Their Finest Hour Part 33

Prime Minister to Secretary of State for Air and C.A.S.

4.VIII.40.

The danger of j.a.panese hostility makes it all the more important that the German capital s.h.i.+ps should be put out of action. I understand that the Air Force intend to make heavy attacks on these s.h.i.+ps as soon as there is sufficient moon. Scharnhorst Scharnhorst and the and the Gneisenau, Gneisenau, both in floating docks at Kiel, the both in floating docks at Kiel, the Bismarck Bismarck at Hamburg, and the at Hamburg, and the Tirpitz Tirpitz at Wilhelm-shaven, are all targets of supreme consequence. Even a few months' delay in at Wilhelm-shaven, are all targets of supreme consequence. Even a few months' delay in Bismarck Bismarck will affect the whole balance of sea-power to a serious degree. 1 shall be glad to hear from you. will affect the whole balance of sea-power to a serious degree. 1 shall be glad to hear from you.

Prime Minister to General Ismay.

5.VIII.40.

I am not satisfied with the volume or quality of information received from the unoccupied area of France. We seem to be as much cut off from these territories as from Germany. I do not wish such reports as are received to be sifted and digested by the various Intelligence authorities. For the present Major Morton will inspect them for me and submit what he considers of major interest. He is to see everything and submit authentic doc.u.ments for me in their original form. authentic doc.u.ments for me in their original form.Further, I await proposals for improving and extending our information about France and for keeping a continued flow of agents moving to and fro. For this purpose naval facilities can, if necessary, be invoked. So far as the Vichy Government is concerned, it is not creditable that we have so little information. To what extent are Americans, Swiss, and Spanish agents being used?

Prime Minister to General Ismay.

5.VIII.40.

What orders are extant for the future production of U.P. multiple projectors in groups of twenties, tens, fives, and also single projectors?What amount of ammunition (a) (a) of the ordinary rocket, of the ordinary rocket, (b) (b) of the aerial mine, of the aerial mine, (c) (c) of the P.E. fuze, of the P.E. fuze, (d) (d) of the radio fuze, is on order? What are the forecasts of deliveries in the next six months in all cases? of the radio fuze, is on order? What are the forecasts of deliveries in the next six months in all cases?Presently the P.E. fuze will probably supersede the aerial mine for use in multiple projectors mounted on H.M. s.h.i.+ps. This will entail an alteration of the projector tubes. The Admiralty should be asked to study this betimes so that the new tubes can be fitted on the existing mountings of H.M. s.h.i.+ps with the least possible delay from the moment that this change appears desirable.The Admiralty should also be asked to report whether any progress has been made on firing short aerial mines from s.h.i.+ps' guns.I wish to refresh my memory with what happened about this before 1 left the Admiralty.

Prime Minister to Minister of Mines.

6.VIII.40.

I saw it stated that you were piling up large reserves of coal during the summer for use during the winter. I should be glad to know how far this very wise precaution has advanced. We were very short and anxious in January last, and I hope you are taking precautions.

Prime Minister to Secretary of State for War.

7.VIII.40.

Please let me know what is being done to train men in the use of the sticky bomb, which is now beginning to come through in quant.i.ty.

Prime Minister to General Ismay.

9.VIII.40.

Ask for a statement of the Ministry of Supply importation programme under various heads. Professor Lindemann should be consulted about these heads. Let me see them.The programme for the second year of the war has not yet been presented to me in a coherent form.

Prime Minister to Secretary of State for War and C.I.G.S.

9.VIII.40.

I was much concerned to find that the 1st Division, which has an exceptionally high proportion of equipment, and includes a Brigade of Guards, should be dispersed along the beaches, instead of being held in reserve for counter-attack. What is the number of divisions which are now free and out of the line, and what is the argument for keeping divisions with a high equipment of guns, etc., on the beaches?

Prime Minister to Lord Beaverbrook.

9.VIII.40.

If it came to a choice between hampering air production or tank production, I would sacrifice the tank, but 1 do not think this is the case, as the points of overlap are not numerous and ought to be adjustable. I gathered from you that you thought you could arrange with the Minister of Supply.

Prime Minister to Minister of Information.

9.VIII.40.

It is important to keep General de Gaulle active in French on the broadcast, and to relay by every possible means our French propaganda to Africa. I am told the Belgians will help from the Congo.Have we any means of repeating to the West African stations the agreement made between us and de Gaulle?

Prime Minister to General Ismay.

10.VIII.40.

Let me have a weekly return of the deliveries to troops of the American 75's and the .300 rifles to Home Guard, with consequent liberation by them of Lee-Metfords. Begin at once.

Prime Minister to General Ismay, for C.O.S. Committee.

10.VIII.40.

The Prime Minister would be glad to have a report from the C.O.S. Committee, after conference with the C.-in-C. Home Forces, upon the small-arms ammunition position on the beaches and with the reserves.

Prime Minister to Minister of Mines.

11.VIII.40.

I felt sure you would take advantage of the breakdown of the export market to increase our stocks all over the country. I hope you will press on with this, especially as regards our essential gas, water, and electricity works. I note that the gas and electricity supplies are about twenty per cent up; we cannot go wrong in piling up such well-distributed stocks, which are sure to be used sooner or later.I am sending a note to the Minister of Transport to call his attention to the position of the railways.The tremendous upset in your plans due to the collapse of France and the loss of three-quarters of our export markets must have put a great strain on your Department. It must be very difficult after all your efforts to increase production to explain the sudden slump, but I have no doubt the men will understand. Indeed, what you tell me about the fort.i.tude of the Kent miners is an encouraging sign of the spirit which I believe informs all the workingmen in the country.

Prime Minister to Minister of Information.

11.VIII.40.

In view of certain activities we are planning for General de Gaulle, it is of the highest importance that the broadcasting of French news in North and West Africa should be carried to the highest point. Please make sure that the B.B.C. conform to this requirement, and let me have a report on Monday to the effect that all is satisfactorily arranged.I cannot emphasise too strongly that you have full authority to make the B.B.C. obey.

(Action this day.) Prime Minister to Minister of Transport.

11.VIII.40.

I should be grateful for a full report on the steps taken by your Department to deal with the difficulties which may arise from the bombing and closing of ports.One-quarter of our imports, it seems, normally comes in through the port of London, and one-fifth through the Mersey, with a tenth each through Southampton, the Bristol Channel, and the Humber. We must envisage these entrances being wholly or partially closed, either one at a time or even several at a time, but I have no doubt you have worked out plans to take account of the various contingencies.In view of our large accretions of s.h.i.+pping, it may well be that port facilities and roadway facilities may be a more stringent bottleneck than shortage of tonnage, so that the preparations you make to meet the various possible eventualities may well be of the greatest importance.

Prime Minister to Sir Edward Bridges.

12.VIII.40.

How does the position now stand about a Timber Controller under the Ministry of Supply?Ask for a short summary from the Ministry of Supply of the present timber position and policy.

Prime Minister to Lord Privy Seal and Captain Margesson.

12.VIII.40.

It would probably be convenient for me to make a general statement on the war, covering the first year and also the first quarter of the new Government, before the House rises. This would be expected, and I suppose Tuesday, the 20th, would be the best day. This should, of course, be in public session. Perhaps you will let me know what you wish. An announcement could be made in good time this week.It would save me a lot of trouble if a record could be taken at the time, so that the speech could be repeated over the wireless in the evening, or such parts of it as arc of general interest. Can this be arranged without a resolution? If not, could a resolution be pa.s.sed this week? I do not think the House would object.

Prime Minister to Home Secretary.

12.VIII.40.

The drafts [about instructions to police in case of invasion] submitted do not correspond with my view of the recent Cabinet decision. We do not contemplate or encourage fighting by persons not in the armed forces, but we do not forbid it. The police, and as soon as possible the A.R.P. Services, are to be divided into combatant and non-combatant, armed and unarmed. The armed will co-operate actively in fighting with the Home Guard and Regulars in their neighbourhood, and will withdraw with them if necessary; the unarmed will actively a.s.sist in the "stay put" policy for civilians. Should they fall into an area effectively occupied by the enemy, they may surrender and submit with the rest of the inhabitants, but must not in those circ.u.mstances give any aid to the enemy in maintaining order, or in any other way. They may a.s.sist the civil population as far as possible.

Prime Minister to Minister of Transport.

13.VIII.40.

I should be glad to know what stocks of coal are now held by the railways, and how they compare with those normally held. With the stoppage of our export trade to Europe there should be a great surplus just now, and no doubt you are taking advantage of this to fill up every available dump so that we shall have a well-distributed stock for the railways in case of any interruptions, or even in case of another very hard winter. Negotiations about price should not be allowed to hold up the process of restocking. If necessary, some form of arbitration will have to be employed to make sure that the prices paid are fair.

Prime Minister to Secretary of State for War.

13.VIII.40.

If, owing to lack of equipment and other facilities, it is necessary to limit the numbers of the active Home Guard, would it not be possible to recruit a Home Guard Reserve, members of which would, for the time being, be provided with no weapons and no uniform other than arm bands? Their only duties would be to attend such courses of instruction as could be organised locally in the use of simple weapons like the "Molotov c.o.c.ktail," and to report for orders in the event of invasion.Unless some such step is taken, those who are refused enlistment will be bewildered and disappointed, and one of the primary objects of the Home Guard, which was to provide for the people as a whole an opportunity of helping to defend their homes, will be lost. I am anxious to avoid the disappointment and frustration which the stoppage of recruiting for the Home Guard is likely to cause to many people.Please let me know what you think of this proposal.

Prime Minister to General Ismay.

19.VIII.40.

Is it true that Admiral [John] Cunningham says that the only suitable day for "Menace" [Dakar] is September 12, and that if this day is missed owing to storm, no other days will be open till the 27th or 28th, when tide and moon will again be satisfactory? All this raises most grave questions. The Admiral cannot take up a position that only in ideal conditions of tide and moon can the operation be begun. It has got to be begun as soon as possible, as long as conditions are practicable, even though they be not the best. People have to fight in war on all sorts of days, and under all sorts of conditions. It will be a great misfortune if there is any delay beyond the 8th. Pray report to me on this today.