Cabinet papers from July 1941

Wednesday 2nd July 1941

Command in the Middle East.

extract PM: General Wavell "would make an admirable Commander-in-Chief in India". Viceroy: "I shall be proud to work with him"
extract PM: General Wavell "tired", "fresh eye needed". Will be replaced by General Auchinleck as Commander in Chief Middle East
person Claude Auchinleck
person Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell
place Egypt
place Africa
organisation British Army
 

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
 

Co-operation with the Netherlands Government regarding mutual support in the event of Japanese aggression.

extract Eden drafts mutual defence agreement with Dutch East Indies in the event of Japanese "armed action"
person Anthony Eden
place New Caledonia
place Singapore
place Thailand
 

Friday 4th July 1941

Meeting minutes

extract PM: All defences to very highest state of anti-invasion efficiency by September 1st. "No vigilance should be relaxed"
extract General Dill: Russians do not seem to have lost confidence. Their latest type of fighter "doing well"
extract General Dill: Progress continues to be slow in Syria. Telegram sent to C-in-C Middle East urging "a quick decision"
extract Air Chief: During last two days we have made successful raids on shipping at Tripoli, during which five enemy vessels hit
person Anthony Eden
person Alexander Cadogan
person Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay
person Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges
person Andrew Greenwood
place Moscow
place Syria
place Libya
organisation RAF Coastal Command
 

Saturday 5th July 1941

The Middle East. Telegram from Field-Marshal Smuts.

extract Telegram from General Smuts: "Apart from small irritating set-backs, our cause has really improved very much this spring"
place South Africa
place Russian Empire
place Cairo
place Syria
place West Germany
 

London Defence Exercise. Report by the Home Defence Committee.

extract Home Defence Committee planning "London invasion exercise". Public will be informed of exercise but not its date
place Eyre Peninsula
place London, Ontario
organisation Ministry of Supply
organisation Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (Netherlands)
organisation Home Office
organisation New Zealand Treasury
organisation Air Force F.C.
 

Sunday 6th July 1941

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