Triumph and Tragedy (The Second World War) (132 page)

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out. A bus, with all its glass, full of passengers, is a very
painful object when we are under bombardment of this
kind.

3. When you give a signal of any kind you should
attach to it a perfectly clear recommendation — or, if
need be, order — to the public to take what you think is
the best action. I have seen some very good papers
drawn up already on this subject. These should be
amplified for town and simplified for country as you now
think fit in the light of greater experience.

Prime Minister to Secretary

6 July 44

of State for War

I am in general agreement with your proposals [for a
Jewish fighting force], but I think the brigade should be
formed and sent to Italy as soon as convenient, and
worked up to a brigade group there as time goes on by
the attachment of the other units.

2. I like the idea of the Jews trying to get at the
murderers of their fellow-countrymen in Central Europe,
and I think it would give a great deal of satisfaction in
the United States.

3. The points of detail which occur to me are:
I do not think this brigade should be any more liable
to be split by serious military emergencies than any
other unit in the Middle East. On the contrary, only a
serious emergency should affect it, considering what it
represents.

I believe it is the wish of the Jews themselves to
fight the Germans anywhere. It is with the Germans
they have their quarrel. There is no need to put the
conditions in such a form as to imply that the War
Office in its infinite wisdom might wish to send the Jews
to fight the Japanese and that otherwise there would be
no use in having the brigade group.

Surely political as well as military considerations
govern the demobilisation or disposal of any of the
forces under British command. In the case of a
contingent of this kind there certainly might be political
reasons either for dispersing it or for maintaining it after
the war….

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I will consult the King about this [proposal that the
force should have its own flag], I cannot conceive why
this martyred race, scattered about the world and
suffering as no other race has done at this juncture,
should be denied the satisfaction of having a flag.

However, not only the King but the Cabinet might have
views on this.

4. Should I be able to visit Italy I will discuss the
details of this with General Wilson, and also very likely I
shall see General Paget. Meanwhile please go ahead
within the lines proposed and negotiate with the Jewish
Agency. Remember the object of this is to give
pleasure and an expression to rightful sentiments, and
that it certainly will be welcomed widely in the United
States. Let me see the form of any announcement that
is made.

Prime Minister to First Lord

29 July 44

and First Sea Lord

Further to my minute of July 17 [about man-power
for the Navy], you should prepare a plan showing the
size and the composition of the fleet which you could
maintain on the assumption that at the end of twelve
months after the defeat of Germany the total manpower of the Navy had been reduced to 400,000 men.

On this hypothesis you should set out the details of the
fleet which could be maintained here and in the Far
East, together with the comparative figures for ships
and Vote A on the completion of mobilisation at the
outbreak of war in 1939.

Prime Minister to Secretary

29 July 44

of State for War and C.I.G.

S.

General Montgomery spoke to me last week about
the Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Hussars and other
ancient Yeomanry regiments which are being used
merely as holding units. I have pointed out to you the
great importance of not destroying these permanent
elements in our defensive system.

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2. General Montgomery proposed to me that when a

“Hostilities Only” or war-time-raised unit at the front was
so depleted that it had to be broken up, that unit should
be sent home to form part of the pool of reinforcements,
and one of these now perfectly trained, permanent
Yeomanry units should be sent out in its place. They
are of course actually at the present time trained as
artillery or anti-tank. This proposal seems quite
satisfactory to me.

3. I have your minute of July 18 informing me that
you have given instructions that men are not to be
taken from the Oxfordshire Hussars for the time being.

What about the Gloucestershire and other similar units

— i.e., those playing a permanent part in the military
defences for generations in good times and bad? Can
they not be treated in this way? Perhaps you would be
so kind as to let me have a list.

Prime Minister to Home

29 July 44

Secretary

Your minute of July 28 [enclosing a revised draft
statement on the subject of an imminent danger
warning for flying bombs].

I cannot see that the new paragraph is defensible.

The bus-drivers are to use their discretion, and the
Government rely on the good sense of the people.

What happens when the bus-driver decides one way
and the good sense of the people in the bus decides
the other way? Surely something more intelligible than
that can be provided. How do the people in the bus
bring their good sense to bear on the conductor or the
driver? You had better bring this question up at the
Cabinet on Monday.

Otherwise I like your paper.
1

AUGUST

Prime Minister to First Sea

4 Aug. 44

Lord

What are the Navy doing on the western flank of the
armies? I should have thought that they would be very
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lively all along the Atlantic shores of the Brest
peninsula, driving off all enemy vessels, isolating the
Channel Islands from all food or escape of the German
garrison, being ready at Quiberon Bay or elsewhere to
join hands with the advancing American columns. We
shall soon be possessed of harbours or inlets at which
bases for E-boats and destroyers could be established,
dominating the waters round the Brest peninsula and
greatly helping the movements of the land forces. As it
is, they seem to be doing very little except to fight on
the northeastern flank. There are plums to be picked in
the Brest peninsula. Admiral Ramsay must not weary of
well-doing.

2. When I have heard from you I will address
General Eisenhower on the subject. It is not the least
use telling me that General Eisenhower has not asked
for anything. He is very busy with the land battle and
knows very little about the sea. I am convinced that
opportunities are passing.

3. I shall be very glad to see you about this at any
time.

Prime Minister to Minister of

4 Aug. 44

Production

Thank you for your report of the effect of flying-bomb
attacks on production in London. Such a loss of man-hours, particularly in the radio industry, would certainly
be serious if it continued. I am glad to see that, together
with the Minister of Labour, you are doing everything
possible to improve the local warning systems and the
general efficiency of factory A.R.P. organisation. I hope
that your efforts, together with the easing off in the
attacks, will soon yield some improvement.

Please continue for the time being to send me a
fortnightly report.

A steady drift of radio production out of London
should be promoted.

Prime Minister to Foreign

6 Aug. 44

Secretary

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830

This seems to be a rather doubtful business [the
case of the Hungarian Jews], These unhappy families,
mainly women and children, have purchased their lives
with probably nine-tenths of their wealth. I should not
like England to seem to be wanting to hunt them down.

By all means tell the Russians anything that is
necessary, but please do not let us prevent them from
escaping.

I cannot see how any suspicion of peace negotiations could be fixed on this miserable affair.

Prime Minister to General

10 Aug. 44

Ismay, for C.O.S.

Committee

We could not agree that “Dragoon” in its relation to

“Overlord” can be considered a “major operation” for
the sake of which, if necessary, General Alexander’s
army and its prospects are to be ruined. This army,
after the withdrawals made from it of the French and
half the United States forces, still consists of about
twenty divisions, of which sixteen are British, British
Empire, or British-controlled. We are not prepared in
any circumstances to have it regarded as a lesser
operation than “Dragoon” or that “Dragoon” should
have priority over its essential needs. Moreover, when
we come to the strategic aspect, we are not prepared
at the present time, in the absence of further discussion, to agree that it is more probable that an advance
to the westward would be more desirable for General
Alexander’s army than one towards Trieste, which
might be accompanied by action in the Istrian peninsula
in conjunction with the Partisans of Yugoslavia under
Marshal Tito. It is obvious that different views may be
taken on these matters. These can only be resolved at
a conference not only between the Chiefs of Staff but
between the heads of Governments.

Prime Minister to C.I.G.S.

10 Aug. 44

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How is it that the 6th Guards Tank Brigade has got
no Churchills with the heavy armour? Where are the
heavy armoured tanks? Let me have a return.

Prime Minister to Secretary

18 Aug. 44

of State for War and V.C.I.

G.S.

General Clark mentioned to me that about six
months ago he proposed to the War Office that 2000 A.

T.S., etc., should be sent out here in order to replace
men of the Allied Force Headquarters and other
rearward services for active war work. Only 250 were
sent however.

2. In view of the urgent need to sustain General
Alexander’s army every device must be adopted.

The Americans are making far more use of women
out here than we are.

Prime Minister to Secretary

18 Aug. 44

of State for War

I understand that the managing director of the
Continental Daily Mail has been asking for facilities to
re-start the paper in France and that S.H.A.E.F. favour
this proposal. I should like to see the Daily Mail, and
any other London newspaper which so wished, start
Continental editions for the forces in France if this could
be managed. It would however be necessary to obtain
the consent of the Newspaper Proprietors Association
to the allocation of newsprint, and if you see no
objection to this project I should be glad if you would
take the matter up with them. Speed is essential.

Prime Minister to Foreign

18 Aug. 44

Secretary, First Lord, and

Secretary of State for War

At my request the Chiefs of Staff have considered a
report by the War Office which suggested that it would
not be possible to destroy the U-boat and E-boat pens
in captured Continental ports before the British and
American Governments ceased to control them.

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It is certainly our policy to hand over the control of
occupied territery to the national authorities as soon as
possible, and it will therefore be difficult to complete the
destruction of these installations before that happens.