Cabinet papers from May 1940

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
 

Sunday 12th May 1940

Meeting minutes

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

Monday 13th May 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Prime Minister postpones attack on German industrial and military targets to conserve aircraft
extract Air Staff estimate that 60 fighter squadrons required for adequate defence of the UK. RAF has 39 squadrons
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation German Army
organisation Luftwaffe
 

Meeting minutes

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

Tuesday 14th May 1940

Meeting minutes

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

Wednesday 15th May 1940

Allied military action in the event of war with Italy.

extract Chiefs of Staff circulate report on suggested Allied military action in event of war with Italy
place Turkey
place Tunisia
 

Meeting minutes

extract Churchill: Ruhr attacks "a hard blow at Germany...we must expect this country to be hit in return"
extract Cabinet approves night bombing of the Ruhr. 100 heavy bombers to be deployed from tonight
person Adolf Hitler
person Winston Churchill
organisation Royal Air Force
 

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
 

Thursday 16th May 1940

Meeting minutes

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

Friday 17th May 1940

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
 

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

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

Civil Defence Report No. 17. Seventeenth Report submitted by the Minister of Home Security, covering the period from Midnight 14th April to Midnight 12 May, 1940.

extract Home Security Minister: Local authorities being pressed to complete bomb shelter preparations “as rapidly as possible”
person John Anderson (Maine)
place Gisborne, New Zealand
organisation Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (Netherlands)
 

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
 

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

Meeting minutes

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

Sunday 19th May 1940

Supply of Aircraft to Canada.

extract Air Production Minister halts export of planes to Canada. Need "to put into the air now every aircraft that will fight”
 

Meeting minutes

extract Minister of Information to inform Press that "situation although not desperate" becoming "increasingly grave”
extract Churchill: “We must face the fact the Belgian Army might be lost altogether.” Admiralty to make plans to evacuate them
extract Churchill: Fallback to Channel ports “a bomb trap”. “Total loss only a matter of time”. Retreat through Amiens, Rouen
extract General Ironside: Not acceptable. “We could certainly never evacuate the force complete”. Urges south west advance
extract BEF Commander concerned about force’s right flank. If gap widens proposes withdrawal to Dunkirk “to fight it out”
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
person Winston Churchill
organisation French Army
organisation Belgian Land Component
 

Dutch and Belgian War Refugees.

extract Home Secretary lays out options to deal with influx of refugees from continent. 500,000 displaced Belgians in France
person John Anderson (Maine)
 

Monday 20th May 1940

Meeting minutes

extract National Government moves to ensure Independent Labour Leader James Maxton MP will not be formal Leader of the Opposition
organisation Foreign and Commonwealth Office
 

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
 

Additional Powers.

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

Meeting minutes

extract 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
 

Tuesday 21st May 1940

The Question of an Alliance with Greece.

extract Foreign Secretary Lord Halifax proposes secret alliance with Greece as UK “likely at any moment to be at war with Italy”
person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
place Portugal
place Greece
place Turkey
place Beirut
place Bulgaria
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
 

India. Replacement of Regular Battalions by Territorials.

extract Eight experienced UK battalions in India to be exchanged for new territorial units from Britain as boost to home defence
 

Wednesday 22nd May 1940

Food Supplies for French and Belgian Refugees.

extract UK to send food relief to French and Belgian refugees in Northern France. Numbers nearing 1m, says French Ambassador
place Lancaster, Lancashire
place Dunkirk
 

Meeting minutes

extract French Command issue “stern orders” to drive refugees into fields and off roads to ensure troops can move easily
extract PM assents. RAF to do “everything possible” to assist. “Provided” French fight well “good prospect of success”
extract New French Commander General Weygand proposes joint Anglo-French attack in SW and in direction of Amiens within 24 hours
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
person Maxime Weygand
person William Lyon Mackenzie King
person Roger Keyes, 1st Baron Keyes
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation British Army
organisation French Army
organisation Belgian Land Component
 

Meeting minutes

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

Meeting minutes

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

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
 

Thursday 23rd May 1940

Meeting minutes

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

Arming of the Police.

extract Home Secretary approves strictly limited plan to arm UK police to stop sabotage, defend police stations from German raids
person John Anderson (Maine)
place Northern Ireland
 

Meeting minutes

extract King Leopold of Belgium warns that withdrawal of British Expeditionary Force will force “capitulation” of Belgian army
extract Churchill: “Little grounds for confidence”. “No choice” but to follow General Weygand's plan
extract Chiefs of Staff: If BEF fall back “unlikely that more than a small part of the force could be got away”
extract German troops reported three miles from Calais by British tank regiment. Warning ammunition position “serious”
extract PM Churchill: “Best for the BEF to fall back on the Channel ports”. Warns of “catastrophic situation” at Boulogne
extract General Weygand reports he has taken Amiens, Albert and Peronne. "Only solution" to continue this maneouvre
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
person Maxime Weygand
person Winston Churchill
place Geneva
place Paris
place Calais
place Berlin
organisation Belgian Land Component
 

Friday 24th May 1940

Relations between the Ministry of Information and the B.B.C.

extract Information Minister urges Cabinet colleagues "to make use of the radio". Broadcasting "an important element of warfare"
person Duff Cooper
 

Meeting minutes

extract Belgian Ambassador requests arrangements be made to evacuate King Leopold to England. Churchill believes this "premature"
person William Lyon Mackenzie King
person Roger Keyes, 1st Baron Keyes
organisation Belgian Land Component
 

Action to be taken by the B.B.C. in the Event of an Air Attack on this Country.

extract Information Minister circulates plan for BBC in the event of air attacks. Fighter Command may close down all transmitters
person Duff Cooper
organisation New Zealand Treasury
 

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
 

Saturday 25th May 1940

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
 

British strategy in a certain eventuality.

extract Without “full economic and financial support” from USA. Chiefs of Staff cannot see “any chance of success” in war effort
extract Chiefs of Staff circulate UK strategy for next phase of conflict. Paper assumes defeat of France, failure to evacuate BEF
place Portugal
place Russian Empire
place Egypt
place Iraq
place Eyre Peninsula
place Singapore
place Turkey
place Malta
place Europe
place Gibraltar
place Alexandria
place Africa
place Libya
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation Minister of Economic Warfare
organisation Scapa
organisation United States Army
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM sends message to King Leopold urging him to consider his safety. “Disaster for the Allied cause” were he to surrender
person William Lyon Mackenzie King
person Roger Keyes, 1st Baron Keyes
place Narvik
 

Sunday 26th May 1940

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
 

British strategy in the near future.

extract Chiefs of Staff continue forward plans: "Germany has most of the cards" but believe British "morale" will counterbalance
place Birmingham
place Europe
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation United States Navy
organisation Belgian Land Component
 

Meeting minutes

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

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 General Dill: UK forces “still holding out” in Calais, situation now quieter than the previous night
extract Churchill: We “must be prepared” for PM Reynaud “to say that the French could not carry on the fight”.
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
person Maxime Weygand
person William Lyon Mackenzie King
person Adolf Hitler
person Winston Churchill
person Edward Spears
place Europe
place Calais
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation Royal Air Force
organisation United States Navy
organisation 335th Fighter Squadron
organisation Belgian Land Component
 

Monday 27th May 1940

Meeting minutes

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

Meeting minutes

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

Meeting minutes

extract PM argues Air Ministry exaggerating extent of German air superiority. Praises Hurricane as “fine fighting machine”
extract Naval vessels standing by for re-embarkation in Dunkirk area. “Awaiting information" on points selected for operation.”
extract Belgian line near Comines Canal in “grave danger of collapse”. British 5th and 48th divisions sent to reinforce
extract Troops in Calais “still holding out with great gallantry”. Evacuated troops replaced by “other men of the same unit”
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
person James Craig, 1st Viscount Craigavon
place South Africa
place Dunkirk
place Narvik
place Paris
place South America
place West Germany
organisation Luftwaffe
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
organisation United States Navy
organisation Royal Navy
organisation Belgian Land Component
 

Meeting minutes

extract Chamberlain: “In order to keep the French in a good temper...our reply should not be a complete refusal.” Cabinet agrees.
extract PM will not “join France in asking for terms" but if told what the terms were, he "would be prepared to consider them"
extract Halifax: If UK independence not at stake "right to accept an offer which would save the country from avoidable disaster”
extract Halifax again raises Italy negotiations. Roosevelt has opened talks. French say they may offer territorial concessions
person Adolf Hitler
person Edward Spears
place Paris
place Europe
place Rome
organisation Canadian Forces Maritime Command
organisation French Army
 

Construction of Aerodromes and Naval Bases by the United States in British Colonies and Dominions.

extract Chiefs of Staff “strongly” in favour of lease of UK bases in Trinidad, Newfoundland, Bermuda to US in exchange for credit
person Telesforo Trinidad
place Iceland
place Bermuda
place Washington
organisation Hopatcong High School
organisation Government of Canada
organisation United States Congress
 

Tuesday 28th May 1940

Meeting minutes

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

Meeting minutes

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

Wednesday 29th May 1940

Meeting minutes

extract PM: A day gained may mean another 40,000 men saved. BEF must not be offered choice "between resistance and capitulation”
extract Lord Halifax: Not dishonourable to relinquish the struggle in order to save a handful of men from massacre
extract Cabinet discuss how long BEF should continue fighting rearguard action to gain time for evacuation
person John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
organisation Royal Navy
 

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
 

Seizure of Crete in the event of Italian hostilities.

extract Chiefs of Staff propose UK occupies Crete in the event of Italian hostility towards Greece
place Greece
 

India. Revolutionary Movements Ordinance.

extract India Secretary urges more powers for Viceroy to prevent civil disturbance that could “interfere with India's war effort”
organisation Indian National Congress
 

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
 

Thursday 30th May 1940

Meeting minutes

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

Meeting minutes

extract PM: “Unreasonable to denude the essential defences of this country”. Will go to Paris for meeting of Supreme War Council
extract French troops south of Amiens “very hard pressed”. General Weygand: “Nous sommes a la limite”
person Maxime Weygand
person Edward Spears
place Narvik
place Paris
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation French Army
 

Eire.

extract Chiefs of Staff issue report on potential advantages to Germany of Irish neutrality and how these can be minimised
person John Maffey, 1st Baron Rugby
place Plymouth
place Gisborne, New Zealand
place Eyre Peninsula
place Dublin
place Northern Ireland
 

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
 

Friday 31st May 1940

Meeting minutes

extract Halifax concerned with “saving face” over UK evacuation from Norway. Unwilling to face prospect of "scuttling out"
person William Patrick Stuart-Houston
place Narvik
organisation Hopatcong High School
 

Meeting minutes

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

Bombardment Policy.

extract Chiefs of Staff circulate new policy on UK bombing, wider definition of “military objectives” to allow for more targets
organisation Air Force F.C.
organisation International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
 

Iceland.

extract Chiefs of Staff urge reinforcement of occupying UK force in Iceland with 5 battalions of Canadian troops
place Iceland
place Northern Ireland
organisation Government of Canada