Their Finest Hour Part 30

11.VI.40.

This report 2 2 is most interesting, and I shall be glad if you will arrange to use the squadron you mentioned yesterday for the purpose of infecting the reaches mentioned, where the traffic is reported to be so heavy. We do not need to ask the French permission for this, but only for the continuous streaming of the naval fluvials. This I am doing. Meanwhile you should act as soon as you can on the lower reaches. Kindly report what you will do. is most interesting, and I shall be glad if you will arrange to use the squadron you mentioned yesterday for the purpose of infecting the reaches mentioned, where the traffic is reported to be so heavy. We do not need to ask the French permission for this, but only for the continuous streaming of the naval fluvials. This I am doing. Meanwhile you should act as soon as you can on the lower reaches. Kindly report what you will do.

Prime Minister to Secretary of State for the Colonies.

16.VI.40.

Have you considered the advisability of raising a West Indies Regiment? It might have three battalions strongly officered by British officers, and be representative of most of the islands; to be available for Imperial Service; to give an outlet for the loyalty of the natives, and bring money into these poor islands.At present we are short of weapons, but these will come along.

Prime Minister to First Lord of the Admiralty.

17.VI.40.

I am content with your proposed disposition of the heavy ships in the West, namely, Repulse Repulse and and Renown Renown to maintain the blockade at Scapa; to maintain the blockade at Scapa; Rodney, Nelson, Rodney, Nelson, and and Valiant Valiant at Rosyth to cover the island; at Rosyth to cover the island; Hood Hood and and Ark Royal Ark Royal to join to join Resolution Resolution at Gibraltar, to watch over the fate of the French Fleet. at Gibraltar, to watch over the fate of the French Fleet.It is of the utmost importance that the fleet at Alexandria should remain to cover Egypt from an Italian invasion which would otherwise destroy prematurely all our position in the East. This fleet is well placed to sustain our interests in Turkey, to guard Egypt and the Ca.n.a.l, and can if the situation changes either fight its way westward or go through the Ca.n.a.l to guard the Empire or come round the Cape onto our trade routes.The position of the Eastern fleet must be constantly watched, and can be reviewed when we know what happens to the French Fleet and whether Spain declares war or not.Even if Spain declares war it does not follow that we should quit the Eastern Mediterranean. If we have to quit Gibraltar, we must immediately take the Canaries, which will serve as a very good base to control the western entrance to the Mediterranean.

Prime Minister to Minister of Home Security.

20.VI.40.

I understand that it was settled last Sat.u.r.day that your department was to take on the executive control of smoke as a means of hiding factories and similar industrial targets. I should be glad to know whom you have put in charge of this work, which I regard as of the highest importance, and what progress he has made.

Prime Minister to Admiralty..

23.VI.40.

I do not think it would be a good thing to keep Hood Hood and and Ark Royal Ark Royal lolling about in Gibraltar Harbour, where they might be bombed at any time from the sh.o.r.e. lolling about in Gibraltar Harbour, where they might be bombed at any time from the sh.o.r.e.Surely when they have fuelled they should go to sea, and come back only unexpectedly and for short visits.What is being done?

Prime Minister to General Ismay.

24.VI.40.

Has any news been received of the German prisoner pilots in France, whose return to this country was solemnly promised by M. Reynaud?

Prime Minister to Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.

24.VI.40.

It does not seem to be necessary to address the President again upon the subject of destroyers today or tomorrow. Evidently he will be influenced by what happens to the French Fleet, about which I am hopeful. I am doubtful about opening Staff talks at the present time. I think they would turn almost entirely from the American side upon the transfer of the British Fleet to transatlantic bases. Any discussion of this is bound to weaken confidence here at the moment when all must brace themselves for the supreme struggle. I will send the President another personal telegram about the destroyers and flying-boats a little later on.

Prime Minister to Secretary of State for the Colonies.

25.VI.40.

The cruel penalties imposed by your predecessor upon the Jews in Palestine for arming have made it necessary to tie up needless forces for their protection. Pray let me know exactly what weapons and organisation the Jews have for self-defence.

Prime Minister to Minister of Supply.

25.VI.40.

Thank you for your letter of June 22 about increasing the import of steel from the United States. I understand that owing to the transfer of the French contracts to us our volume of purchases for the coming month has more than doubled and that we are now buying at the rate of about 600,000 tons a month. This is satisfactory, and we should certainly get as much from the United States as we can while we can.

Prime Minister to Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.

26.VI.40.

I am sure we shall gain nothing by offering to "discuss" Gibraltar at the end of the war. Spaniards will know that, if we win, discussions would not be fruitful; and if we lose, they would not be necessary. I do not believe mere verbiage of this kind will affect the Spanish decision.

Prime Minister to General Ismay.

28.VI.40.

Although our policy about the French Navy is clear, I should like to have an appreciation by the Admiralty of the consequences which are likely to follow, namely, a hostile att.i.tude by France, and the seizure by Germany and Italy of any part of the French Navy which we cannot secure. I should like to have this on Sunday next.

Prime Minister to General Ismay. (Secret.) 28.VI.40.

This is a very unsatisfactory figure [of civilian labour].3 When I mentioned fifty-seven thousand the other day in the Cabinet, I was a.s.sured 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. When I mentioned fifty-seven thousand the other day in the Cabinet, I was a.s.sured 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.

Prime Minister to Home Secretary.

28.VI.40.

Let me see a list of prominent persons you have arrested.

Prime Minister to Professor Lindemann.

29.VI.40.

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. a.s.semble your ideas and facts so that I may give extreme priority and impulse to this business.

Prime Minister to Professor Lindemann.

29.VI.40.

It seems to me that the blockade is largely ruined, in which case the sole decisive weapon in our hands would be overwhelming air attack upon Germany.We should gain great relief in the immediate future from not having to maintain an army in France or sending supplies of beef, coal, etc., to France. Let me know about this.How has the question of beef supplies been affected? We are freed from the obligation to supply the French Army with beef. There is really no reason why our Army at home should have rations far exceeding the heavy munitions workers'. The complications about frozen meat and fresh meat ought also to be affected by what has happened, although I am not sure which way.

JULY.

Prime Minister to General Ismay.

2.VII.40.

If it be true that a few hundred German troops have been landed on Jersey or Guernsey by troop-carriers, plans should be studied to land secretly by night on the islands and kill or capture the invaders. This is exactly one of the exploits for which the Commandos would be suited. There ought to be no difficulty in getting all the necessary information from the inhabitants and from those evacuated. The only possible rein forcements which could reach the enemy during the fighting would be by aircraft-carriers, and here would be a good opportunity for the Air Force fighting machines. Pray let me have a plan.

Prime Minister to Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.

3.VII.40.

I could not reconcile myself to leaving a large number of influential Frenchmen who are the adherents of the Petain Government free to run an active and effective propaganda in our Service circles and in French circles in this country, against the whole policy of aiding General de Gaulle, to which we are publicly and earnestly committed. The attempt to set up a French Government in Morocco and to obtain control of the Jean Bart Jean Bart and other vessels, and to open up a campaign in Morocco, with a base on the Atlantic, is, in my opinion, vital. It was most cordially adopted by the Cabinet in principle, and, apart from technical details, I should find very great difficulty in becoming a party to its abandonment, and to our consequent relegation to the negative defensive which has so long proved ruinous to our interests. and other vessels, and to open up a campaign in Morocco, with a base on the Atlantic, is, in my opinion, vital. It was most cordially adopted by the Cabinet in principle, and, apart from technical details, I should find very great difficulty in becoming a party to its abandonment, and to our consequent relegation to the negative defensive which has so long proved ruinous to our interests.

(Action this day.) Prime Minister to V.C.N.S. and A.C.N.S 5.VII.40.

Could you let me know on one sheet of paper what arrangements you are making about the Channel convoys now that the Germans are all along the French coast? The attacks on the convoy yesterday, both from the air and by E-boats, were very serious, and I should like to be a.s.sured this morning that the situation is in hand and that the Air is contributing effectively.

Prime Minister to First Lord of the Admiralty, Secretary of State for War, and Secretary of State for Air.

5.VII.40.

(Sir E. Bridges to implement.)It has been represented to me that our colleagues not in the War Cabinet but above the "line" are depressed at not knowing more of what is going forward in the military sphere. It would be advantageous if each of the Service Ministers could in rotation have a talk with them, answer questions, and explain the general position. If a weekly meeting were inst.i.tuted, this would mean that each Service Minister would meet them every three weeks. I trust this would not be too heavy a burden upon you. Nothing must ever be said to anybody about future operations; these must always be kept in the most narrow circles; but explanations of the past and expositions of the present offer a wide field. On the a.s.sumption that the above is agreeable to you, I am giving directions through Sir Edward Bridges.

Prime Minister to Colonel Jacobs.

6.VJI.40.

Obtain a most careful report today from the Joint Intelligence Staff of any further indication of enemy preparations for raid or invasion. Let me have this tonight.

Prime Minister to Minister of Aircraft Production.