports and bring them to UK
extract Admiral Darlan: “In no circumstances” will Fleet be surrendered to Germans. Can be got away during negotiations
extract PM: “More encouraging picture” from France. Fighting continuing, French navy has sunk two Italian submarines
extract Air Chief: 120 enemy aircraft over UK last night. Attacks on Cambridgeshire, East Anglia. Nine casualties so far reported
person Andrew Greenwood
person Walter Hines Page
person Maxime Weygand
person Jean Bart
place Great Britain
place Narvik
place Gibraltar
place South America
place East Anglia
place Eritrea
place Kenya
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation French Navy
organisation RAF Fighter Command
organisation 335th Fighter Squadron
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM: Must avoid "putting undue pressure" on loyal province of Ulster. In favour of allowing Germany first move in Eire
extract Chamberlain urges offering Eire government declaration favouring a United Ireland in exchange for ports, hosting UK force
extract Halifax: Japan threat yesterday "should not be taken too seriously". Japan may be trouble "later on but not immediately"
extract Withdrawal of French government "complicated" by refusal of President Lebrun to leave. German forces rapidly approaching
extract M. Petain: Unlikely France will agree to give Destroyers to UK. But will "never allow them to fall into German hands"
extract Air Chief: UK bomb raids "hitting Germany considerably harder" than their raids hitting us. Good night for Bomber Command
extract Air Chief reports raids on industrial targets across UK overnight including ammunition stores. Casualties "very slight"
extract General Dill: Germans continuing to advance towards Lyons and western French ports. 111,478 troops so far evacuated to UK
person Walter Hines Page
person James Craig, 1st Viscount Craigavon
person Miles Lampson, 1st Baron Killearn
place Great Britain
place Egypt
place Malta
place Gibraltar
place Africa
place Dublin
place Northern Ireland
organisation Home Office
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation British Army
organisation Royal Navy
 

Meeting minutes

extract Home Office report enemy aliens being locked up as fast as facilities can be provided. Reliable aliens being "combed out"
extract PM concerned at rise in number of children for evacuation overseas. Information Minister to stress transport limits
extract French government's move to Perpignan for evacuation to N. Africa cancelled. Position on Fleet may have changed for worse
extract Military evacuation of Channel Islands complete. Evacuation of residents wishing to leave will be finished later today
extract British evacuation from France now complete (144,180 returned to UK). Some Polish troops still awaiting embarkation
person Walter Hines Page
place Great Britain
place Somaliland
place Egypt
place Iceland
place Liverpool
place Malta
place Nigeria
place Africa
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Libya
organisation Home Office
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Government of Canada
organisation French Foreign Legion
 

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
 

German Armistice Terms to France.

extract Halifax circulates full text of draft armistice terms between Germany and France. Unclear if Germany accepted all terms
place Great Britain
place Madagascar
place Geneva
place Paris
organisation French Army
 

Meeting minutes

extract French formally complain about de Gaulle broadcasts, recent statements by PM. Demand recall of UK consuls in N.Africa
extract War Cabinet informed that a Franco-Italian Armistice has been signed. No news is available as to its provisions
extract Halifax argues for return of destroyers to Sweden in exchange for their cancelling US aircraft contracts. Cabinet assents
person Charles de Gaulle
person Stephen King
person William Lyon Mackenzie King
person Clive Anderson
place South Africa
place Great Britain
place Lancaster, Lancashire
place North America
organisation Home Office
organisation Hopatcong High School
organisation Royal Navy
organisation French Foreign Legion
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet approves evacuation of women and children from Hong Kong. War Secretary to look at UK recruitment in Far East
extract General Dill: Military operations in the Middle East confirm "reluctance of the Italians to fight"
person Walter Hines Page
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
person Francisco Franco
person Adolf Hitler
place Great Britain
place Russian Empire
place Hong Kong
place Europe
place Gibraltar
place Portsmouth
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Hopatcong High School
organisation Royal Navy
organisation French Navy
organisation French Foreign Legion
 

German and Italian Armistice Terms to France.

extract Lord Halifax circulates full text of signed German and Italian armistice terms to France
person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
place Great Britain
place Somaliland
place Geneva
place Syria
place Rome
place Libya
organisation Luftwaffe
organisation French Navy
 

Policy in the Far East.

extract Halifax outlines UK Far East policy, recommends rejection of Japanese demands to close Burma road to China
person Chiang Kai-shek
place Great Britain
place Hong Kong
place Singapore
place Shanghai
place Burma
 

Meeting minutes

extract Lord Halifax reports Romania likely to accede to Russian demand to occupy territories of Bessarabia and Bukovina
person Walter Hines Page
person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
person Miles Lampson, 1st Baron Killearn
place Great Britain
place Russian Empire
place Egypt
place Hong Kong
place Shanghai
place Syria
 

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 "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)
 

India and the War.

extract India Secretary presses Cabinet for statement on India constitution to keep order. "Present political deadlock" a danger
place Great Britain
place Burma
organisation Home Office
organisation Indian National Congress
organisation ING Group
organisation Congress Working Committee
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet told French cruiser accidentally sunk without warning yesterday. UK to apologise and restate warning policy
extract Cabinet agrees to pause overseas evacuation of UK children. Vessels cannot be escorted and so are at too great a risk
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Samuel Hoare
person Richard Kiel
person Clement Attlee
person Robert Craigie (diplomat)
person Chiang Kai-shek
place Great Britain
place Hamburg
place Halifax Peninsula
place North America
place Gibraltar
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Portsmouth
organisation Home Office
organisation Luftwaffe
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
organisation Government of Canada
 

Estimated Scale of Air Attack upon United Kingdom.

extract Prime Minister questions Air Ministry figures on likely severity of bombing attacks on UK. Ministry reduce figure by 60%
extract Chiefs of Staff report on “likely forms and scales of attack" Germany could bring to bear on UK "in the near future”
person Winston Churchill
place Great Britain
place Trondheim
place Iceland
place East Anglia
place Denmark
 

Comments on the recent conversation between His Majesty's Ambassador at Moscow and M. Stalin.

extract Halifax circulates progress of Cripps negotiations with Marshall Stalin. “Soviet-German co-operation is to continue”
person Adolf Hitler
place Great Britain
place Russian Empire
place East Germany
place Iraq
place Moscow
place Turkey
place Europe
place Istanbul
 

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax: Overseas intelligence Hitler still clinging “to the hope of working arrangement with the British Empire”
extract UK Ambassador Tokyo warns “real danger of Japan joining the Axis Powers”. Cabinet favours closing Burma Road for 3 months
extract Ministers to consider role of women in home defence. Suggestion they “be provided with uniforms and allowed to use arms”
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Walter Hines Page
person William Patrick Stuart-Houston
person Samuel Hoare
person Francisco Franco
person Adolf Hitler
person Clement Attlee
person Robert Craigie (diplomat)
place Great Britain
place North America
place Berlin
place Tokyo
place Burma
place West Germany
organisation Home Office
organisation International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
 

Policy in the Far East.

extract Foreign Office conclude Japan "unlikely to resort to total war". Japan "cautious", uncertain of US intervention in region
person Chiang Kai-shek
place Great Britain
place Hong Kong
place Europe
place Thailand
place Republic of China
place Burma
organisation Hopatcong High School
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
organisation United States Department of State
 

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
 

Grant of air facilities to the United States.

extract Halifax details plan to grant airbases to US. "In future" US may be responsible for guarding "English-speaking peoples"
place Great Britain
place Iceland
place Bermuda
place Caribbean
place North America
place Jamaica
place Europe
place South America
place Washington
place West Germany
organisation Hopatcong High School
organisation United States Department of State
organisation United States Navy
organisation Government of Canada
organisation United States Congress
organisation United States Army
 

Home Defence (Security) Executive. Special Operations Executive.

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

Propaganda for the future.

extract Information Minister Duff Cooper developing propaganda strategy to respond to German "peace offensive"
place Great Britain
place Egypt
place Iraq
place Europe
place Gibraltar
 

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax: “We delude ourselves” if we think Russia will “by proper treatment be made a warm friend of this country”
extract Halifax: Resuming relations with France unlikely in view of UK bombing, blockade, leaflet drops. Not of great importance
extract Lord Halifax speaking to junior ministers. Tells meeting “We might now be at the turning point of the war”
person Charles de Gaulle
person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
person Adolf Hitler
person Farouk of Egypt
place Great Britain
place Lancaster, Lancashire
place Russian Empire
place Egypt
place Singapore
place Europe
place Burma
place West Germany
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract Intelligence from Geneva: Relations between Vichy ministers “very strained”, may lead to fall of government "at any time”
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
person Maxime Weygand
person Clement Attlee
person Robert Craigie (diplomat)
place Great Britain
place Belgrade
place Moscow
place Geneva
place Turkey
place Istanbul
place Tokyo
 

Friday 2nd August 1940

Agreement with the Polish Government.

extract UK signs agreement with Polish government in exile to bring Polish armed forces (land, sea and air) under British command
place Great Britain
place Northern Ireland
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation British Army
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
organisation Commonwealth of Nations
 

Meeting minutes

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

Defence against invasion.

extract PM urges less focus on west country in invasion defence. "Not admissible to lavish our limited resources on this sector"
person Winston Churchill
place Great Britain
organisation Air Force F.C.
 

The Middle East: Directive to the Commander-in-Chief.

extract PM warns General Wavell invasion of Egypt from Libya "must be expected at any time", circulates orders for Middle East
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person Winston Churchill
place Great Britain
place Somaliland
place Egypt
place Sudan
place Malta
place Europe
place Kenya
place Khartoum
place Alexandria
place Africa
place Libya
 

The Munitions Situation.

extract Supply Minister warns UK armaments industry "a very small infant compared with the giant that threatens to attack it"
person Herbert Morrison
person Adolf Hitler
place Great Britain
place Russian Empire
place Birmingham
place North America
place Europe
place Africa
place Czechoslovakia
organisation Ministry of Supply
organisation German Army
organisation British Army
organisation United States Army
 

Meeting minutes

extract Air Secretary: Nothing in the last few weeks has shaken the conviction we can hold our own in the air battle of 1940
extract PM: Air losses on both sides "tending to approximate". UK "getting through our reserves of aircraft at a dangerous rate"
place South Africa
place Great Britain
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
 

Tuesday 10th September 1940

Telegrams Exchanged with His Majesty's Minister in Stockholm.

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

United States Base at Bermuda.

extract Colonial Office: Planned US base on Bermuda will cause "gravest dislocation" of island life. Suggest islanders object
place Great Britain
place Bermuda
place Washington
organisation United States Department of State
 

Spain, Gibraltar and Morocco.

extract Halifax warns of likely German "diversion" against Egypt or Iberian Peninsula. "Great pressure will be placed on Spain"
person Charles de Gaulle
person Francisco Franco
person Adolf Hitler
place Great Britain
place Portugal
place Egypt
place Halifax Peninsula
place Madrid
place Turkey
place Paris
place Europe
place Gibraltar
place Berlin
place Morocco
place Syria
place Africa
place Madrid, New York
organisation German Army
organisation Minister of Economic Warfare
 

Tuesday 1st October 1940

Meeting minutes

extract PM: Agree principle of talks but not "a golden opportunity". Should protect de Gaulle, "assist in any movement" he starts
extract Halifax proposes Vichy talks to secure "healthily anti-German" France. "Not vital" whether Colonies to Vichy or de Gaulle
person Charles de Gaulle
person Samuel Hoare
place Great Britain
place Madrid
place Cairo
place Libreville
place Gibraltar
place Morocco
place Africa
organisation United States Navy
 

The Burma Road Agreement.

extract Halifax advises reopening Burma Road to China in 2 weeks: "More important than ever" that China war should be kept going
person Robert Craigie (diplomat)
person Chiang Kai-shek
place Great Britain
place Moscow
place Berlin
place Tokyo
place Republic of China
place Burma
place Rome
organisation United States Department of State
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM orders ships to be diverted from anti-invasion duties to convoy escort. Winter weather renders invasion "not likely"
extract Air Chief: Only serious damage to De Havilland aircraft factory. All our own operations cancelled due to poor visibility
extract Air Chief: Enemy activity "on a much reduced scale" in past 24 hours, 80 aircraft during the day, 60 overnight
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 Charles de Gaulle
person Herbert Morrison
person Samuel Hoare
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
place Great Britain
place Cranborne
place Halifax Peninsula
place Europe
place Gibraltar
place Dakar
place Madrid, New York
organisation Home Office
 

Sunday 10th November 1940

Assistance to China.

extract Halifax: General Chiang Kai-shek requests treaty of alliance with UK, USA and "concrete financial and economic help"
person Chiang Kai-shek
place Great Britain
place Moscow
place Hong Kong
place Singapore
place Shanghai
place Tokyo
place Republic of China
 

Relations with Vichy.

extract Vichy Government "between the devil and the deep blue sea" says Foreign Office. "We must get at them individually"
person Charles de Gaulle
place Great Britain
place Paris
place Europe
 

Reports for the Month of October 1940 for India, Burma and the Colonies, Protectorates and Mandated Territories.

extract India Secretary: New outbreak of civil disobedience in Hyderabad State. "Not clear" what Gandhi's next intention might be
person Charles de Gaulle
person William Patrick Stuart-Houston
place South Africa
place Great Britain
place Greece
place Somaliland
place Russian Empire
place Egypt
place Hong Kong
place Caribbean
place Singapore
place Jamaica
place Gibraltar
place Cyprus
place Syria
place Africa
place Burma
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation Indian National Congress
organisation Congress Working Committee
 

Meeting minutes

extract Chiefs of Staff order strengthening of AA defence in Midlands at expense of London (40 guns) and Home Counties
place Great Britain
place Birmingham
 

Friday 6th December 1940

Payments to Eire.

extract Chancellor presents two plans to force concessions from Irish government. Second "would be in effect economic war"
person Kingsley Wood
place Great Britain
place South Wales
place Northern Ireland
 

Draft letter from Prime Minister to President Roosevelt.

extract PM to cable Roosevelt on year ahead: "Unless we can establish our ability to feed this Island...we may fall by the way"
person Adolf Hitler
person Winston Churchill
place Great Britain
place Singapore
place Turkey
place North America
place Europe
place Africa
place Northern Ireland
place West Germany
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation United States Navy
organisation Royal Navy
organisation Commonwealth of Nations
organisation French Navy
 

Contacts with the Vichy Government.

extract Halifax: To go beyond this may be difficult for Vichy. They must be careful "to avoid rousing German suspicions"
extract Halifax: We have received written assurances from Vichy that France will retain her fleet and Empire and not attack UK
person Charles de Gaulle
person Samuel Hoare
person Maxime Weygand
person Adolf Hitler
place Great Britain
place Greece
place Egypt
place Tangier
place Libreville
place Gibraltar
place London, Ontario
place Morocco
place Africa
place Madrid, New York
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
organisation Royal Navy
 

Tuesday 7th January 1941

Attitude of His Majesty's Government towards the Emperor Haile Selassie and the position of Italian East Africa in the event of an Enemy Defeat.

extract Foreign Secretary Eden reaffirms UK's commitment "to an independent Ethiopia" and the recapture of British Somaliland
person Anthony Eden
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
place Great Britain
place Somaliland
place Sudan
place Ethiopia
place Kismayo
place Eritrea
place Rome
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Atlantic Ferry Organisation.

extract Beaverbrook: Available pilots "utterly inadequate" to secure delivery of needed US aircraft. "The problem is immediate"
place Great Britain
 

Weekly Resume (No. 73) of the Naval, Military and Air Situation from 12 noon January 16th, to 12 noon January 23rd 1941.

extract Chiefs of Staff: Over 14,000 prisoners taken so far at Tobruk and about 200 guns. "Our casualties were under 500"
person Richard Kiel
place Great Britain
place Freetown
place Somaliland
place Alexandria Troas
place Narvik
place Malta
place Gibraltar
place Tobruk
place Albania
place Africa
place Libya
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Luftwaffe
organisation Scapa
organisation RAF Fighter Command
 

Food Situation of the United Kingdom. Monthly Report for December 1940.

extract Food Minister: Imports short of projections by 13%. Wheat stocks "falling rapidly", eggs "down to half a week's supply"
place Great Britain
place City of London
place Greece
place South Wales
place Turkey
organisation Advanced Micro Devices
 

Monday 10th February 1941

Political and economic relations with Belgium.

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

Tuesday 11th March 1941

Civil Precautions against Invasion. Guidance to the Public.

extract Anderson circulates new anti-invasion leaflet "Beating the Invader". Also "Stay where you are" and "If the Invader comes"
person John Anderson (Australian politician)
person Adolf Hitler
place Great Britain
organisation Air Force F.C.
 

Necessity for base facilities in Eire.

extract Dominions Secretary reports effects of UK economic action against Eire. "To-day Southern Ireland is very uncomfortable"
person John Maffey, 1st Baron Rugby
place Great Britain
place Cranborne
place Dublin
place Northern Ireland
organisation British Army
organisation Royal Navy
organisation Commonwealth of Nations
 

Status and Future Employment of the A.T.S.

extract War Secretary proposes expanding size and role of Auxiliary Territorial Service for women and tackle recruitment shortage
person David Margesson, 1st Viscount Margesson
place Great Britain
 

Friday 18th April 1941

Reports for the Month of March 1941 for the Dominions, India, Burma and the Colonies, Protectorates and Mandated Territories.

extract India Secretary: Mr. Gandhi's anti-war civil disobedience has now entered "third stage". Public interest generally low
person William Patrick Stuart-Houston
person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
person Malcolm MacDonald
place Great Britain
place Ethiopia
place Berlin
place Republic of China
place Burma
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation Government of Canada
organisation Indian National Congress
 

Policy towards Turkey.

extract Eden: "Most we can hope for" from Turks "benevolent neutrality". In our interest to supply and support their armed forces
person Anthony Eden
place Great Britain
place Greece
place Egypt
place Iraq
place Turkey
place Basra
place Europe
place Istanbul
place Cyprus
place Alexandria
place Syria
place Bulgaria
 

Saturday 31st May 1941

Food Situation in the United Kingdom. Monthly Report for April, 1941.

extract Food Minister: Butter allowance may have to be reduced to 2 ozs at end of June. Increased cheese ration "may be possible"
place Great Britain
place City of London
 

Future of Cyprus.

extract Eden: "Strong case" for ceding Cyprus to Greece after war. Suggest talks now to avoid German offer to "quisling" Athens
person Anthony Eden
place Great Britain
place Athens
place Greece
place Egypt
place Turkey
place Malta
place Cyprus
place Alexandria
place Syria
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
 

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
 

Food Situation in the United Kingdom. Monthly Report for May, 1941.

extract Minister of Food: Imports in May "substantially higher" than first four months of the year. Cheese ration to be increased
place Great Britain
place City of London
place North America
place Burma
organisation Advanced Micro Devices
 

Thursday 3rd July 1941

Weekly Resume (No. 96) of the Naval, Military and Air Situation from 12 noon June 26th, to 12 noon July 3rd, 1941.

extract Chiefs of Staff: Fighting continues against Vichy French in Syria "who are putting up skilful and determined resistance"
extract Chiefs of Staff: German forces advancing on the general axis Smolensk-Moscow have reached Minsk
place Great Britain
place Freetown
place Egypt
place Gisborne, New Zealand
place South Wales
place Shanghai
place Sicily
place Malta
place Europe
place Gibraltar
place Tobruk
place Beirut
place Syria
place Libya
place Tripoli
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation German Army
organisation Luftwaffe
 

Japanese intentions in Indo-China.

extract Eden: We have "sure information" Japan not intending action in Eastern Siberia but will seize staging areas in Indo-China
person Anthony Eden
place Great Britain
place Singapore
place Shanghai
place Thailand
place Washington
place Republic of China