Cabinet papers from April 1940

Monday 1st April 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax: No guarantee Italy would not join Reich if Germans launch Blitzkrieg “and obtain...initial success”
extract Bad weather hampering air operations. French unwilling to support Rhine mining operation amid concern of German reprisal
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
place Ankara
place Turkey
place Paris
place Europe
place Libya
organisation Home Office
organisation BBC
 

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)
 

Tuesday 2nd April 1940

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
 

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet complains to BBC that news reports are repeating German accounts of naval and air engagements as well as British
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Harold Wilson
person Robert Craigie (diplomat)
place Russian Empire
place Narvik
organisation Home Office
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

Wednesday 3rd April 1940

Meeting minutes

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

Leaflet dropping over Germany.

extract Air Minister forwards report on success of leaflet dropping campaign: “German Air Ministry and…Nazi regime losing face”
person Adolf Hitler
person Kingsley Wood
place Berlin
place Vienna
place Czechoslovakia
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation Luftwaffe
 

Meeting minutes

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

Thursday 4th April 1940

Meeting minutes

extract PM meets junior ministers. Offered Attlee coalition, again refused. Nazi war alliance would cause Mussolini's overthrow
person Samuel Hoare
person Kingsley Wood
person Frederick Marquis, 1st Earl of Woolton
person Paul Reynaud
place Lancaster, Lancashire
place Russian Empire
place Iraq
place Turkey
place Iran
organisation Labour Party (UK)
 

Meeting minutes

extract Japan trade talks proceeding well. Halifax warns Japanese ambassador not to raise status of Japan’s government in China
person Ronnie Campbell
person Robert Craigie (diplomat)
place Heligoland
place London, Ontario
place West Germany
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation Minister of Economic Warfare
 

Friday 5th April 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Press to be told of Norway mining ops after BBC broadcast. PM “most anxious to avoid armed conflict with Norwegian ships”
organisation BBC
 

Plan R.4: Instructions to Commanders.

extract Chiefs of Staff circulate aborted plan R4 for occupation of Norwegian ports to forestall German operations
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation French Army
 

Weekly Resume (No. 31) of the Naval, Military and Air Situation from 12 noon March 28th to 12 noon April 4th, 1940.

extract Chiefs of Staff report lull in U-Boat activity but increase in German reconnaissance aircraft activity off Norway coast
place Somaliland
place Hong Kong
place Narvik
place North China
place Denmark
place Rome
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation United States Navy
 

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

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

Meeting minutes

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