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SMJfcls" CSonotaslMmOo

TO BE ' K l P T ; OT^Eli fcOCK A N D KEY.

' I t is reques ted s p e c i a l care m a y be t a k e n to ensure t h e secrecy of th i s d o c u m e n t .

WAR CABINET U (SS),

CONCLUSIONS of a Meeting of the War Cabinet held at 10 Downing Street,S.W. 1, on Tuesday, November 21, 1939, at 11-30 AM.

Present: The Right Hon. NEVILLE CHAMBERLAIN, M.P., Prime Minister (in the Chair).

The Right Hon. Sir JOHN SIMON, K.C., Admiral of the Fleet the Right Hon. M.P., Chancellor of the Exchequer. LORO CHATFIELD, Minister for Co-

Ordination of Defence. The Right Hon. WINSTON S. The Right Hon. L . HORE-BELISHA,

CHURCHILL, M.P., First Lord of the M.P., Secretary of State for War. Admiralty.

The Right Hon. Sir KINGSLEY WOOD, The Right Hon. Sir SAMUEL HOARE, Bt., M.P., Lord Privy Seal. M.P., Secretary of State for Air.

The Right Hon LORD HANKEY, Minister without Portfolio.

The following were also present: The Right Hon. Sir JOHN ANDERSON, The Right Hon. ANTHONY EDEN, M.P.,

M.P., Secretary of State for the Secretary of State for Dominion Home Department and Minister of Affairs. Home Security.

The Right Hon. OLIVER STANLEY, M.P., Mr. R. H. CROSS, M.P., Minister for President of the Board of Trade Economic Warfare (Item 8 ) . (Item 8).

The Right Hon. Sir DONALD Sir HORACE J . WILSON, Permanent SOMERVBLL, K.C., M.P., Attorney- Secretary to the Treasury. General (Item 8 ) .

The Hon Sir A.; CADQGAN, Permanent Air Chief Marshal Sir CYRIL L. N. IJnder^ecretary of Sta$e, Foreigh NEWALL, Chief of the Air Staff

(Items 5^12). (Items 1-7). ; Adnarai of the Fleet - Sir -; DUDLEY General Sir W. EBHUND IRONSIDE,

'mmkrtx Lord and Chief of Chief of the Imperial General Staff (Items 1 - 7 ) . . ,

Secretmtiat.

CONTENTS.

. Svhjeeti ' Page The Air Situation ... ... .... \ l7r :

The Naval Situation ... .:. ... ... 173 The Military Situation ... ... ... ... ... 171 Australian Naval Defence ... ... ... ... ... 174 Poland ... ... ... ... ... ... ... . . . 1 7 4

Formation and equipment of Polish Forces.

Prisoners of-War ... ... .... ... ... ... 175 Aecess by representatives of the Press, or accredited representa­

tives of a neutral Power.

Dominion Personnel ... ... ... . . . . . . . . . 176 Publicity regarding exploits.

Seizure of exports from Germany ... . . . . . . ... 177 The King's Speeches on the forthcoming prorogation and

- opening of Parliament ... ... ... . . . . . . 178; War Finance ... ... .., ... ... . . . . . . 178

Statement as to Sayings.Certificates and Defence Bonds.

The Secretary of State for War's visit to France ... ... 178 War Cabinet arrangeifients ... .... . . . . . . ... 1$8

1 ' I ' ' 1' "( [ P - v o i i ojyoc^-Go:WJfc(S9)£3&Conetoolonp,,Mlrafe!) 1.)

(Previous.. Reference: W.M. (39) Conclusions, Minute 3.) .

- 1 . TIM 3JL.A^\J^Jvb^yc/hleV^io1 C N abas had L w i ­ calcic by Q-uyb ' 2^ J. OTC^A % Sb b 'y J wA

neon and 1-80. Gnu c lit U ." JU h^ lay w kei ib i A W I , J LUW-. b a*'b ' bbpCCO JCwu er^scod iju C^-^H JutgL^-iii, f a . ; " ovta. London c: d

£lew out down !bbo - Thamerj. A second raibki- nad Pssn idaa6Jabi,;

oh CJaeton, haft did not croso fe coast- A nild-aireraffc guns had beam in action' in the Thames Ecsfcuiary and a t Dover. Eoth the aircraft ­

(hadyl^ though neither had beeh brought down. ' ' In the evening between- C-SJ) m& S)-0'

.

In which they had apparently been operating, and the.. Admiralty; had been immediately informed in view, of--the possiloility that ' theymight;have-jbeen engaged in mine-laying from the air. ?

r

: K M . S . Boadicea had been attacked' 60 miles east of Cromer" the previous morning; one bomb was dropped near her. . - One enemy aircraft; flew over -Scapa during the morning. I t was engaged without result by anti-aircraft fire.

A propaganda raid over Hamburg and Bremen had been carried out the previous evening. Slight anti-aircraft fire had been encountered. Both aircraft concerned had returned.

A sweep over ah area in the North Sea had been carried out the previous afternoon by bombers, but no suitable objectives bad been found. b * .-.T

A Heinkel 111, which was carrying out a reconnaissance made a t a regular hour each day in the Dover area, had teen intercepted" ahd shot down that morning.

: ThebWar Cabinet took note of the above statement.

2 . The First Lordof the Admiralty reported the forthcoming movements of the Fleet., and the action beihg taken to combat the German mine-laying, The Admiralty doubted whether mines could

1 be" laid from aircraft, though such an Operation would be possible if parachutes were used. As an immediate measure i t had been decided to try the effect of abandoning convoy on the East Coast and allowing ships to sail independently. All navigational l ights would be extinguished: so that U-boats would have noleading marks by which to lay mines a t night. Shipping would, of course^ have

. to.anchor during the hours of;darkness. I t wasbelieved that t h e delays involved, in anchoring: at night would be. less than the time' saved in not having -to.wait for convoys,and /that -the net result­would be to improve-the turn.round of shipping. The-abandonment' of-convoy would release light craft 'for anti-submarine operations.-

Some discussion took place on this, proposal.- I t was pointed -out that-if deliberate air-attacks on-shipping were started by the enemy, it would be very difficult foi the Soyal Air Force to give any--Tprotection:.to-iSlaros.-saiI:riiig independently.--' -If as a rssrait, heavy air attack coiesniratued on oar shipping on the East; Coast, the plan - would 'bavc -to be reviewed.

rThe ? c of ke /)c\r. z, ' - - ;ke b s t r Cabinet feb,fln n jbac ' r e

u

v. ' ,- - h \v C L'ZL/as h ? r l been skack . , - necrTtoi : i e F i r th of Fo: bh. She was

' . r 3 v : ,b . 3*1: '* .fy - iei b& z zr ZZ^JB.. Thebmrne-sWeep b ^ n b l o w h h p while sweeping

In T.r . 'j ' ^-Z ' . 1 ' ' . ;[ ' I A-/ ;-"/;y loaded with,m^

'^ lee : , , - - ' 'z- !' , GLATI O. 'jbl

B 2

$heMll l ta iy BltoaMom. (Previous Reference: W.M. (39) 89th Conclusions, Minute 5.)

Beffenoa;(Previous^ e f e e .

W.M. (39)'89thConclusionsMinute 7.)

Poland. Formation and equipment of Polish Forces. (Previous , ^Reference: W.M, (89) 84th Conclusions. Minute 6.)

3. The Secretary of State for War said that there hadbeen sm increase of German divisions in the forward- area, between Luxemburg and Basle, the biggest increase being opposite Luxemburg.

The Chief of the Imperial General Staff said that no definite deduction could be drawn from these moves, which had taken place during the last twenty-four hours. "He emphasised that there^were serious practical difficulties, particularly in respect Of supply and accommodation, in keeping troops closed up in the forward areas for a long period. Experience in the last war had shown that after about three days these difficulties became acute.

The War Cabinet took note of the above statement.

4. The Minister for Co-ordination of Defence informed the War Cabinet of what had transpired at the meeting with Dominion

Ministers on the previous day when the question of the despatch of a o Fleet t *h e Far East had been discussed with them. It had been

agreed that a revise of the Memorandum by the First Lord of the

A d l r i l ^ l y ( P a p t t ^f\M\^jf^Mfjf^^^ Lord, the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs and himself in

consultation, which would cover the questions raised by Mr. Casey about our action in the event of Japanese aggression on the Nether­lands East Indies. This paper would be laid before the War Cabinet before it was communicated to Dominion Ministers. '

The War Cabinettook note of theabove statement. ;

e C a b i n e t fladTv/r.1-,?' i under consideration a rem Military Co-ordination Committee (Paper W p S ^ rm formation and equipment of Polish Forces; h -

The Minister for Co-ordination of Defence outlined n a r a w i W ,

In discussion, the following observations were made : ­(i) Paragraph 2.

The Secretary^!\StateforDominion Affairs said that ho

Divisions in Canada . to" the: /Canadian - Gbverament" A?! A ,. speaking to Mr. Crerar.:. The C a n a d i l n A ^ ^ t i g '

. no decision. He pointed, -out tha t there- w ^ cohSSeSe . difterence bstmm /raising: divisions of --Polish TCRC?%

Francs: and;ccgiivAA-p A A A " C ^ W : ' ^ m d v A :-'' tions.'; He t /ao A ' ' d " " - ' d d ^ ' V n ^ '0m"

- , A . - ; TkeGhmommm^'^^ - - - - - - - - - ^ A d d

, - fell', A, . ^ ' : ; a - * ---- ' , L : r / L ; A. r- "'J . fiflK­ar " . x J j ^ ,r\ aA ' a

0/ £fte 4 i r Stejf said that, although they cbuld not be 3 - ,a- a c p e a t i a a Aoa: A A 3 - a G -jffiia s-A 3d u I d a OauanAi, 3 ./. . .. ^ ; A / t h e hii \ - . -1 ,1Q A JUAIJJ. iA ? v A Lo]i .u. thus1 o b v i a t e a n y -sAAe of frustration on the par t of "the pa caaas! :33.C3i aed.

'';(iii)-''"l?o^%r^il--2(!Jir.'' A A. a a"-".'.''' , f f e Minister for Co-ordination of Defence said tha t the

.:Conamittee felt ,that;.;sonie general agreement should'.be:,iraade ' with the Polish 1 Government, to which Annexes ewe o * financial and: administrative'details could be attached as when those details, were settled. "The Chancellor of the Exchequer emphasised -that this general agreement, ,even

- though i t might, be. of a. provisional nature, should make clear the financial responsibility of the Polish Government. The agreement should also deal with the chain.of coiraaamd of the Polish units. The provision of equipment would have to be referred to in somewhat guarded terms in view of our own and French difficulties in this respect. The War Cabinet agreed:— (1) To approve the conclusions and recommendations of the

Military Co-ordination Committee in their .-Report on the Formation and Equipment of Polish Forces (Paper W.P . (39) 128), which are reproduced as Annex I to

.-..-*. these Conclusions. (2) To invite the Secretary of State fbr Foreign Affairs to

ascertain from the Polish Government their proposals for financing the formation, equipment, and maintenance of Polish units in Canada, it being understood t h a t the dollar resources of this country 'could hot be made available for this purpose.

- (3) To invite the Minister for Co-ordination of Defence, after discussion with other Ministers interested, to submit to the W a r Cabinet for approval, prior to discussion with the French Government, the heads of an agreement in general terms to govern the further participation in the present war of the armed forces of Poland.

(8. The War Cabinet bad before them a Report (Paper IMsomeHB of W . P . (G.) pB) WM) by the; Military C p - o r d i n ; ^ in which the question was examined whether permission should be

Access by repre­ given for interviews with, and photographs of, German prisoners ' .ilgntatives.o£ $he \oAwaA.;aA:A Press, or accredited, The Minister for Co-ordination of Defence 3aid that the representatives raccmn^shdations of the Committee, which were in lino with those of a nenfesl previously put forward by the Deputy Chiefs of Staff, were Power, summarised as follows in paragraph 7 of the Eeport :—

AtJSltwSAAA^ (a) TA t no access Co G e r p a a prisoners of war in Great Britain IJefeserr-ss: A o A a A aa 3 " d a d I d loprecentativea of the Pl3sg, WM (. 3)r/0i'* :

r i & v F d h a . 'f J ; ', Conclusions, (&) Tk i , "/ oj 3LTI-' j \ : : - ? ? . -rpn pAaaaoa-j of war " . - A A a. d - ' i a a a ^ p a aoat3 Aa-'

c - " A . ) d -. A . A ' 3 71 i A- ­", id ,-s A : " a. a A C 3 :

. A'tt&db1ij^^^ I I I S I I I I i i A ^

a A

Dominion

Publicity regarding exploits. (Previous Beference: W.M. (39) 76th Conclusions, Minute 3.)

(e) That the w - : , of A - i s a a a d a p a ^ ^ p p ^ l P i * ? invited to m a t s it k m c v i , a t His^i i f r ies i^ would -be wiling- : t o ; - ' g l ^ f a c ^ f j i ^ i ' ^ &e . aocES^ted

. representatives of a .Meutaa! Power to visit j-eii^lj^; prisoners of .w)ar in-this . country, while expressing; the hope, at the same time, that the Heutral Fower conc^rnjBd, would request the German Government for similar facilities to visit^^^^

The War Cabinet accepted the abbvePrecOmmendations.

7. The War Cabinet had before them a Memorandum (Paper W.P. (G.) (39) 104) by the Military Co-ordihation Committee, dealing with publication of the names of Dominion Service personnel concerned in any particularly gallant or noteworthy war exploits.

The Minister for Co-ordination of Defence said that throughout the last war it had been the accepted principle hot to publish the names of personnel who had taken a prominent. part in any particular action either by sea, on land or in the air, except in cases where the official announcement took the form of an award of a decoration or of a mention in despatches. The Military Co-ordina­tion Committee were strongly of opinion that this principle should continue to be observed throughout the present war, not only as regards United Kingdom but also as regards Dominion Service personnel. The Committee recognised that the matter was one in which each Dominion Government was entitled to take its own line, but they recommended that the Dominion Governments should be informed of the practice which the United Kingdom proposed to follow, and should be invited to conform.

The Secretary^ of State for Dominion Affairs suggested that the existing principle with which he entirely agreed, was based on the importance—

(a) of preventing information finding its way to the enemy; . and

(b) of not setting up invidious comparisons between equally deserving and gallant members of the same Service.

There was no question but that the Dominions must accept our ruling as regards any of their personnel serving in the United Kingdom Forces. The real difficulty would arise after the Dominions' own forces had been in action, when there might be a desire to give publicity to their exploits in ways not in accordance

:with our practice.The War Cabinet agreed :— (i) That a.departure from the existing,,principle; would\ fee

- detrimental to Service, efficiency; . . ^ ^ ^ ? s t s ^ ; ' ' o f ; ' : ^ i 0 United Kingdom Services, therefore, tin u ' dp , be adhered:to.: af- ': : ' p d a - d d - d a A a p p p p ^ ; d r ; ' . ; ' p d

(ii) That as regards the Dominion Car Aces, \dio aatta was one in. which each Dominion Goveraaaeaat aco sntw

^its own-line, but^that Mjiffim&J&ft

* " J D ;D to ' '' "D : ( : JL ato.. F " - : " - . to - Dto -TOD L'1

9H £t t '' ' I Du

i J ^ J . \ "tjto.D ; , V,toj

BLSKO : to" t- D - 1 'C . DEHRUT ribtoo Ctovitoto mfxzzto ? u. o^s w--to , , tow' ,u . to' J JI ' T

(: ^ ­ . toto.(to)toto W.F.((Gk) a y JIM ' - , T DTO !

CSomdBDlojOs Theto to panto dealt -aith iffl olirto;adkm was "srliotosr tide ctoto- ­toim-to G.) nasmt shcatd toiu oto deiulvto the baefcitoa fehto rtoaladkcai abc dd

toko the icum of the Exrnse rtoatofc of GeiimQam otoyda oi arrmv­shro. The view g t e d Q y e E p s a t o l d v a c that tote s h o u l d be dobe.

^ b % d?- - ' ; a \ / , : d $ d d i ^ i a ^ ^

:r' o i;.V.'t;

to'-'----,. ^ ;

--to-Zxipjlp-Ambassador of the decision taken by the British Government,

toto.:' adxdMaigbtha toMiyiv&f^ .

"toy.,ay \' / depd i sa l -^ T h e . had ssdto ;-' ' \ no\; being made. imMediately, "if this '

' Was thoiight: desirsible.: ': h . I t was agreed that. the.decision, to : seize exports, of' German­

ownership, o r origin should be referred to in A e last paragraph of :- the 'Sta t^^

-a:siiffi^^ fortonbiha^ ' d : "d"

In the course of discussion, a number of other amendments were . suggested: in particular, it was urged that it should he made clear

. ...a tha t the..German Government, were violating Agreements to whieh. ' they, had themselves willingly subscribed. I t was also decided to

v omit the reference to the number of civilian lives already lost.

The W a r C a b i n e t ­(i) Agreed that steps should be taken to seize exports of

German origin and ownership on the high seas, (ii) Agreed that a Statement to this effect Should be made by

the Prime Minister in the House of Commons that afternoon, and approved the draft Statement, subject to -the amendments ittadeindiscussioni '.

- - - ^ h e ; ; d e x t o M ; v ! t h e i S t i t ^ e n t : as/-finally approved is . - . - - eomtained..in.:Annex II.::W;;'--l^e^'G!^clusions.

'-. (Mi) Ajgresd-that"apsisi^la^ statement-should he made in the d:.... VHof ise /^

- -;;d-:: ; I t t . t heHH^Uf 'd f ,CPmiUbhs^ ; ; ; i -yd p.-to ,,((iy). $ w i t e comsulta­

tiom ^dtli''^-: -]^0Kt8igffi -Cip^bto $reporo a draft- tysfoatin Couiaeil, whieh should -be submitted to the 'War

. - ., . - ^ . . C a b i h S d d - . : - : t o d . a . toy;: by.­--- - ' ' " ' M Invited the Minister for Economic Warfare to initiate

.Ji bate oiinoTm-gemomte said o ^a ie to ioa . J :uni ted to p i S SM$t ,to the dastokto id (7 ctove, Laj^atobiLg.

:'DTOL/DLL?IDTE*SL ^ "he a^:to 'r -7 i'to itohe edeetivc'to^ ttosmro ca 6d,3 high spps of cr:; toicj of ,GoiifiiC2ii oritoa vziS. otoacLrMp.

i l l

Opaelag of

(I?i?eviQus-

W:M. (09) 89th Conclusions, Minute 9.)

War Flnaaee.Statement as toSavings Certifi­eates andDefence Bonds,

-' '- - '

- v ' - - , A , £ K i a g o bjCSBcJa on A 0x5 tiom ^ k s J - d . - dtif Opening of Parliament. - -

In discussion tne view was genemaly ejdwecsacl tnafc tlbe- Sn on P^progafaon:; slhoaH stand :nndt3ired d i d t d d ; d i - %M ' ^ i t d addition- AonHdttB-fflaole-'after the'conclusion o f i hp of the Speech on the opening of Parliament. sentence

w d ' ^ ^ G ^ i a i o n s - - o m e a s dare- 'par t ie ipat ing whole­, . .hear te^ .and .wi thvan e f f e c t i v e n e s s / w h i c h - - & & f i ; - g ^ p j ; :

The War Cabinet agreed : -That the draft King's Speech on the Opening of

M a f e ^ ^ h e KingYor approval * ^4'*%

10. TAe Chancellor of the Eackeqmr said that jhe was advised that the time was not ripe to issue long-term, loans of the type

which would appeal to large institutions. The view taken was that a loan of this character should not be issued until the big payments

made by the Service Departments had had time to reach the reserves of such institutions. ­

I n the meantime, however, it was desirable to make an appeal to people of small means, and he prop-osed to make an aSaiaoutc-eiiiemt

on the matter that afternoon. In the first place, the existing series.;^! Natieddl Savings

Certificates would be withdrawn and a new' series subs i lk A. They would be issued a t 15s.; interest would accumulate slowly in the earlier, but more rapidly in the later years. Repayment would be at the rate of 17*. 6*?. after five years, and at 20s. 6d. after tenyears . Interest on these certificates would hot be subject to Income Tax.

There was, however, a total limit of holdings of £500 worth of Saving Certificates by any one person. He proposed to issue Defence Bonds, bearing interest a t 3 % , in £ 5 units,. With'-a provision that up to £1,000 of these Bonds might be held by any one person. These Bonds would be repaid in seven years' time, with a premium of 1%. I t was true that the sinns obtained in this way would not be very large but i t was desirable t o make an early start .

The War Cabinet took hote of this statement.

TTJaiOommhujmi 11. The Secretary of State/^-far gay^ the War Cabinet Sfjl&e. foe Wa^s a short account. of h i s i visit to Wzm6." " Wj&$isa llipfrfa'... . Particulars of dhas/acEduAi are/, account are recorded in the Secretary's

btan(Diard;ftiie,ot ; w a dbiiSGt Oomedxiono. The War Cabinet teddaofie of fills statement

1% ' The Piitm E&faisfor c?icl $r ,5 m. 3Tiiw -y TV, d "louse of CbsiMooac was m^zim^jot 'M v -z. lu wc 1 dyn , iosed tha t the Meeting of the War Cabinet On tha t 'day shbulCfce.held

aflio A.W. The Wan Catir.et d;d- -zr' \ - d "

/ku/ibbbb -'. ­

i: .-jr b - j , . ' - : ^ Pc -D:: bb

. b a y - '-' '-"'/-":- : (bbhjetab hb)' - bbyyyfb ; - ' \ ; %''-' ' ; '- 'bb:L' :

j ^ c y aa. P;5ea a z ode tic cy k.iiAod,:[

We'sttcofdy fat/berths raroypsal £hat-Polish''waits "shook! foe foaaiad In i M s coiiibtry, in Caa?d", ah im F anee; and we reconrn;? :: ths Ais

- sfiou (ia sa p1 it$hed on as i^st as -possible oy ^ne JlJeparon6nts conoerneoi. (li) We ask the War "CJaplnfeu to.-, endorse -the arrangements-.which have

, ' : ' I l l lsf l l^^ First Line and two J&essrve Eornben Scyaadrons as Polish units" In this

- - country. ; ' ;y "'"y.''.yy.:.y-'-.y L by.- - " - - ' - ;y­(iii) The precise details of Polish Army requirements are not yet known, hut

General Sikorski""has been invited: to submit them in writing to the .. Secretary of State for War.. ... y----- .... ' ' - . - / - , - .

(iv)-The existing arrangements for-.the -employment of -Polish Mav&l forces now serving with..the Koyal Havy are satisfactory, and will continue. .

(v) We recommend the acceptance of the arrangements which have been agreed by the .- Treasury with the Admiralty and the Ai r Ministry, regarding the pay and allowances, &c , o f t h e Polish personnelj who will be serving in this country ;-,and^ in particular,: approval of the Treasury view that-the cost of equipping and maintaining- the Polish Bomber Squadrons, and of the pay and allowances, of their personnel, should be finally charged to the credit already established in this conntry in favour of the Polish Government.

(vi) We recommendthat the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs should endeavour to persuade the Canadian Government to agree to the formation of one or two Polish Divisions in Canada.

(vii) We recommend that, subject to the approval of the French, a Polish Officer of suitable rank should be associated with the Anglo-French Permanent Military Representatives in London, on the understanding that he should'be invited-only to those meetings at which Polish questions are under consideration,

(vill) We suggest tha t -information of the steps which we are taking in these matters should be communicated to the French through the channel of the Anglo-French Liaison Section, and that they, for their part , should" be asked to give us reciprocal information of w h a t is being done in France.

75ANNIS""" II

.b;blllllf^ bbyb?0

y the Prime Minister in the House of Commons on Tuesday

IWMI^ " ^ ' J ' inch

The i\ a . , O I J 1 ? : . . - ' " a ' ; The House will' be aware thatduring^the

sis o c j - a " * a u ' i a c i ' ^ ' L . mines. The -dag"o Ooa--- dan ie addlrJa" G . : inc 13 ' : L a : : da : L" . : . . "

: 1that when 3 3 3 - 333 0 : 3 : - - a - " A %m -the ssstzuity ofrasffceiTHl ncvi^c J : 1 J a 3a T'd" a a a - * " vjm*

as the M i n e cannot discriminate bstarsen araasaip and merchant sadp, c r d ^ a a . l - 11belligerent and newti^i The Caa 3 t ion T3sat d a " d ages

zone must be notified as soon as military exigencies penaL, -bass cm 333333 c e a s e to be Binder observation by those who laid them. If t a a a a .a. 3 daa) aiu ?a ', they must-become harmless one hour-at most after thdse who laid, taean have lost

;coM^:::oV^;-them;- . - None of these-provisions has been observed by... the German Government in

-laying-the mines which occasioned the losses I have mentioned, and this fresh outrage-is only the culmination of a series of violations of ^agreements to which Germany-had.set-her hand.- - I need onty recall the sinking-of the A&Mmm, with' the loss, of 112 lives, and the subsequent -destruction of-.. British,' 'Allied--and neutral vessels by mine, torpedo, o r gunfire. These attacks have- been Made;-: often without warning, and, to an increasing extent, With a complete disregard of the rules laid down in the Submarine Protocol, to which Germany subscribed, or of the most elementary dictates of humanity.

His Majesty's Government are not prepared to allow these methods of conducting warfare to continue without retaliation. I may remind the House t h a t in the last war, as a measure of justified reprisal for subsnariie attacks: 0^1 merchant ships, exports of German origin or ownership were ttiade subject to -seizure on the high seas. The many, violations of international law and t h t ruthless brutality of German methods have decided us to follow a similar course now, and an Order in Council will shortly be issued giving effect to this decision

November 21, 1939.