| The Polish Brigade and the French Volunteer Unit
should move to the Delta from Palestine as may be convenient
and join the general reserve.
9. The movement of the Indian division now embarking or in
transit should be accelerated to the utmost. Unless some of the
troops evacuated from Somaliland and not needed for Aden are
found sufficient to reinforce the Soudan, in addition to
reinforcements from Kenya, this whole division, as is most
419
desirable, should proceed to Suez to join the Army of the Delta
[later called the Army of the Nile
ships steaming in company at only fifteen knots. Yet at the same
time we are asked to spend vast sums fortifying a large part of
the western coasts of Britain against what the Admiralty declare
is a possible invasion by twelve thousand men embarked and
shipped [from the River
Italians [would be aare
accurate they constitute a deadly danger, and one of the first
magnitude. I expect the Chiefs of the Staff to use all the
resources at their disposal and to give me a report by tomorrow
night (a) upon the reality of the danger, (b) upon the measures
to counter it. In making any recommendation for action the
Chiefs of the Staff may be sure that the highest priorities and all
other resources will be at their disposal.
The composition hat for air raids which Mr. Bevin is promoting
seems to me of the utmost importance, and if it gives a measure
of protection against falling splinters, etc., it should certainly be
Prime Minister to Captain, H.M. Destroyer ?Churchill.? 25.IX.40.
Prime Minister to Foreign Secretary.
25.IX.40.
Prime Minister to General Ismay, for C.O.S. Committee. 26.IX.40.
Prime Minister to Home Secretary.
26.IX.40.
684
mass-produced on a great scale, and eventually made a full issue.
Pray let me have a report today on the experimental aspect, and
in conjunction with the Minister of Supply let me have estimates
for production.
I was delighted with your hat, and something on these lines
should certainly be mass-produced as soon as possible for issue
pending steel hats. I think it is a mistake to call it a ?rag hat,? as I
see is done in some of the papers today. I hope you will think of
some better name.
I am calling for a full report today from the Home Secretary.
Considering that everything depends upon Lord Beaverbrook?s
success in obtaining the supply of aircraft, and the heavy blows
he is receiving at Bristol, Southampton, and elsewhere, I
earnestly trust you will see that his wishes are met fully and
immediately in the matter of these spares.
I am far from satisfied at the proposal to reduce pigs to one-third
of their present number by the middle of the autumn. This is
certainly not what was understood by the Cabinet. Why do you
not ask for a greater proportion of feeding-stuffs in the imports?
We could then see what, if anything, had to give way to it.
Meanwhile, what arrangements are you making for curing the
surplus bacon that will come upon the market through the
massacre of pigs? What increases have you been able to establish
in the pig population by encouraging people to feed individual
pigs from household refuse?
Prime Minister to Minister of Labour.
26.IX.40.
Prime Minister to Secretary of State for Air and C.A.S. 26.IX.40.
Prime Minister to Minister of Agriculture.
26.IX.40.
685
Redo this by fighting his
way to the coast and destroying the armoured troops which stand
between him and the sea with overwhelming force of artillery,
Prime Minister to General Ismay.
24.V.40.
Prime Minister to C.I.G.S.
25.V.40.
85
while covering himself and the Belgian front, which would also
curl back, by strong rearguards? Tomorrow at latest this decision
must be taken.
It should surely be possible for Dill to fly home from any
aerodrome momentarily clear, and R.A.F. should send a whole
squadron to escort him.
Pray find out who was the officer responsible for sending the
order to evacuate Calais yesterday, and by whom this very
lukewarm telegram I saw this morning was drafted, in which
mention is made of ?for the sake of Allied solidarity.? This is not
the way to encourage men to fight to the end. Are you sure there
is no streak of defeatist opinion in the General Staff?
Something like this should be said to the Brigadier defending
Calais: Defence of Calais to the utmost is of the highest
importance to our country and our Army now. First, it occupies a
large part of the enemy?s armoured forces, and keeps them from
attacking our line of communication. Secondly, it preserves a
sally-port from which portions of the British Army may make their
way home. Lord Gort has already sent troops to your aid, and the
Navy will do all possible to keep you supplied. The eyes of the
Empire are upon the defence of Calais, and His Majesty?s
Government are confident that you and your gallant regiment will
perform an exploit worthy of the British name.
This message was sent to Brigadier Nicholson at about 2 P.M. on May 25.
The final decision not to relieve the garrison was taken on the evening of May
26. Till then the destroyers were held ready. Eden and Ironside were with me
at the Admiralty. We three came out from dinner and at 9 P.M. did the deed. It
involved Eden?s own regiment, in which he had long served and fought in the
Prime Minister to Secretary of State for War, and C.I.G.S. 25.V.40.
Prime Minister to C.I.G.S.
25.V.40.
86
previous struggle. One has to eat and drink in war, but I could not help feeling
physically sick as we afterwards sat silent at the table.
Here was the message to the Brigadier:
Every hour you continue to exist is of the greatest help to the
B.E.F. Government has therefore decided you must continue to
fight. Have greatest possible admiration for your splendid stand.
Evacuation will not (repeat not) ta
end through repacking as described by General Strong, U.S.A.
I asked Lord Lothian to speak to you about our remaining
desiderata. The 250,000 rifles are most urgently needed, as I
have 250,000 trained and uniformed men into whose hands they
can be put. I should be most grateful if you could arrange the
necessary release. Every arrangement will be made to transport
them with the utmost speed. They will enable us to take
250,000 .303 rifles from the Home Guard and transfer them to
the Regular Army, leaving the Home Guard armed with about
800,000 American rifles. Even if no ammunition is available, these
rifles will be none the less useful, as they can draw upon the
stock which has already reached us.
From every quarter the presence of General Catroux was
demanded in Syria. I therefore took the responsibility in your
name of inviting the General to go there. It is, of course, perfectly
understood that he holds his position only from you, and I shall
make this clear to him again. Sometimes one has to take
decisions on the spot because of their urgency and difficulty of
Prime Minister to General Ismay.
22.IX.40.
Former Naval Person to President Roosevelt.
22.IX.40.
Prime Minister to General de Gaulle.
22.IX.40.
682
explaining to others at a distance. There is time to stop him still if
you desire it, but I should consider this was a very unreasonable
act.
All good fortune in your enterprise tomorrow morning.
I regard the production of G.L. sets 10 as of prime importance,
and every step should be taken to accelerate output. I
understand that the chief difficulty at the moment is that of
obtaining the skilled labour required, and I wish everything
possible to be done to meet this requirement. Speed is vital.
There is not much in the report referred to, and what there is
applies equally to the Soudan. We are piling up troops and
artillery in Kenya which are urgently needed in the Soudan.
With regard to what you say about the vast strategical front of
the Kenya operation: if we lie back on the broad-gauge railway
from Mombasa to the lake, we have a lateral line of
communication incomparably superior to any line by which we
can be approached, and it should be possible to move our forces
so as to have sudden superior strength at the point where the
enemy advance develops. Although no one can say for certain
where the enemy?s blow will fall, I am convinced that the true
disposition would economise [troops
Prime Minister to Admiral Keyes.
Impart following to your friend [the King of the Belgians
3. In the West it is important that the responsibility for the opening of
hostilities should rest unequivocally with England and France. At first purely
local action should be taken against insignificant frontier violations.14
* * * * *
On my return from the Rhine front, I passed some sunshine days at Madame Balsan's
place, with a pleasant but deeply anxious company, in the old ch?teau where King Henry
of Navarre had slept the night before the Battle of Ivry. Mrs. Euan Wallace and her sons
were with us. Her husband was a Cabinet Minister. She was expecting him to join her.
Presently he telegraphed he could not come, and would explain later why. Other signs of
danger drifted in upon us. One could feel the deep apprehension brooding over all, and
even the light of this lovely valley at the confluence of the Eure and the Vesgre seemed
robbed of its genial ray. I found painting hard work in this uncertainty. On August 26, I
decided to go home, where at least I could find out what was going on. I told my wife I
would send her word in good time. On my way through Paris I gave General Georges
luncheon. He produced all the figures of the French and German Armies, and classified the
divisions in quality. The result impressed me so much that for the first time I said: ?But you
are the masters.? He replied: ?The Germans have a very strong army, and we shall never
be allowed to strike first. If they attack, both our countries will rally to their duty.?
That night I slept at Chartwell, where I had asked General Ironside to stay with me next
day. He had just returned from Poland, and the reports he gave of the Polish Army were
most favourable. He had seen a divisional attack-exercise under a live barrage, not without
303
casualties. Polish morale was high. He stayed three days with me, and we tried hard to
measure the unknowable. Also at this time I completed bricklaying the kitchen of the
cottage which during the year past I had prepared for our family home in the years which
were to come. My wife, on my signal, came over via Dunkirk, on August 30.
* * * * *
There were known to be twenty thousand organised German Nazis in England at this time,
and it would only have been in accord with their procedure in other friendly countries that
the outbreak of war should be preceded by a sharp prelude of sabotage and murder. I had
at that time no official protection, and I did not wish to ask for any; but I thought myself
sufficiently prominent tcan
be spared without prejudice to the Libyan pursuit battle. The
Dodecanese will not get harder for a little waiting. But neither of
them ought to detract from the supreme task of inflicting further
defeats upon the main Italian army. I cannot, of course, pretend
to judge special conditions from here, but Napoleon?s maxim,
?Frappez la masse et tout le reste vient par surcroit,? seems to
ring in one?s ears. I must recur to the suggestion made in my
previous telegram about amphibious operations and landings
behind the enemy?s front to cut off hostile detachments and to
carry forward supplies and troops by sea.
Pray convey my compliments and congratulations to Longmore
on his magnificent handling of the R.A.F. and fine co -operation
with the Army. I hope most of the new Hurricanes have reached
him safely. Tell him we are filling up Furious again with another
even larger packet of flyables from Takoradi. He will also get
those that are being carried through in [Operation which will be
secured by the placing [in itat
this stage. The Navy is responsible for preventing any sea-borne
expedition attacking our West African colonies. As to the air
attack, if the French bomb Freetown or Bathurst, we will bomb
Vichy. I do not think this will happen.
[In dispatching a Blenheim squadron to Greece
It is of no use giving me these reports five days late. The
Admiralty know every day exactly the state of the flotillas. I do
not know why this matter should go through the War Cabinet or
Defence Ministry. Pray tell the Admiralty to send direct to me,
every week, the state o? their flotillas.
I am much concerned that the patrols on the western approaches
should only have gone up to thirty effective. Let me see the chart
showing previous weeks tomorrow.
I shall be obliged if you will let me know the present
unemployment figures, divided into as many categories as is
convenient, and compared with (a) how they stood at the
outbreak of war, and (b) when the new Government was formed.
It is to me incomprehensible that with the 50 American
destroyers coming into service we should not have been able to
Prime Minister to General Ismay.
28.XI.40.
Prime Minister to Minister of Labour.
28.XI.40.
Prime Minister to First Sea Lord.
30.XI.40.
711
raise the total serviceable to above 77 by November 23, when
they stood at 106 on October 16. What happened between
October 16 and October 26 to beat down serviceable destroyers
by 28 vessels, and why did they go down from 84 to 77 between
November 16 and November 23? ? just at the very time when
another dozen Americans were coming into service.
I have authorised the ringing of church bells on Christmas Day,
as the imminence of invasion has greatly receded. Perhaps,
however, you will let me know what alternative methods of giving
the alarm you would propose to use on that day, and, secondly,
what steps would be taken to ensure that the ringing of the bells
for church services and without any invasion does not in fact lead
to an alarm. There must certainly be no relaxation of vigilance.
DECEMBER
All this talk about Atlantic operations and Atlantic islands is most
dangerous, and is contrary to the decision to describe such
operations as ?Shrapnel.? I see no need for these long and
pointless telegrams, and it is becoming quite impossible to
conduct military operations when everything has to be spread
about the Departments and around the world like this.
Kindly give me the assurance that there will be no further
discussion of these matters by telegram without my seeing the
messages before they are multiplied.
Let me also know exactly the lists of officials and departments to
whom these telegrams have been distributed.
Prime Minister to C.-in-C. Home Forces.
30.XI.40.
Prime Minister to If you keep on talking this rubbish, saying I?m your wife and what not, just watch me cut your head off.? She raised her saber as she said this.
Yang Guo held his head and jumped to the side and pleaded, ?Miss, I won?t say it anymore.?
The girl said, ?Look at you, even an ugly old hag wouldn?t marry you.? Yang Guo laughed foolishly and didn?t reply.
Now, the sky was dark, the two stood in the unkempt land; they turned around, and saw smoke from cooking rising up from the town and both felt hungry.
The young girl said, ?Sha Dan, go to the market and buy ten buns.?
Yang Guo shook his head and said, ?I won?t go.? The young girl?s face turned angry and she said, ?Why not?? Yang Guo said, ?I won?t go! You are tricking me to go buy some buns so you could sneak off.? The young girl said, ?I said I won?t slip away so I won?t.? Yang Guo shook his head. The girl curled up her fist wanting to hit him but he quickly jumped to the side. The two of them ran around the bull like they were playing hide and seek. The girl was lame and it wasn?t easy for her to move. She saw the boy tripping up in front of her crying and shouting out, yet, although she possessed lightness kung fu, she was still unable to catch up with him.
The girl was furious, she thought about her martial arts, yet for some reason, she had allowed an ugly and smelly country bumpkin Sha Dan to stay on her tail. She had no way to escape, it might be said that she was incompetent. Yang Guo had made himself so much like the character he was supposed to be that when the girl failed three or four times to kill the Sha Dan, she was not suspicious. She followed the main road south and she saw that Yang Guo was holding onto the bull and catching up. She thought that she must find a way to kill him unexpectedly. In the short time it takes to cook rice, the sky had become even darker. She saw an old and run down stone house; it looked abandoned and thought, ?Tonight I?ll sleep here and when that idiot is sleeping in the middle of the night, I?ll kill him with one slash.? She walked towards the house and entered, dust entered her nose, the chairs and tables were broken and it appeared that this house was deserted long ago. She cut some grass and wiped a long table clean; she lay on the table, closed her eyes and rested. She saw that Yang Guo hadn?t followed her, and called out, ?Sha Dan! Sha Dan!? She didn?t hear a reply and thought, ?Could it be that the fool knows that I was going to kill him and left!
One of the most fascinating works of history ever written, Winston Churchill's monumental
The Second World War is a six -volume account of the struggle of the Allied powers in
Europe against Germany and the Axis. Told through the eyes of British Prime Minister
Winston Churchill, The Second World War is also the story of one nation's singular, heroic
role in the fight against tyranny. Pride and patriotism are evident everywhere in Churchill's
dramatic account and for good reason. Having learned a lesson at Munich that they would
never forget, the British refused to make peace with Hitler, defying him even after France
had fallen and after it seemed as though the Nazis were unstoppable. Churchill remained
unbowed throughout, as did the people of Britain in whose determination and courage he
placed his confidence.
Patriotic as Churchill was, he managed to maintain a balanced impartiality in his description
of the war. What is perhaps most interesting, and what lends the work its tension and
emotion, is Churchill's inclusion of a significant amount of primary material. We hear his
retrospective analysis of the war, to be sure; but we are also presented with memos,
letters, orders, speeches, and telegrams that give a day-by-day account of the reactionsboth
mistaken and justified-to the unfolding drama. Strategies and counterstrategies
develop to respond to Hitler's ruthless conquest of Europe, his planned invasion of England,
and his treacherous assault on Russia. It is a mesmerizing account of the crucial decisions
that have to be made with imperfect knowledge and an awareness that the fate of the
world hangs in the balance.
The Gathering Storm is the first volume of The Second World War. In some ways a
continuation of The World Crisis, Churchill's history of World War I, The Gathering Storm is
his attempt to come to grips with the terrible circumstances that gave rise to Nazi Germany
and a second, even more destructive world conflict. As he notes in his preface, Churchill
was perhaps the only person who held such prominent positions of power in both world
wars, so he is remarkably well-qualified to tell the tragic story of war to peace to war. The
Gathering Storm considers the stipulations and consequences of the Treaty of Versailles,
the rise of Adolf Hitler, the capitulation at Munich and the entry of the British into the war.
The volume is pervaded by Churchill's somber feeling that the Second World War was
largely a seit was estimated that a very large expansion,
amounting to 71.5 per cent of the number engaged in the metal industry,
would be needed in the first year of war. Actually the engineering, motor,
and aircraft group, which covers three-fifths of the metal industry and which
Note by the First Lord of the Admiralty. May 4, 1940.
419
is discussed in this survey, has only expanded by 11.1 per cent (122,000)
between June, 1939, and April, 1940. This is less than one-sixth of the
expansion stated to be required. Without any Government intervention, by
the mere improvement of trade, the number increased as quickly as this in
the year 1936/37.
Although 350,000 boys leave school each year, there is an increase of only
25,000 in the number of males under twenty-one employed in this group.
Moreover, the proportion of women and young persons has only increased
from 26.6 per cent to 27.6 per cent. In the engineering, motor, and aircraft
group, we now have only one woman for every twelve men. During the last
war the ratio of women to men in the metal industries increased from one
woman for every ten men to one woman for every three men. In the first
year of the last war, July, 1914, to July, 1915, the new workers drafted into
the metal industries amounted to 20 per cent of those already there. In the
group under survey which may fairly be taken as typical of the whole metal
industry, only 11 per cent have been added in the last ten months.
Admiralty establishments, in which employment has been increased by
nearly 27 per cent, have not been considered here, as no figures of the
different types of labour are given.
* * * * *
On January 19, anxieties about the Western Front received confirmation. A German staffmajor
of the 7th Air Division had been ordered to take some documents to Headquarters in
Cologne. Wishing to save time for private indulgences, he decided to fly across the
intervening Belgian territory. His machine made a forced landing; the Belgian police
arrested him and impounded his papers, which he tried desperately to destroy. These
contained the entire and actual scheme for the invasion of Belgium, Holland, and France on
which Hitler had resolved. The French and British Governments were given copies of these
documents, and the German major was released to explain matters to his superiors. I was
told about all this at the time, and it seemed to me incredible that the Belgians would not
make a plan to invite us in. But they did no It can hardly be
argued that we can go on paying them till our last gasp. Surely
we ought to use this money to build more ships or buy more from
the United States in view of the heavy sinkings off the Bloody
Foreland.
Pray let me know how these subsidies could be terminated, and
what retaliatory measures could be taken in the financial sphere
by the Irish, observing that we are not afraid of their cutting off
our food, as it would save us the enormous mass of fertilisers and
feeding-stuffs we have to carry into Ireland through the De
Valera-aided German blockade. Do not assemble all the pros and
cons for the moment, but show what we could do financially and
what would happen. I should be glad to know about this
tomorrow.
I gave you and each of the C.O.S. a copy of the Irish paper. The
Chancellor of the Exchequer?s comments are also favourable, and
there is no doubt subsidies can be withdrawn at very short
notice.
We must now consider the military reaction. Suppose they invited
the Germans into their ports, they would divide their people, and
we should endeavour to stop the Germans. They would seek to
be neutral and would bring the war upon themselves. If they
withdrew the various cable and watching facilities they have,
what would this amount to, observing that we could suspend all
connections between England and Southern Ireland? Suppose
they let German U-boats come in to refresh in west coast ports of
Ireland, would this be serious, observing that U-boats have a
radius of nearly thirty days, and that the limiting factor is desire
of crews to get home and need of refit, rather than need of
refuelling and provisioning? Pray let me have your observations
on these and other points which may occur to you.
Prime Minister to General Ismay, for C.O.S. Committee. 3.XII.40.
600
I thought it well to try to bring the President along in this policy.
North Atlantic transport remains the prime anxiety. Undoubtedly,
Hitler will augment his U-boat and air attack on shipping and
operate ever farther into the ocean. Now that we are denied the
use of Irish ports and airfields, our difficulties strain our flotillas to
the utmost limit. We have so far only been able to bring a very
few of your fifty destroyers into action on account of the many
defects which they naturally develop when exposed to Atlantic
weather after having been laid up so long. I am arranging to
have a very full technical account prepared of renovations and
improare encouraging.
You should ask General Pile, however, to send in the account for
September.
I should like to see a return of the ammunition fired every
twenty-four hours during September as soon as possible.
I am sure we ought to increase our steel purchases from the
United States so as to save tonnage on ore. 1 should like to buy
another couple of million tons, in various stages of manufacture.
Then we should be able to resume the plan of the Anderson
shelters, and various other steel requirements which press upon
us. 1 would if necessary telegraph to the President.
OCTOBER
This shows the very serious misconception which has grown up in
this Ambassador?s mind about the consequences of the United
States entering the war. He should surely be told forthwith that
the entry of the United States into war, either with Germany and
Italy or with Japan, is fully conformable with British interests.
2. That nothing in the munitions sphere can compare with the
importance of the British Empire and the United States being cobelligerents.
That if Japan attacked the United States without
declaring war on us, we should at once range ourselves at the
side of the United States and declare war upon Japan.
Prime Minister to General Ismay. 29.IX.40.
(Action this day.)
Prime Minister to Minister of Supply and President of the Board of
Trade.
30.IX.40.
Prime Minister to Foreign Secretary.
687
It is astonishing how this misleading Kennedy 11 stud, that we
should do better with a neutral United States than with her
warring at our side, should have travelled so far. A clear directive
is required to all our Ambassadors in countries concerned.
? Anyone can see that aircraft are needed in the Middle East.
What is not so easy is whether they can be spared here.
Remember that we are still vastly inferior in numbers, both of
fighters and bombers, to the German air forces, and that heavy
losses have been sustained by our air production. The Chief of
the Air Staff and Secretary of State must be asked for a precise
recommendation.
I have received your telegram with great pleasure, and I send my
best wishes to you and to all other Frenchmen who are resolved
to fight on with us. We shall stand resolutely together until all
obstacles have been overcome and we share in the triumph of
our cause.
This development of Radar with German long-range coastal
batteries is serious. We have for a long time been on the track of
this device, and I drew attentioorder was sent
at 2 A.M. to Calais saying that evacuation was decided in principle,
but this is surely madness. The only effect of evacuating Calais
would be to transfer the forces now blocking it to Dunkirk. Calais
must be held for many reasons, but specially to hold the enemy
on its front. The Admiralty say they are preparing twenty-four
naval twelve-pounders, which with S.A.P.1 will pierce any tank.
Some of these will be ready this evening.
I must know at earliest why Gort gave up Arras, and what
actually he is doing with the rest of his army. Is he still
persevering in Weygand?s plan, or has he become largely
stationary? If the latter, what do you consider the probable
course of events in the next few days, and what course do replica rolex submariner you
recommend? Clearly, he must not allow himself to be encircled
without fighting a battle. Should he [not we find ourselves now ripped from the
coast by the mass of the enemy?s armoured vehicles. We
therefore have no choice but to continue the southward move,
using such flank guard protection to the westward as is
necessary.
General Spears will be with you tomorrow morning, and it will
probably be quickest to send him back when the position is clear.
* * * * *
There was a very strong feeling in Cabinet and high military circles that the
abilities and strategic knowledge of Sir John Dill, who had been since April 23
Vice-Chief of the Imperial General Staff, should find their full scope in his
appointment as our principal Army adviser. No one could doubt that his
professional standing was in many ways superior to that of Ironside.
As the adverse battle drew to its climax, I and my colleagues greatly desired
that Sir John Dill should become C.I.G.S. We had also to choose a
Commander-in-Chief for the British Island, if we were invaded. Late at night
on May 25, Ironside, Dill, Ismay, myself, and one or two others in my room at
Admiralty House were trying to measure the position. General Ironside
volunteered the proposal that he should cease to be C.I.G.S., but declared
himself quite willing to command the British Home Armies. Considering the
unpromising task that such a command was at the time thought to involve,
this was a spirited and selfless offer. I therefore accepted General Ironside?s
77
proposal; and the high dignities and honours which were later conferred upon
him arose from my appreciation of his bearing at this moment in our affairs.
Sir John Dill became C.I.G.S. on May 27. The changes were generally judged
appropriate for the time being.
78
Review of the Battle ? General Halder?s Account of Hitler?s Personal
Intervention ? Halt of the German Armour ? The Truth from the German
Staff Diaries ? A Separate Cause for the Halt at the Decisive Point ? The
Defence of Boulogne ? The Drama of Calais ? The Consequences of
Prolonged Defence ? Gort Abandons the Weygand Plan ? His Decision of
May 25 ? Filling the Belgian Gap ? Withdrawal of the British Army to the
Dunkirk Bridgeheads ? Extrication of the Four British Divisions from Lille ? A
Question to the Chiefs of Staff ? Their Answer ? My Message to Lord Gort ?
And to Admiral Keyes ? General Pownall?s Account of the Gort ? Blanchard
Meeting on the Morning of May 28 ? Surrender of the Belgian Army, May 28
? Decisive Battle Fought by General Brooke and the Second Corps, May 2? i.e.,
troops, A.A. guns, coast defence guns, lights, wireless, R.D.F.,
nets, mines, preparation of aerodromes, etc.?
Prime Minister to First Lord, First Sea Lord, and General Ismay, for
C.O.S. Committee. C.A.S. to see.
30.XI.40.
Prime Minister to General Ismay.
1.XII.40.
542
I hope to be assured that many hundreds of Cretans are working
at strengthening the defences and lengthening and improving the
aerodromes.
The continued retreat of the Italians in Albania, and the reports
which we have received today of difficulties of feeding and
watering their forces in the Libyan Desert, together with other
reports of aircraft being moved back to Tripoli to be safer from
our attacks, combined with safe arrival at Takoradi of thirty-three
Hurricanes with first-class pilots, all constitute new facts entitling
us to take a more confident view of the situation, which should
be communicated to General Wavell.
The enormous advantage of being able, once an enemy is on the
run, to pull supplies and fighting troops forward eighty miles in a
night by sea, and bring fresh troops up to the advance guard, is
very rarely offered in war. General Wavell?s reply to my telegram
does not seem to take any account of this, and, considering how
much we have ourselves at stake, I do not think we should be
doing our duty if we did not furnish him with the results of our
Staff study. It is a crime to have amphibious power and leave it
unused. Therefore, I wish the study, if favourable, to be
telegraphed. It must, however, be ready by the 3d at latest.
I add the following general observation: The fact that we now
have established ourselves at Suda Bay entitles us to feel much
easier about Malta. While the Fleet is or may be at Suda, it will be
most unlikely that any large landing will be attempted at Malta,
which we have already reinforced by tanks and guns from Middle
East? . The possession of Suda Bay has made an enormous
change in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The story of Suda Bay is sad. The tragedy was not reached until 1941. I
believe I had as much direct control over the conduct of the war as any public
man had in any country at this time. The knowledge I possessed, the fidelity
General Ismay, for C.O.S. Committee.
1.XII.40.
543
and active aid of the War Cabinet, the loyalty of all my colleagues, the evergrowing
efficiency of our war machine, all enabled an intense focusing of
constitutional authority to be achieved. Yet how far short was tdo not want to fight. They try to draw back as
slowly as possible, but they do not want to fight. Our conversations with the
British have ended. Nothing was accomplished. I have telephoned to
Ribbentrop saying it was a fiasco, absolutely innocuous. Chamberlain's eyes
filled with tears as the train started moving and his countrymen started
singing, ?For he's a jolly good fellow.? ?What is this little song?? asked
Mussolini.
19
Prague, Albania, and the Polish Guarantee
January? April, 1939
259
And then a fortnight later:
Lord Perth has submitted for our approval the outlines of the speech
that Chamberlain will make in the House of Commons in order that
we may suggest changes if necessary. The Duce approved it, and
commented: ?I believe this is the first time that the head of the
British Government has submitted to a foreign Government the
outlines of one of his speeches. It's a bad sign for them.? 1
However, in the end it was Ciano and Mussolini who went to their doom.
Meanwhile, on January 18, Ribbentrop was at Warsaw to open the diplomatic offensive
against Poland. The absorption of Czechoslovakia was to be followed by the encirclement of
Poland. The first stage in this operation would be the cutting-off of Poland from the sea by
the assertion of German sovereignty in Danzig and by the prolongation of the German
control of the Baltic to the vital Lithuanian port of Memel. The Polish Government displayed
strong resistance to this pressure, and for a while Hitler watched and waited for the
campaigning season.
During the second week of March, rumours gathered of troop movements in Germany and
Austria, particularly in the Vienna-Salzburg region. Forty German divisions were reported to
be mobilised on a war footing. Confident of German support, the Slovaks were planning the
separation of their territory from the Czechoslovak Republic. Colonel Beck, relieved to see
the Teutonic wind blowing in another direction, declared publicly in Warsaw that his
Government had full sympathy with the aspirations of the Slovaks. Father Tiso, the Slovak
leader, was received by Hitler in Berlin with the honours due to a Prime Minister. On the
twelfth Mr. Chamberlain, questioned in Parliament about the guarantee of the Czechoslovak
frontier, reminded the House that this proposal had been directed against unprovoked
aggression. No such aggression had yet taken place. He did not have long to wait.
* * * * *
A wave of perverse optimism had swepduring a most critical
period, without making them available for the Middle East at the
moment when they are most needed there. I must ask the
Admiralty to make further proposals and overcome the
Prime Minister to General Ismay, for C.O.S. Committee. 11.VIII.40.
437
difficulties. If necessary, could not the personnel be distributed
among the destroyers, a larger force of destroyers being sent
through from Force ?H? to the Eastern Mediterranean, and
returned thereafter in the same way as the six destroyers are
now being sent westward by Admiral Cunningham?
There is no objection to the 3d Hussars (the personnel of a tank
regiment) going by the Cape, as General Wavell can make
temporary arrangements for manning [the tanksnaval forces
is, however, considered essential.
The operation should be carried out four days after decision of
His Majesty?s Government is received.
And, finally, from Major-General Irwin to the C.I.G.S.:
As you know, I have already accepted risks in this operation not
fully justified on purely military grounds. New information
possibly increases those risks, but I consider them worth
accepting in view of obvious results of success. De Gaulle has
also committed himself to complete co-operation with British
troops in case of need, and he has not shirked responsibility for
fighting between Frenchmen.
The War Cabinet met for the second time on the 17th at 9 P.M. Everyone was
agreed to let the commanders go ahead as they wished. Final decision was
postponed till noon the next day, it being plain that no time was being lost, as
there was still nearly a week before the blow could be struck. At the request
of the Cabinet, I drafted the following message to the commanders of the
Dakar force:
We cannot judge relative advantages of alternative schemes from
here. We give you full authority to go ahead and do what you
think is best in order to give effect to the original purpose of the
478
expedition. Keep us informed.
This was despatched at 1.20 P.M. September 18.
There was nothing to do now but await results. On the 19th, the First Sea
Lord reported that the French squadron, or parts of it, were leaving Dakar for
the south. This made it pretty clear that it had carried Vichy-minded troops,
technicians, and authorities to Dakar. The probabilities of a vigorous
resistance were increased out of all proportion to the new forces involved.
There would certainly be sharp fighting. My colleagues, who were tough, and
also nimble to change with circumstances, as is right in war, shared my
instinct to let things rip, and the various reports were heard in silence.
On the 20th, Admiral Pound told us that the French cruiser Primauguet,
intercepted by the Cornwall and Delhi, had agreed to go to Casablanca and
was now being escorted thither. The three French warships sighted by the
Australia turned out to be the cruisers Georges Leygues, Montcalm, and
Gloire. At noon on the 19th, the Australia had been joined by the Cumberland,
and they continued to shadow the Vichy ships till evening. These now turned
to the northward and increased their speed from fifteen to thirty-one knots. A
chase ensued. We were not able to overtake them. At 9.0 P.M., hthe new convoy, together
with estimated dates for their being mounted.
3. Relations with Vichy. We cannot accept the position that we
495
must yield to the wishes of Vichy out of fear lest they make air
raids upon Gibraltar, for there would be no end to that. We must
reassert our blockade of the Straits, dealing with vessels whether
escorted or unescorted, though without violating Spanish
territorial waters. We should assemble a sufficient force at
Gibraltar for this purpose at the earliest date possible. Meanwhile,
we must maintain as good a blockade of Dakar as possible, and
protect Duala, etc., from a counter-stroke by the French cruisers
in Dakar. The conversations with Vichy, if they take place, may
reach a modus vivendi falling somewhat short of these
desiderata. Of course, if we could be assured that Vichy, or part
of Vichy, was genuinely moving in our direction, we could ease
up on them to a very large extent. It seems probable that they
will be increasingly inclined to move as we desire, and I
personally do not believe that hard pressure from us will prevent
this favourable movement. It is becoming more difficult every day
for Vichy to lead France into war with us. We must not be too
much afraid of checking this process, because the tide in our
favour will master and overwhelm the disturbing eddies of the
blockade and possible sea incidents. I do not believe that any
trouble will arise with the French which will prevent the
impending movement of our convoy to Malta. The chance is
there, but it is remote and must be faced.
4. The greatest prize open to Bomber Command is the disabling
of Bismarck and Tirpitz. If Bismarck could be set back for three or
four months, the King George V could go to the Eastern
Mediterranean to work up, and could therefore play a decisive
part in the occupation of Malta by the Fleet. This would speedily
transform the strategic situation in the Mediterranean.
5. Should October pass without invasion, we should begin the
reinforcement of the Middle East by the Cape route to the utmost
extent our shipping permits, sending, as arranged, the armoured
units, the Australians and New Zealanders, in November, another
British division before Christmas, and at least four more during
January, February, and March. All this would be in addition to the
necessary drafts. Let me know how far your present programme
of sailings conforms to this.
496
6. The time has also come for a further strong rein and I
entirely agree with the principle that the first stage is the formulation of a
felt want by the fighting Service. Once this is clearly defined in terms of
simple reality it is nearly always possible for the scientific experts to find a
solution. The Services should always be encouraged to explain what it is that
hurts or hinders them in any particular branch of their work. For instance, a
soldier advancing across No-Man's-Land is hit by a bullet which prevents his
locomotion functioning further. It is no use telling him or his successor to be
D.S.R., Controller and Secretary. 16.X.39
559
brave, because that condition has already been satisfied. It is clear however
that if a steel plate or other obstacle had stood between the bullet and the
soldier, the latter's powers of locomotion would not have been deranged.
The problem therefore becomes how to place a shield in front of the soldier.
It then emerges that the shield is too heavy for him to carry, thus
locomotion must be imparted to the shield; and how? Hence the tanks. This
is of course a simple example.
2. In your list of Branches and Departments very little seems to be allowed
for physical investigation, the bulk being concentrated upon application and
development. I am therefore very glad to know that the Clarendon
Laboratory will be utilised for this purpose, and I shall be dealing with the
paper on that subject later in the day.
Requisitioning of Trawlers
I have asked the Minister of Agriculture to bring Mr. Ernest Bevin and his
deputation to the Admiralty at 4.15 o'clock tomorrow after they have
explored the ground among themselves. Let all be notified and an official
letter written to the Ministry of Agriculture inviting them here. I will preside
myself.
Meanwhile A.C.N.S., D.T.D. and Controller or Deputy-Controller should,
together with Financial Secretary, meet together this evening to work out a
plan, the object of which is the Utmost Fish, subject to naval necessity. The
immediate loss arising from our requisition should be shared between ports,
and the fact that a port has built the best kind of trawlers must not lead to
its being the worst sufferer. Side by side with this equalisation process a
type of trawler which can be built as quickly as possible, and will serve its
purpose, should be given facilities in the shipyards. As soon as these
trawlers flow in, they can either be added to the various ports or else be
given to the ports from whom thagainst us. It is therefore a race. They will not be able to get
Prime Minister to Secretary of State for War.
27.VI.40.
Prime Minister to Professor Lindemann.
29.VI.40.
173
the captured factories working immediately, and meanwhile we
shall get round the invasion danger through the growth of our
defences and Army strength. But what sort of relative outputs
must be faced next year unless we are able to bomb the newly
acquired German plants? Germany also, being relieved from the
need of keeping a gigantic army in constant contact with the
French Army, must have spare capacity for the air and other
methods of attacking us. Must we not expect this will be very
great? How soon can it come into play? Hitherto I have been
looking at the next three months because of the emergency, but
what about 1941? It seems to me that only immense American
supplies can be of use in turning the corner.
* * * * *
As the month of June ground itself out, the sense of potential invasion at any
moment grew upon us all.
The Admiralty charts of tides and state of the moon, Humber,
Thames Estuary, Beachy Head, should be studied with a view to
ascertaining on which days conditions will be most favourable to
a sea-borne landing. The Admiralty view is sought.
A landing or descent in Ireland was always a deep anxiety to the Chiefs of
Staff. But our resources seemed to me too limited for serious troop
movements.
It would be taking an undue risk to remove one of our only two
thoroughly equipped divisions out of Great Britain at this
Prime Minister to General Ismay.
30.VI.40.
Prime Minister to General Ismay.
30.VI.40.
174
juncture. Moreover, it is doubtful whether the Irish situation will
require the use of divisional formations complete with their
technical vehicles as if for Continental war. The statement that it
would take ten days to transport a division from this country to
Ireland, even though every preparation can be made beforehand,
is not satisfactory. Schemes should be prepared to enable two or
three lightly equipped brigades to move at short notice, and in
not more than three days, into Northern Ireland. Duplicate
transport should be sent on ahead. It would be a mistake to send
any large force of artillery to Ireland. It is not at all likely that a
naval descent will be effected there. Air-borne descents cannot
carry much artillery. Finally, nothing that can happen in Ireland
can be immediately decisive.
* * * * *
In bringing home thebases [in British
possessionsstocks are
piling up in this country. Let me know what the total now
amounts to. The necessary containers should be brought level
with supply. Do these stocks keep? Press on.
SEPTEMBER
Of course if the glider scheme is better than --parachutes, we
should pursue it, but is it being seriously taken up? Are we not in
danger of being fobbed off with one doubtful and experimental
policy and losing the other which has already been proved? Let
me have a full report of what has been done about the gliders.
I am deeply concerned at your news that you cannot attack these
batteries of German long-range guns until the 16th. You are
allowing an artillery concentration to be developed day after day,
which presently will forbid the entry of all British ships into the
Straits of Dover, and will prepare the way for an attack on Dover
itself. Pray let me know what you propose to do about this.
Prime Minister to General Ismay.
31.VIII.40.
Prime Minister to General Ismay, for C.O.S. Committee. 1.IX.40.
Prime Minister to First Lord and First Sea Lord.
1.IX.40.
672
Surely while the big guns are actually being hoisted into position
and cannot fire back is the time for action. The general weakness
of the defences of Dover itself in heavy guns is also a matter of
great seriousness. We must not simply look at dangers piling up
without any attempt to forestall them. Erebus will have to face
double the fire on the 16th that she or any other ship would have
to face in the next week.
I remember well that it was customary to bombard the Knocke
and other German batteries on the Belgian coast very frequently
during the late war. It was possible to fire most accurately by
night after a buoy had been fixed and sound-ranging used. I ask
for proposals for action this week. Look at the photographs
attached.
I presume you will be thinking about what is to happen should
?Menace? succeed, with little or no bloodshed. It would seem that
as soon as de Gaulle has established himself there and in the
place a little to the north, he should try to get a footing in
Morocco, and our ships and troops could be used to repeat the
process of ?Menace,? if it has been found to work, immediately
and in a more important theatre. This operation may be called
?Threat.?
I should be glad to have a full report of the arrangements being
made to provide educational and recreational facilities for the
troops during the coming winter. Who will be responsible for this
importan In the event, therefore, of an
act of unprovoked aggression against Czechoslovakia, His Majesty's Government would
certainly be bound to take all steps in their power to see that the integrity of
Czechoslovakia is preserved.? ?That,? said the Prime Minister, ?remained the position until
yesterday. But the position has altered since the Slovak Diet declared the independence of
Slovakia. The effect of this declaration put an end by internal disruption to the State whose
frontiers we had proposed to guarantee, and His Majesty's Government cannot accordingly
hold themselves bound by this obligation.?
This seemed decisive. ?It is natural,? he said, in conclusion, ?that I should bitterly regret
what has now occurred, but do not let us on that account be deflected from our course. Let
us remember that the desire of all the peoples of the world still remains concentrated on
the hopes of peace.?
Mr. Chamberlain was due to speak at Birmingham two days later. I fully expected that he
would accept what had happened with the best grace possible. This would have been in
harmony with his statement to the House. I even imagined that he might claim credit for
the Government for having, by its foresight at Munich, decisively detached Great Britain
from the fate of Czechoslovakia and indeed of Central Europe. ?How fortunate,? he might
have said, ?that we made up our minds in September last not to be drawn into the
Continental struggle! We are now free to allow these broils between countries which mean
nothing to us to settle themselves without expense in blood or treasure.? This would, after
all, have been a logical decision following upon the disruption of Czechoslovakia agreed to
at Munich and endorsed by a majority of the British people, so far as they understood what
was going on. This also was the view taken by some of the strongest supporters of the
Munich Pact. I therefore awaited the Birmingham declaration with anticipatory contempt.
261
The Prime Minister's reaction surprised me. He had conceived himself as having a special
insight into Hitler's character, and the power to measure with shrewdness the limits of
German action. He believed, with hope, that there had been a true meeting of minds at
Munich, and that he, Hitler, and Mussolini had together saved the world from the infinite
horrors of war. Suddenly as by an explosion his faith and all that had followed from his
actions and his arguments was shattered. Responsible as he wasweapon can be
provided with ammunition, predictors, and other aids which
realise an accuracy of hitting three or four times as great as that
which now exists, the ground will have taken a long step towards
the re-conquest of the air. The Navy will regain much of its old
freedom of movement and power to take offensive action. And
the Army will be able to land at many points without the risk of
being ?Namsossed.? 1 We must, therefore, regard the whole
sphere of R.D.F. [Radarmove thither? Anyhow, we cannot go on like
this. How is the southern minefield barrage getting on? Would it
not be possible after a while to ring the changes upon it for a
short time and bring some convoys in through the gap which has
been left? This is only a passing suggestion.
There were always increased dangers to be apprehended from
using only one set of approaches. These dangers cannot be
surmounted unless the protective concentration is carried out
with vigour superior to that which must be expected from the
enemy. He will soon learn to put everything there. It is rather like
the early days in the Moray Firth after the east coast minefield
was laid. I am confident the Admiralty will rise to the occasion,
but evidently a great new impulse is needed. Pray let me hear
from you.
I encountered resistances. The Admiralty accepted my view in September of
moving from Plymouth to the North, rightly substituting the Mersey for the
Clyde. But several months elapsed before the necessary headquarters
organisation, with its operation rooms and elaborate network of
communications, could be brought into being, and in the meantime much
improvisation was necessary. The new Command was entrusted to Admiral Sir
Percy Noble, who, with a large and ever-growing staff, was installed at
Liverpool in February, 1941. Hence-forward this became almost our most
important station. The need and advantage of the change was by then
595
recognised by all.
Towards the end of 1940 I became increasingly concerned about the ominous
fall in imports. This was another aspect of the U -boat attack. Not only did we
lose ships, but the precautions we took to avoid losing them impaired the
whole flow of merchant traffic. The few harbours on which we could now rely
became congested. The turn-round of all vessels as well as their voyages was
lengthened. Imports were the final test. In the week ending June 8, during
the height of the battle in France, we had brought into the country 1,201,535
tons of cargo, exclusive of oil. From this peak figure imports had declined at
the end of July to less than 750,000 tons a week. Although substantial
improvement was made in August, the weekly average again fell, and for the
last three months of the year was little more than 800,000 tons.
The new disaster which has overtaken the Halifax convoy
requires precise examination. We heard about a week ago that as
many as thirteen U-boats were lying in wait on these approaches.
indispensable. This is being done. But surely effort must be made
to aid Greece directly, even if only with token forces. Quite
understand how everyone with you is fixed on idea of set-piece
battle at Mersa Matruh. For that very reason it is unlikely to
occur. Enemy will await completion pipeline and development of
larger forces than are now concentrated. Your difficulties in
attacking across the desert obvious, but if you have no major
offensive of your own in Libya possible during next two months,
Prime Minister to Mr. Eden [at G.H.Q., Middle EastCunningham says that the only
suitable day for ?Menace? [Dakarin the Palatinate.
General Keitel communicates the facts at 1.45. He drives to the
Reichskanzlei at 10 o'clock. I follow at 10.15 to give him the old
draft, ?Prepare Case Otto.? 13.00 hours, General K. [Keitelwould come to the Admiralty War Room at
12.30 P.M. so that we could look at the maps and talk things over.
British and French advanced forces are already on the Antwerp-
Namur line, and there seem to be very good hopes that this line
will be strongly occupied by the Allied armies before it can be
assailed. This should be achieved in about forty-eight hours, and
might be thought to be very important. Meanwhile the Germans
have not yet forced the Albert Canal, and the Belgians are
reported to be fighting well. The Dutch also are making a
stubborn resistance.
* * * * *
My experiences in those first days were peculiar. One lived with the battle,
upon which all thoughts were centred and about which nothing could be done.
All the time there was the Government to form and the gentlemen cartier santos white to see and
the party balances to be adjusted. I cannot remember, nor do my records
show, how all the hours were spent. A British Ministry at that time contained
between sixty and seventy Ministers of the Crown, and all these had to be
fitted in like a jigsaw puzzle, in this case having regard to the claims of three
Parties. It was necessary for me to see not only all the principal figures, but,
for a few minutes at least, the crowd of able men who were to be chosen for
important tasks. In forming a Coalition Government the Prime Minister has to
attach due weight to the wishes of the party leaders about whom among their
followers shall have the offices allotted to the Party. By this principle I was
mainly governed. If any who deserved better were left out on the advice of
their party authorities, or even in spite of that advice, I can only express
regret. On the whole, however, the difficulties were few.
22
In Clement Attlee I had a colleague of war experience long versed in the
House of Commons. Our only differences in outlook were about Socialism, but
these were swamped by a war soon to involve the almost complete
subordination of the individual to the State. We worked together with perfect
ease and confidence during the whole period of the Government. Mr. Arthur
Greenwood was a wise counsellor of high courage and a good and helpful
friend.
Sir Archibald Sinclair, as official leader of the Liberal Party, found it
embarrassing to accept the office of Air Minister because his followers felt he
should instead have a seat in the War Cabinet. But this ran contrary to the
principle of a small War Cabinet. I therefore proposed that he should join the
Two British
divisions due to start for France in February should be retained in England and prepared for
fighting in Norway. Meanwhile, every effort should be made to procure the assent and if
possible the co-operation of the Norwegians and Swedes. The issue of what to do if
Norway and Sweden refused, as seemed probable, was never faced.
A vivid episode now sharpened everything in Scandinavia. The reader will remember my
concern to capture the Altmark, the auxiliary of the Spee. This vessel was also a floating
prison for the crews of our sunk merchant ships. British captives released by Captain
Langsdorff according to international law in Montevideo Harbour told us that nearly three
hundred British merchant seamen were on board the Altmark. This vessel hid in the South
Atlantic for nearly two months, and then, hoping that the search had died down, her
captain made a bid to return to Germany. Luck and the weather favoured her, and not until
February 14, after passing between Iceland and the Faroes, was she sighted by our aircraft
in Norwegian territorial waters.
On the position as reported to me this morning, it would seem that the
cruiser and destroyers should sweep northward during the day up the coast
of Norway, not hesitating to arrest Altmark in territorial waters should she be
found. This ship is violating neutrality in carrying British prisoners of war to
Germany. Surely another cruiser or two should be sent to rummage the
First Lord to First Sea Lord. 16.2.40.
423
Skagerrak tonight? The Altmark must be regarded as an invaluable trophy.
In the words of an Admiralty communiqu? ?certain of His Majesty's ships which were
conveniently disposed were set in motion.? A destroyer flotilla, under the command of
Captain Philip Vian, of H.M.S. Cossack, intercepted the Altmark, but did not immediately
molest her. She took refuge in Josing Fiord, a narrow inlet about half a mile long
surrounded by high snow-clad cliffs. Two British destroyers were told to board her for
examination. At the entrance to the fiord they were met by two Norwegian gunboats, who
informed them that the ship was unarmed, had been examined the previous day, and had
received permission to proceed to Germany, making use of Norwegian territorial waters.
Our destroyers thereupon withdrew.
When this information reached the Admiralty, I intervened, and with the concurrence of the
Foreign Secretary, ordered our ships to enter the fiord. I did not often act so dire Prien left Kiel on October 8, a clear
bright autumn day, and passed through Kiel Canal? course N.N.W.,
Scapa Flow. On October 13, at 4 A.M., the boat was lying off the
Orkneys. At 7 P.M.? Surface; a fresh breeze blowing, nothing in
sight; looming in the half darkness the line of the distant coast; long
streamers of Northern Lights flashing blue wisps across the sky.
Course West. The boat crept steadily closer to Holm Sound, the
eastern approach to Scapa Flow. Unfortunate it was that these
channels had not been completely blocked. A narrow passage lay
open between two sunken ships. With great skill Prien steered
through the swirling waters. The shore was close. A man on a
bicycle could be seen going home along the coast road. Then
suddenly the whole bay opened out. Kirk Sound was passed. They
were in. There under the land to the north could be seen the great
shadow of a battleship lying on the water, with the great mast rising
above it like a piece of filigree on a black cloth. Near, nearer? all
367
tubes clear? no alarm, no sound but the lap of the water, the low
hiss of air pressure and the sharp click of a tube lever. Los! [Fire!should be most leniently viewed,
even if the consequences are not pleasant.
1. Mr. Dulanty is thoroughly friendly to England. He was an officer under me
in the Ministry of Munitions in 1917/18, but he has no control or authority in
Southern Ireland (so-called Eire). He acts as a general smoother,
representing everything Irish in the most favourable light. Three-quarters of
the people of Southern Ireland are with us, but the implacable, malignant
minority can make so much trouble that De Valera dare not do anything to
offend them. All this talk about partition and the bitterness that would be
healed by a union of Northern and Southern Ireland will amount to nothing.
They will not unite at the present time, and we cannot in any circumstances
sell the loyalists of Northern Ireland. Will you kindly consider these
observations as the basis upon which Admiralty dealings with Southern
Ireland should proceed?
2. There seems to be a good deal of evidence, or at any rate suspicion, that
the U-boats are being succoured from West of Ireland ports by the
malignant section with whom De Valera dare not interfere. And we are
debarred from using Berehaven, etc. If the U-boat campaign became more
dangerous we should coerce Southern Ireland both about coast watching
and the use of Berehaven, etc. However, if it slackens off under our counter -
attacks and protective measures, the Cabinet will not be inclined to face the
First Lord to First Sea Lord and others. 24.IX.39.
First Lord to First Sea Lord, D.C.N.S. and D.N.I. (For general
guidance.) (Most secret.)
24.IX.39.
556
serious issues which forcible measures would entail. It looks therefore as if
the present bad situation will continue for the present. But the Admiralty
should never cease to formulate through every channel its complaints about
it, and I will from time to time bring our grievances before the Cabinet. On
no account must we appear to acquiesce in, still less be contented with, the
odious treatment we are receiving.
While anxious not to fetter in any way the discretion of C.-in-C., Home Fleet,
I think it might be as well for you to point out that the sending of heavy
ships far out into the North Sea will certainly entail bombing attacks from
aircraft, and will not draw German warships from their harbours. Although
there were no hits on the last occasion, there might easily have been losses
disproportionate to the tactical objects in view. This opinion was expressed
to me by etc. I think I
ought, however, to let you know that I shall not be willing to receive that
task back from you without the necessary powers. At present no one has the
power. There are six Chiefs [and Deputy Chiefs3 When I
mentioned fifty-seven thousand the other day in the Cabinet, I
was assured that they represented a very small part of what were
actually employed, and that one hundred thousand was nearer
the mark, and that many more were coming in before the end of
the week. Now, instead, we have a figure of only forty thousand.
Pray let me have a full explanation of this.
It is very wrong that fighting troops should be kept from their
training because of the neglect to employ civilian labour.
The question must be brought up at the Cabinet on Monday.
Let me see a list of prominent persons you have arrested.
If we could have large supplies of multiple projectors and rockets
directed by Radar irrespective of cloud or darkness, and also
could have the proximity fuze working effectively by day and to a
lesser extent in moonlight or starlight, the defence against air
attack would become decisive. This combination is therefore the
supreme immediate aim. We are not far from it in every respect,
yet it seems to baffle us. Assemble your ideas and facts so that I
may give extreme priority and impulse to this business.
It seems to me that the blockade is largely ruined, in which case
Prime Minister to General Ismay. (Secret.) |
| 