Cabinet papers from February 1941

Monday 3rd February 1941

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet approves construction of Burma-China railway if border agreed. Secretary of State to inform Burmese government
extract Eden: Resignation of Iraq government "not to be regretted". New one "not very satisfactory but might be only a stop-gap"
extract General Wavell reports enemy making "determined stand in difficult country" in Eritrea. Rapid progress "unlikely"
extract General Heywood: Greek First Corps "in good heart". Few casualties suffered from the enemy, but many from frost bite
extract Admiralty: Swordfish bombers attacked dam in Sardinia. Met heavy anti-aircraft fire, claimed 3 hits on dam with torpedoes
extract Air Chief: Enemy aircraft have dropped bombs and mines in the Suez Canal. A number of the mines have now been detonated
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
person Rashid Ali al-Gaylani
person Kingsley Wood
person Ernest Brown
person Clement Attlee
person John Dill
place Greece
place Cranborne
place Iraq
place Eritrea
place Washington
place Morocco
place Africa
place Burma
organisation Home Office
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM: Bulgarian government "conniving" at German infiltration of their country. UK has offered 10 RAF squadrons to Turkey
place Turkey
place Istanbul
place Bulgaria
organisation Royal Air Force
 

Tuesday 4th February 1941

Entertainments on Sundays.

extract Ernest Bevin calls for an end to restrictions on entertainments on "dreary" Sundays to help avoid "staleness and boredom"
person Ernest Bevin
 

Wednesday 5th February 1941

Anti-Gas Precautions.

extract Clement Attlee recommends Sunday afternoon gas mask drills. Publicity vital if gas defence "is to be keyed up"
 

Meeting minutes

extract Admiralty: Italian convoys using French territorial waters. Cabinet agrees enemy ships in Med. area may be sunk on sight
place Gibraltar
organisation Air Force F.C.
 

Co-operation with the Netherlands East Indies.

extract Foreign Secretary Eden proposes mutual defence pact with Dutch East Indies and Burma, Malaya and Borneo
person Anthony Eden
place Hong Kong
place Burma
organisation Hopatcong High School
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
organisation Government of Canada
 

United States Bases.

extract Colonial Secretary circulates draft text of lease for British bases to the United States
place Cranborne
place Bermuda
 

Meeting minutes

extract UK Ambassador Tokyo warns of "possibility of Japanese control over Indo-China". Chiefs of Staff to consider implications
person Anthony Eden
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Samuel Hoare
person Bob Kerslake
person Robert Craigie (diplomat)
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
 

Thursday 6th February 1941

Meeting minutes

extract Cabinet told Suez Canal closed for 15 days. PM: German attack showed Japan we can be prevented reinforcing Far East
extract PM: Information "of a serious character". Hope that India and Burma will be ready to take action "should the need arise"
extract Eden: Secret information received. Japanese diplomats instructed to be prepared to leave UK "at short notice"
place Burma
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM: US to despatch 250,000 more rifles and 50m rounds of ammunition. This cargo must be distributed between several ships
extract General Dill: Signs of Italian movements out of Benghazi. General Wavell has ordered our Forces to press on rapidly
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
person Malcolm MacDonald
person Ernest Brown
person Clement Attlee
person John Dill
person Leo Amery
place Cranborne
place Turkey
place Burma
place Libya
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
 

Developments at Vichy.

extract Eden: "Germans will stand no more delaying tactics from Marshal Petain". Renewed pressure for their use of French fleet
person Anthony Eden
person Maxime Weygand
person Adolf Hitler
place Paris
place Tunisia
place Syria
place Toulon
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
organisation French Navy
 

Saturday 8th February 1941

The "Asaka Maru".

extract Eden: But "strongest possible reaction" if vessel intercepted. It will resist - "first-class incident may be anticipated"
extract Eden: Japan seeking protection for Asaka Maru bound for Berlin. "Impertinent" and to "organise a joint front against us"
person Anthony Eden
person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
place Europe
place South America
place Berlin
place Tokyo
organisation Royal Navy
 

Monday 10th February 1941

Meeting minutes

extract Foreign Secretary Eden to consult President Roosevelt on whether to detain the Asaka Maru at "the risk of war" with Japan
extract PM Churchill: In what way should our forces in the Middle East now be employed?
extract Admiralty: 24,000 tons of merchant shipping lost since last report made to the War Cabinet
person Anthony Eden
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
person Duff Cooper
person Francisco Franco
person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
person Kingsley Wood
person Ernest Brown
person Archibald Sinclair, 1st Viscount Thurso
person Clement Attlee
person John Dill
place Cranborne
place Gibraltar
place Republic of China
place Greenwood, Nova Scotia
place Libya
organisation Home Office
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation House of Lords
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
 

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)
 

Communist Activities.

extract Anderson: Closure of Daily Worker newspaper has led to rise in Communist pamphlets. New powers needed to suppress
person John Anderson (Australian politician)
organisation Home Office
organisation Morning Star (UK newspaper)
 

Tuesday 11th February 1941

Administration of Occupied Enemy Territories in Africa.

extract War Secretary seeks guidance on how newly occupied territory in Africa is to be administered
person David Margesson, 1st Viscount Margesson
place Somaliland
place Eritrea
place Africa
place Libya
 

Wednesday 12th February 1941

Supply of Men for the Defence Services.

extract Labour Secretary concerned manpower targets for Army "cannot be obtained without serious dislocation of vital industries"
person Ernest Bevin
organisation United States Navy
 

Thursday 13th February 1941

Weekly Resume (No. 76) of the Naval, Military and Air Situation from 12 noon February 6th, to 12 noon February 13th, 1941.

extract Chiefs of Staff: "Waterless and inhospitable" Sirte desert now a very good defence for remaining Italian forces in Libya
place Somaliland
place Iceland
place Liverpool
place Malta
place Kismayo
place Gibraltar
place Stockholm
place Africa
place Bulgaria
place Denmark
place Libya
place Tripoli
organisation RAF Coastal Command
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM directs Japanese vessel Asaka Maru be permitted to travel to Lisbon to "give more time" to consider action to be taken
extract Cadogan: Unconfirmed report all Japanese ships have received orders to return to Japan by the 1st March
extract Cadogan: Yugoslavia seems to be "under German pressure". Report Italian forces in Tripoli being evacuated by sea to Italy
extract PM: Hope Bomber Command realise we do not press for bombing operations to be undertaken when weather unfavourable
extract Air Chief: Fog on 11th rendered landing impossible. Crews ordered to bale out, 22 aircraft lost. All but 5 crew safe
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Andrew Greenwood
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Kingsley Wood
place Cranborne
place Malta
place Kismayo
place Lisbon, New York
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation RAF Coastal Command
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
 

Economic Warfare. Report for January, 1941.

extract Dalton: US economic action against Axis "promise without performance". Their procrastination "now becoming serious"
person Hugh Dalton
organisation United States Navy
 

Saturday 15th February 1941

Implications of a Japanese southward move.

extract Japan will "probably select" Dutch East Indies as first objective. Any move will be "timed to fit" with German offensive
extract Chiefs of Staff predict Japan will use mediation role in Thai-French dispute to gain bases in Thailand and Indo-China
person Robert German
place Singapore
place Thailand
place Burma
 

Sunday 16th February 1941

Operations in Libya.

extract General Wavell outlines reasons for success in Libya. "Bold use of numerically inferior forces worked time after time"
person David Margesson, 1st Viscount Margesson
place Sudan
place Kenya
place Cyprus
place Libya
 

Monday 17th February 1941

Meeting minutes

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

Action to be taken against Enemy Submarines taking refuge in Spanish Territorial Waters.

extract Admiralty requests permission to chase enemy submarines into Spanish territorial waters. "Not proposed" to inform Spain
place Gibraltar
place Morocco
 

Tuesday 18th February 1941

Oil Position. Monthly Report for January, 1941, submitted by the Secretary for Petroleum.

extract Petroleum Secretary: January oil imports "on a very low level" but expect them to recover to Summer 1940 levels shortly
person Geoffrey Lloyd, Baron Geoffrey-Lloyd
place Greece
place Hong Kong
place Singapore
place Malta
place Kenya
 

Authority to H.M. Ships and Aircraft in the Mediterranean to sink Merchant Ships without warning.

extract Admiralty authorises widening of Navy's ability to sink on sight in the Adriatic, Gulf of Genoa and Central Mediterranean
place Egypt
place Malta
place Tunisia
place Algeria
place Albania
place Libya
 

Wednesday 19th February 1941

Administration of Occupied Enemy Territories in Africa.

extract Attlee: War Office to run occupied territories in Africa to avoid suspicion UK seeks to "incorporate them in our Empire"
place Africa
organisation United Nations
 

Thursday 20th February 1941

Meeting minutes

extract Cadogan: General Franco refused "abject appeal for help" from Signor Mussolini at their recent meeting
extract Remaining UK assets in America to be given to US government. PM: We will receive "far more than we could possibly give"
extract PM: Japan offers to mediate between Hitler and ourselves. Will make clear our war purpose is the eradication of Hitlerism
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person George Cadogan, 3rd Earl Cadogan
person John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley
person Herbert Morrison
person Duff Cooper
person William Patrick Stuart-Houston
person Francisco Franco
person E. F. L. Wood, 1st Earl of Halifax
person Adolf Hitler
person Kingsley Wood
person Clement Attlee
place Cranborne
place Africa
organisation Home Office
organisation House of Commons of the United Kingdom
organisation Parliament of the United Kingdom
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM: "We could not very well blame them." Hopes "we should not have to put any large part of our army into Greece"
extract Churchill warns Cabinet Germans could "offer the Greeks such attractive terms that they would feel bound to make peace"
place Athens
place Greece
place Egypt
place Turkey
place Tripoli, Greece
place Bulgaria
 

Friday 21st February 1941

Committee on Reconstruction Problems.

extract PM establishes committee on postwar reconstruction. Aim "to secure equality of opportunity and service among all classes"
organisation Foreign Office (Germany)
 

Vulnerability of Whitehall to Air Attack.

extract Chiefs of Staff urge greater speed on work to protect Whitehall buildings and communications from air attack
 

Monday 24th February 1941

Meeting minutes

extract PM Churchill: In my opinion the enterprise is a risk we must undertake. At worst bulk of force could be got back to Egypt
extract PM Menzies: If enterprise "only a forlorn hope it had better not be undertaken." Is there substantial chance of success?
extract PM Churchill: "Difficulties...must not be under-rated". If colleagues have misgivings "they should express them now"
extract PM Churchill: Cabinet must now "reach a most important decision, namely, whether to open a new theatre of war in Greece"
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person Joseph Stalin
place Greece
place Egypt
place Turkey
place Bulgaria
organisation Luftwaffe
 

Policy in the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean.

extract Eden calls on PM to "do everything in our power to bring fullest measure of help to Greeks at earliest possible moment"
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
place Republic of Macedonia
place Greece
place Turkey
place Kenya
place Bulgaria
 

Meeting minutes

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

Policy in the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean.

extract Chiefs of Staff outline advantages and disadvantages of sending UK forces to assist Greece as Foreign Secretary proposes
place Greece
place Egypt
place Turkey
place Africa
 

Tuesday 25th February 1941

Evacuation of Coastal Areas.

extract Anderson circulates plans to "thin out" population of coastal towns to prevent civilians impeding military if UK invaded
person John Anderson (Australian politician)
person Clive Anderson
 

Extension of Summer Time.

extract Home Secretary requests Cabinet decision on extending summer time "by a further hour". Does not endorse change
person Herbert Morrison
 

Wednesday 26th February 1941

Evacuation of Coastal Areas.

extract Information Minister strongly opposes coastal evacuation. It means "complete temporary ruin for large numbers of people"
person Duff Cooper
 

Thursday 27th February 1941

Meeting minutes

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

Publicity for Anti-Gas Measures.

extract Morrison: Less than "20% of the people in London streets" carrying gas masks. Government must make "statement of policy"
person Herbert Morrison
 

Meeting minutes

extract PM Churchill "deeply moved" by assent of Dominion Governments. They have "responded magnificently" to severe proposals
extract PM Menzies: Australian government concurs in the proposed use of two Australian divisions in Greece
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
person Harold Wilson
place South Africa
place Republic of Macedonia
place Greece
place Egypt
place Turkey
place Albania
place Bulgaria
place Libya
 

Friday 28th February 1941

Concentration of Production in the Consumer-Goods Industries.

extract Anderson urges more central planning of industry. Production of consumer goods to be concentrated in just a few factories
person John Anderson (Australian politician)