Irreparable invalid markup ('<a [...] s-gucci-112-twirl-watch-ya112513.html'>') in entry. Owner must fix manually. Raw contents below.]
What is
going to be done to increase them?
2. In view of the torpedoing of the Glasgow by a seaplane while
at anchor, ought not ships at anchor to be protected by nets at
short range? I gather this was the Italian method at Taranto, but
at the moment of the attack they had taken them off. Pray let me
have a note on this.
ARMY ORGANISATION
Prime Minister to Minister of Aircraft Production.
3.XII.40.
Prime Minister to General Ismay.
4.XII.40.
714
I understand that you are asking for another big call-up shortly.
The papers talk about a million men. This forces me to examine
the distribution of the men you have. According to your paper,
twenty-seven British divisions are credited to Expeditionary Force
and Middle East. These divisions are accounted for at 35,000 men
each, to cover corps, army and line of communication troops,
etc., plus 70,000 security troops in M.E.
2. The approved establishment of a British division at the present
time is 15,500 men. It comprises only nine battalions with an
establishment of 850, i.e., about 7500. The establishment of all
battalions comprises a considerable proportion of servicing
elements, and I doubt whether the rifle and machine-gun
strength – i.e., fighting strength – amounts to more than 750.
Thus the total number of men who actually fight in the infantry of
a British division is 6750. This makes the fighting infantry of
twenty-seven divisions, in what used to be called bayonet or rifle
strength, 182,250. It used to be said that the infantry was “the
staple of the Army,” to which all other branches were ancillary.
This has certainly undergone some modification under new
conditions, but none the less it remains broadly true. The
structure of a division is built round its infantry of nine battalions,
with a battery to each battalion, the necessary proportion of
signallers and sappers, the battalion, brigade, and divisional
transport, and some additional elements, the whole being
constituted as an integral and self-contained unit of 15,500 men.
3. When we look at the division as a unit, we find that twentyseven
divisions at 15,500 official establishment require no less
than 1,015,000 men. This gives an actual burden of 35,000 men
for every divisional unit of 15,500 men, the units themselves
being already fully self-contained. Nearly 20,000 men have
therefore to be accounted for for each division of the E.F. or M.E.
over and above the full approved establisbases [in British
possessions
fitted for wire-cutting in its bow. By means of a drawbridge or
shelving bow [the tanksI stressed the disadvantages which an
occupation of Norway by the British would have for us: the control
of the approaches to the Baltic, the outflanking of our naval
operations and of our air attacks on Britain, the end of our pressure
on Sweden. I also stressed the advantages for us of the occupation
of the Norwegian coast: outlet to the North Atlantic, no possibility of
a British mine barrier, as in the year 1917/18. The Fuehrer saw at
once the significance of the Norwegian problem; he asked me to
leave the notes and stated that he wished to consider the question
himself.
Rosenberg, the Foreign Affairs expert of the Nazi Party, and in charge of a special bureau
to deal with propaganda activities in foreign countries, shared the Admiral's views. He
dreamed of “converting Scandinavia to the idea of a Nordic community embracing the
northern peoples under the natural leadership of Germany.” Early in 1939, he thought he
404
had discovered an instrument in the extreme Nationalist Party in Norway, which was led by
a former Norwegian Minister of War named Vidkun Quisling. Contacts were established,
and Quisling's activity was linked with the plans of the German Naval Staff through the
Rosenberg organisation and the German Naval Attach?in Oslo.
Quisling and his assistant, Hagelin, came to Berlin on December 14, and were taken by
Raeder to Hitler, to discuss a political stroke in Norway. Quisling arrived with a detailed
plan. Hitler, careful of secrecy, affected reluctance to increase his commitments, and said
he would prefer a neutral Scandinavia. Nevertheless, according to Raeder, it was on this
very day that he gave the order to the Supreme Command to prepare for a Norwegian
operation.
Of all this we, of course, knew nothing. The two Admiralties thought with precision along
the same lines in correct strategy, and one had obtained decisions from its Government.
* * * * *
Meanwhile, the Scandinavian peninsula became the scene of an unexpected conflict which
aroused strong feeling in Britain and France, and powerfully affected the discussions about
Norway. As soon as Germany was involved in war with Great Britain and France, Soviet
Russia in the spirit of her pact with Germany proceeded to block the lines of entry into the
Soviet Union from the west. One passage led from East Prussia through the Baltic States;
another led across the waters of the Gulf of Finland; the third route was through Finland
itself and across the Karelia and the Colonies [Lord Lloydbetween
the position now, and at the end of the year 1914. The transition from peace
to war has been accomplished. The outer seas, for the moment at any rate,
arc clear from enemy surface craft. The lines in France are static. But in
addition on the sea we have repelled the first U-boat attack, which
previously did not begin till February, 1915, and we can see our way through
the magnetic-mine novelty. Moreover, in France the lines run along the
frontiers instead of six or seven of the French provinces and Belgium being
in the enemy's hands. Thus I feel we may compare the position now very
favourably with that of 1914. And also I have the feeling (which may be
corrected at any moment) that the Kaiser's Germany was a much tougher
customer than Nazi Germany.
This is the best I can do for a Christmas card in these hard times.
I was by now increasingly convinced that there could be no “Operation Catherine” in 1940.
The sending of a superior surface fleet into the Baltic [I wrote to
10
A Dark New Year
414
Pound, January 6 We are studying how to meet
your need. Consider your return to Cairo indispensable.
At the invitation of the Greek Government, Suda Bay, the best harbour in
Crete, was occupied by our forces two days later.
What steps are we taking to get news from the Greek front? Have
we observers there? What is our attaché there doing?
Why do you not send one of your generals from Egypt at the
head of a military mission to be at the headquarters of the Greek
field army? Let them go and see the fighting and give us some
Prime Minister to Mr. Eden [at Khartoumthe 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, <a href='http://www.ttluxury.com/product_1475_Women's-Gucci-112-Twirl-Watch-YA112513.html' target='_blank'>pink gucci watch</a> 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
ADOLF HITLER 5
* * * * *
From this moment the moulds had been shaped for the supreme events of
1941. We, of course, had no knowledge of the bargainings between Germany
and Russia for dividing the spoils of our Empire and for our destruction; nor
could we measure the as yet unformed intentions of Japan. The main troop
movements of the German armies eastward had not yet become apparent to
our active Intelligence Service. Only the infiltration and gradual massing in
Bulgaria and Rumania could be discerned. Had we known what is set forth in
this chapter, we should have been greatly relieved. The combination against
us of Germany, Russia, and Japan was the worst of our fears. But who could
587
tell? Meanwhile, “Fight on!”
588
Disguised Surface Raiders — Excursion of the “Scheer” — The “Jervis Bay”
Saves the Convoy — Further Depredations of the “Scheer” — A Surprise for
the “Hipper” — Disproportionate Strains — The U-Boat Peril Dominates —
Increasing Stranglehold upon the Northwestern Approaches — Grievous
Losses — A Cruel Stroke of Fortune — The Diver’s Anxieties — Need to Shift
the Control from Plymouth to Liverpool — Sharp Contraction of Imports —
Losses off the Bloody Foreland — Withdrawal of the Irish Subsidies — My
Telegram to the President of December 13 — A Sombre Admiralty Proposal —
The Dynamite Carpet — Reinforcement and Stimulation of the Air Force
Coastal Command — Eventual Success of Their Counter-Offensive.
T HE destruction of the Graf Spee in the action off the Plate in December
1939, had brought to an abrupt end the first German campaign against our
shipping in the wide oceans. The fighting in Norway had, as we have seen,
paralysed for the time being the German Navy in home waters. What was left
of it was necessarily reserved for the invasion project. Admiral Raeder, whose
ideas on the conduct of the German war at sea were technically sound, had
some difficulty in carrying his views in the Fuehrer’s councils. He had even at
one time to resist a proposal made by the Army to disarm all his heavy ships
and use their guns for long-range batteries on shore. During the summer,
however, he had fitted out a number of merchant ships as disguised raiders.
They were more powerfully armed, were generally faster than our armed
merchant cruisers, and were provided with reconnaissance aircraft. Five ships
of this type evaded our patrols and entered the Atlantic between April and
June, 1940, whilst a sixth undertook the hazto debate
the general issues of policy, programmes, and all else connected with the air
services.
My invitation was not intended as a muzzle, but as a gesture of friendliness
to an old colleague.
Accordingly, for the next four years I attended these meetings and thus obtained a full view
117
of this vital sphere of our air defence, and built up my ideas upon it year by year in close
and constant discussion with Lindemann. I immediately prepared a memorandum for the
Committee which embodied the thought and knowledge I had already gathered, without
official information, in my talks and studies with Lindemann and from my own military
conceptions. This paper is of interest because of the light which it throws on the position in
July, 1935. No one at that time had considered the use of radio beams for guiding
bombers. The difficulties of training large numbers of individual pilots were obvious, and it
was generally held that at night large fleets of aircraft would be led by a few masterbombers.
Great advances into new fields were made in the four years which were to pass
before the life of the nation was to be at stake; and meanwhile the adoption of bombing
guided by radio beams caused profound tactical changes. Hence much that was written
then was superseded, but a good deal was tried by me when I had power– not all with
success.
23 July, 1935.
The following notes are submitted with much diffidence, and in haste on
account of our early meeting, in the hopes that they may be a contribution
to our combined thought.
General tactical conceptions and what is technically feasible act and react
upon one another. Thus, the scientist should be told what facilities the air
force would like to have, and airplane design be made to fit into and
implement a definite scheme of warfare.
At this stage we must assume a reasonable war hypothesis, namely, that
Great Britain, France, and Belgium are allies attacked by Germany.
After the outbreak of such a war, the dominating event will be the
mobilisation of the great Continental armies. This will take at least a
fortnight, diversified and hampered by mechanised and motorised inroads.
The French and German General Staffs' minds will be riveted upon the
assembly and deployment of the armies. Neither could afford to be markedly
behindhand at the first main shock. It may be hoped that Germany will not
be ready for a war, in which the Army and Navy are to play an important
part, for two or three yindications. I had
imagined something almost imperceptible, certainly vague and doubtful. I
never imagined that I should hear one of those creatures asking to be
destroyed. It is a marvellous system and achievement.
The Asdics did not conquer the U-boat; but without the Asdics the U-boat would not have
been conquered.
128
A Second Heavy Stroke – Adowa Memories – A Time of Caution – A Talk at the Foreign
Office – The Peace Ballot – British Naval Strength in the Mediterranean – Sir Samuel
Hoare's Speech at Geneva and British Naval Movements – My Speech to the City Carlton
Club – Mussolini Invades Abyssinia – Strong Reaction in Britain; Mr. Lansbury Resigns
the Leadership of the Parliamentary Labour Party – Sham Sanctions – Mr. Baldwin
Resolved on Peace – The Conservative Party Conference – Mr. Baldwin's Conduct of the
Election – His Great Majority – The Hoare-Laval Agreement – The Parliamentary
Convulsion – I Stay Abroad – The Effect upon Europe of Mussolini's Conquest of
Abyssinia.
W ORLD PEACE now <a href='http://www.ttluxury.com/categorys_44_Ballon-Bleu_1.html' target='_blank'>watch ballon de cartier</a> suffered its second heavy stroke. The loss by Britain of air parity was
followed by the transference of Italy to the German side. The two events combined enabled
Hitler to advance along his predetermined deadly course. We have seen how helpful
Mussolini had been in the protection of Austrian independence, with all that it implied in
Central and Southeastern Europe. Now he was to march over to the opposite camp. Nazi
Germany was no longer to be alone. One of the principal Allies of the First World War
would soon join her. The gravity of this downward turn in the balance of safety oppressed
my mind.
Mussolini's designs upon Abyssinia were unsuited to the ethics of the twentieth century.
They belonged to those dark ages when white men felt themselves entitled to conquer
yellow, brown, black, or red men, and subjugate them by their superior strength and
weapons. In our enlightened days, when crimes and cruelties have been committed from
which savages of former times would have recoiled, or of which they would at least have
been incapable, such conduct was at once obsolete and reprehensible. Moreover, Abyssinia
was a member of the League of Nations. By a curious inversion it was Italy who had in
1923 pressed for her inclusion, and Britain who had opposed it. The British view was that
the character of the Ethiopian Government and the conditions prevailing in that wild land of
tyranny, slavery, and tribal war were not consonant with
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 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! with its many refinements and
measureless possibilities, as ranking in priority with the Air Force,
of which it is in fact an essential part. The multiplication of the
high-class scientific personnel, as well as the training of those
who will handle the new weapons and research work connected
with them, should be the very spearpoint of our thought and
effort. Very great reliefs may be expected in anti-aircraft guns
and ammunition, although it is at present too soon to alter
present plans.
8. Apart from a large-scale invasion, which is unlikely, there is no
prospect of any large expenditure or wastage of military
munitions before the spring of 1941. Although heavy and decisive
fighting may develop at any time in the Middle East, the
difficulties of transport, both of reinforcements and of supplies,
451
will restrict numbers and expenditure. We have, therefore, before
us, if not interrupted, a period of eight months in which to make
an enormous improvement in our output of warlike equipment,
and in which steady and rapid accumulations may be hoped for.
It is upon this purpose that all our resources of credit, materials,
and above all of skilled <a href='http://www.ttluxury.com/scategory_2_Chanel.html' target='_blank'>chanel replica handbag</a> labour, must be bent.
This policy was generally accepted by my colleagues, and the action of all
Departments conformed to it.
* * * * *
I found it necessary in October to add a further note about Priorities, which
were a source of fierce contention between the different Departments, each
striving to do its utmost.
PRIORITIES
NOTE BY THE PRIME MINISTER
October 15, 1940.
The very highest priority in personnel and material should be
assigned to what may be called the Radio sphere. This demands
scientists, wireless experts, and many classes of highly skilled
labour and high-grade material. On the progress made, much of
the winning of the war and our future strategy, especially Naval,
depends. We must impart a far greater accuracy to the A.A. guns,
and a far better protection to our warships and harbours. Not
only research and experiments, but production, must be pushed
hopefully forward from many directions, and after repeated
disappointments we shall achieve success.
2. The IA priority must remain with aircraft production, for the
purpose of executing approved target programmes. It must be an
obligation upon them to contrive by every conceivable means not
to let this priority be abused and needlessly hamper other vital
452
departments. For this purpose they should specify the The only scale of attack which it seems to me
need be contemplated for the centre of Government is, say, five
hundred parachutists or Fifth Columnists. What is the present
plan, and what is the scale against which it is being provided?
You might do something for Jos. He is a grand-hearted man.
I am rather doubtful, from information which has reached me,
whether our home timber resources are being adequately
developed.
This, of course, is primarily a matter for the Minister of Supply,
who I know has made certain departmental adjustments recently
with this particular end in view.
Let me have a statement showing the scheme of defence for the
Central Government, Whitehall, etc. What was the scale of attack
prescribed, and who was responsible for taking the measures?
What was the reason for attempting to put an anti-tank obstacle
across St. James’s Park? Who-ordered this? When was it counterordered?
Prime Minister to Secretary of State for War.
20.VII.40.
Prime Minister to Minister without Portfolio.
20.VII.40.
Prime Minister to General Ismay.
21.VII.40.
Prime Minister to General Ismay.
23.VII.40.
647
I am told that the refuelling of fighter aeroplanes could be much
more rapidly achieved if there were more tankers on the
aerodromes, and considering that an attack by air would make
every minute gained in returning the fighters to the air most
precious, I should be glad if measures were taken at once to
double it or greatly increase the fuelling facilities.
I do not seem to have had any answer from you to my query
about whether the 2d Canadian Division and all it stands for is
being frittered away in Iceland.
1. It is, of course, urgent and indispensable that every effort
should be made to obtain secretly the best possible information
about the German forces in the various countries overrun, and to
establish intimate contacts with local people, and to plant agents.
This, I hope, is being done on the largest scale, as opportunity
serves, by the new organisation under M.E.W. None of this
partakes of the nature of military operations.
2. It would be most unwise to disturb the coasts of any of these
countries by the kind of silly fiascos which were perpetrated at
Boulogne and Guernsey. The idea of working all these coasts up
against us by pin-prick raids and fulsome communiques is one to
be strictly avoided.
3. Sir Roger Keyes is now studying the whole subject of medium
raids – i.e., not less than five nor more than tenstocks 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
importanthe Ukraine, which means an
invasion of Russian territory. All along the whole of this eastern front you
can see that the major interests of Russia are definitely engaged, and
therefore it seems you could fairly judge that they would pool their interests
with other countries similarly affected.
* * * * *
If you are ready to be an ally of Russia in time of war, which is the supreme
test, the great occasion of all, if you are ready to join hands with Russia in
the defence of Poland, which you have guaranteed, and of Rumania, why
should you shrink from becoming the ally of Russia now, when you may by
that very fact prevent the breaking-out of war? I cannot understand all these
refinements of diplomacy and delay. If the worst comes to the worst, you
are in the midst of it with them, and you have to make the best of it with
them. If the difficulties do not arise, well, you will have had the security in
the preliminary stages.
* * * * *
284
His Majesty's Government have given a guarantee to Poland. I was
astounded when I heard them give this guarantee. I support it, but I was
astounded by it, because nothing that had happened before led one to
suppose that such a step would be taken. I want to draw the attention of
the Committee to the fact that the question posed by Mr. Lloyd <a href='http://www.ttluxury.com/scategory_21_Tiffany-Jewelry.html' target='_blank'>tiffany & co jewelry</a> George ten
days ago and repeated today has not been answered. The question was
whether the General Staff was consulted before this guarantee was given as
to whether it was safe and practical to give it, and whether there were any
means of implementing it. The whole country knows that the question has
been asked, and it has not been answered. That is disconcerting and
disquieting.
* * * * *
Clearly Russia is not going to enter into agreements unless she is treated as
an equal, and not only is treated as an equal, but has confidence that the
methods employed by the Allies– by the peace front– are such as would be
likely to lead to success. No one wants to associate himself with
indeterminate leadership and uncertain policies. The Government must
realise that none of these states in Eastern Europe can maintain themselves
for, say, a year's war unless they have behind them the massive, solid
backing of a friendly Russia, joined to the combination of the Western
Powers. In the main, I agree with Mr. Lloyd George that if there is to be an
effective eastern front– an eastern peace front, or a war front as it might
become– it can be set up only with the effcome to a
thorough understanding. This idea had also been expressed in
Stalin’s letter. A delimitation of the spheres of influence must also
be sought. On this point, however, he (Molotov) could not take a
definitive stand at this time, since he did not know the opinion of
579
Stalin and of his other friends in Moscow in the matter. However,
he had to state that all these great issues of tomorrow could not
be separated from the issues of today and the fulfilment of
existing agreements… .
Thereupon Herr Molotov cordially bade farewell to the Reich
Foreign Minister, stressing that he did not regret the air-raid
alarm, because he owed to it such an exhaustive conversation
with the Reich Foreign Minister.
* * * * *
When in August, 1942, I first visited Moscow I received from Stalin’s lips a
shorter account of this conversation which in no essential differs from the
German record, but may be thought more pithy.
“A little while ago,” said Stalin, “the great complaint against
Molotov was that he was too pro-German. Now everyone says he
is too pro -British. But neither of us ever trusted the Germans. For
us it was always life and death.” I interjected that we had been
through this ourselves, and so knew how they felt. “When
Molotov,” said the Marshal, “went to see Ribbentrop in Berlin in
November of 1940, you got wind of it and sent an air raid.” I
nodded. “When the alarm sounded, Ribbentrop led the way down
many flights of stairs to a deep shelter sumptuously furnished.
When he got inside, the raid had begun. He shut the door and
said to Molotov: ‘Now here we are alone together. Why should
we not divide?’ Molotov said: ‘What will England say?’ ‘England,’
said Ribbentrop, ‘is finished. She is no more use as a Power.’ ‘If
that is so,’ said Molotov, ‘why are we in this shelter, and whose
are these bombs which fall?’ ”
* * * * *
The Berlin conversations made no difference to Hitler’s deep resolve. During
October, Keitel, Jodl, and the German General Staff had under his orders been
forming and shaping the plans for the eastward movement of the German
armies and for the invasion of Russia in the early summer of 1941. It was not
580
necessary at this stage to decide on the exact date, which might also be
affected by the weather. Having regard to the distances to be traversed after
the frontiers were crossed, and the need of taking Moscow before the winter
began, it was obvious that the beginning of May offered the best prospects
In my view Admiral Stark is right, and Plan D 20 is strategically
sound, and also most highly adapted to our interests. We should,
therefore, so far as opportunity serves, in every way contribute to
strengthen the policy of Admiral Stark, and should not use
arguments inconsistent with it.
2. Should Japan enter the war on one side and the United States
on ours, ample naval forces will be available to contain Japan by
long-range controls in the Pacific. The Japanese Navy is not likely
to venture far from its home bases so long as a superior battle -
Prime Minister to Secretary of State for the Colonies.
22.XI.40.
Prime Minister to First Lord and First Sea Lord. (General Ismay to
see.)
22.XI.40.
708
fleet is maintained at Singapore or at Honolulu. The Japanese
would never attempt a siege of Singapore with a hostile, superior
American Fleet in the Pacific. The balance of the American Fleet,
after providing the necessary force for the Pacific, would be
sufficient, with our Navy, to exercise in a very high degree the
command of all the seas and oceans except those within the
immediate Japanese regions. A strict defensive in the Far East
and the acceptance of its consequences is also our policy. Once
the Germans are beaten the Japanese would be at the mercy of
the combined fleets.
3. I am much encouraged by the American naval view.
There seems to be great disparity in these sentences [on A.F.S.
men for lootingimmediately to fire fifty or sixty miles, and
should be mounted either on railway mountings or on steel and
concrete platforms, so as to break up the fire of the German guns
that will certainly in less than four months be firing across the
Channel.
Action in many directions followed accordingly. The “Striking Companies”
emerged under the name of “Commandos,” ten of which were now raised
from the Regular Army and the Royal Marines. The nucleus of this
organisation had begun to take shape in the Norwegian campaign. An account
will be given in its proper place of the cross-Channel heavy guns. I regret,
however, that I allowed the scale I had proposed for British parachute troops
to be reduced from five thousand to five hundred.
* * * * *
I recurred at intervals to the building of landing craft, on which my mind
constantly dwelt both as a peril to us and in the future a project against the
enemy. Development of small assault craft had been started before the
outbreak of war, and a few had been employed at Narvik. Most of these had
been lost either there or at Dunkirk. Now we required not only the small craft
which could be lifted in the troop-carrying ships, but sea-going vessels capable
themselves of transporting tanks and guns to the assault and landing them
onto the beaches.
What is being done about designing and planning vessels to
transport tanks across the sea for a British attack on enemy
Prime Minister to Minister of Supply.
7.VII.40.
247
countries? This might well be remitted as a study to Mr. Hopkins,
former Chief Constructor of the Navy, who must have leisure now
that Cultivator No. 61 is out of fashion. These must be able to
move six or seven hundred vehicles in one voyage and land them
on the beach, or, alternatively, take them off the beaches, as
well, of course, as landing them on quays – if it be possible to
combine the two.
I asked the other day for a forecast of the development of the
armoured divisions which will be required in 1941 – namely, five
by the end of March and one additional every month until a total
of ten is reached at the end of August, 1941; and also for the
composition of each division in armoured and ancillary vehicles of
all kinds.
Pray let me know how far the War Office plans have proceeded,
and whether the number of tanks ordered corresponds with a
programme of these dimensions.
Let me further have a report on the progress of the means of
transportation overseas, which should <a href='http://www.ttluxury.com/scategory_29_Rolex-Watches.html' target='_blank'>rolex gmt master ii replica</a> be