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Minute from WSC to Home Secretary [and Minister of Home Security, Herbert Morrison] giving views on a report [on a new warning system for flying bomb attacks] commenting on the universality of the system, instructions to bus drivers and the public, and the terms of the announcement. [Carbon copy].

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Minute from "H M" [Herbert Morrison], Minister of Home Security, to WSC marked "Secret" enclosing a note of a meeting to consider the institution of a system of imminent danger warnings [for flying bomb attacks, see CHAR 20/231/77-78] and stating that he would like to announce the decision in the House [of Commons] as soon as possible. [initialled].

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Note of a meeting held in the Home Office between the Home Secretary and Minister of Home Security [Herbert Morrison], the Minister of Aircraft Production [Sir Stafford Cripps], the Minister of War Transport [1st Lord Leathers], the Minister of Works [Lord Portal, earlier Sir Wyndham Portal], and others, on the institution of a system of imminent danger warnings for air raids, marked "Secret".

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Extract from War Cabinet minutes of discussions on improving the public warning system for attacks by flying bombs, including contributions from the Home Secretary and Minister of Home Security [Herbert Morrison], the Minister of Aircraft Production [Sir Stafford Cripps], the Minister of War Transport [1st Lord Leathers], and the Minister of Production [Oliver Lyttelton, later 1st Lord Chandos].

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Minute from "H M" [Herbert Morrison], Minister of Home Security, to WSC suggesting that warnings for single flying bombs are instituted in "outer districts" of London, but that this will not greatly affect the number of warnings for the main part of London. [initialled] Annotated reply by WSC on 25 July doubting the value of this. [also annotated by WSC's Secretary Patrick Kinna and flagged "X"].

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Extract from War Cabinet minutes of discussions on whether to modify the public warning system for attacks by flying bombs, including contributions from the Home Secretary and Minister of Home Security [Herbert Morrison] and WSC.

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War Cabinet memorandum by the Minister of Labour and National Service [Ernest Bevin] marked "Secret" on public warnings for flying bombs suggesting "some warning of imminent danger should be given generally in the London Region".

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War Cabinet memorandum by the Home Secretary and Minister of Home Security [Herbert Morrison] marked "Secret" on public warnings for flying bombs: setting out the existing arrangements in Greater London and the rest of South-East England and arguments for modifying the system, but concluding: "I therefore consider that a public warning is still necessary for flying bombs and piloted aircraft alike", with an appendix of copies of four recent letters from the public on the matter.

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Extract from War Cabinet minutes of discussions on modifying the public warning system for attacks by flying bombs, including contributions from WSC, the Home Secretary and Minister of Home Security [Herbert Morrison] and the Minister of Aircraft Production [Sir Stafford Cripps].

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Minute from WSC to Home Secretary [and Minister of Home Security, Herbert Morrison] suggesting the use of air raid sirens "requires immediate consideration" because of the creation of a "great deal of needless unrest", commenting on the need to clarify the purpose of the siren, what he has noticed of people's reactions, and arguing for more use to be made of shelters. [Carbon; annotated by Sir Desmond Morton, Prime Minister's Personal Assistant].

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Extract from War Cabinet minutes of WSC's comments on reviewing the air raid warning system to ensure that warnings are not sounded because of the presence of isolated aircraft and the conclusion of a Staff Conference later that afternoon to that effect.

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Telegram from WSC [in the United States] to Secretary of State for War [Sir James Grigg] marked "From: Octagon" and "Gunfire 280" and "Personal and Top Secret" on the Home Guard returning their boots or uniforms. [Copy].

Scope and Contents Letter from 1st Lord Monsell [Regional Commissioner for Civil Defence South Eastern Region] (Bredbury, Mount Ephraim, Tunbridge Wells [Kent]) to WSC marked "personal" stating that he is giving up his job at the end of the month and would like to report "the magnificent conduct of the people of the South East of England". He refers to the inhabitants of the Cinque Ports, who are all looking forward to welcoming their Warden, and suggests that something special may be done for Dover, "a town...

Scope and Contents Letter from WSC to "Bobbie" (1st Lord Monsell) [Regional Commissioner for Civil Defence South Eastern Region] marked "private" thanking him for his letter of 15 Mar written on his retirement as Regional Commissioner, thanking him for "the valuable service you have rendered at a key position in the defences of England", stating that he shares his admiration for the conduct of the people of the South Eastern Region, and agreeing with his feeling that "the special sufferings and steadfast...

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Cutting from the Daily Telegraph of letter to editor from Major Mowbray (District Warden, Blackheath [London]) referring to the remarks by Herbert Morrison [Home Secretary] that no alert had been sounded before the flying bomb fell near the Clock Tower, Lewisham, and stating that if a warning had been given the casualties would have been much greater as it fell on an air raid shelter which would have been full.

Scope and Contents Letter from Major C H Mowbray (District Warden, 43 Lee Park, SE 3 [London]) to Prime Minister's Private Secretary regarding the "Lewisham Bomb Incident" asking that WSC's attention be drawn to his letter in the Daily Telegraph [see CHAR 20/198B/214]. He comments on why "It was the greatest blessing that there was no alert", and refers to a second letter that he is sending to the Daily Telegraph informing them that the alert was sounded three minutes after the bomb had fallen. States that all...

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Letter from Air Marshal Sir John Salmond to WSC sending card for his brother-in-law, Matthew Smith's exhibition of paintings, also commenting on the "infantile paralysis" affecting his Home Defence Force.

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Letter from Desmond Morton (Queen Anne's Gate, London SW1) to WSC, on Major General Henry Rowan-Robinson's book "Efficiency and Economy through a Ministry of Defence". Describing it as an able and compelling statement, and a valuable contribution to the subject, particularly the proposal for a single Ministry of Defence.

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Letter from Lord Winterton (Eccleston Square, London SW1) to WSC, on the possibility of an Adjournment Debate on air policy. Stating that the Speaker [Captain Edward Fitzroy] had advised against, as the Government would be compelled to give a whole day debate after the Easter Recess.

Scope and Contents Letter from WSC to Sir Abe Bailey, stating that he was sure that "The Times" would not print a letter containing a favourable reference to him. That a week earlier Lord Bayford had made a friendly reference to him at a Conservative meeting, "The Times omitted this reference which in every other paper was the only sentence printed from the speech". Commenting that "in the present posture of affairs I have no wish whatever for office. I would not join any Government which I did not feel was...

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Letter from Sir Abe Bailey, Grand Hotel, Bagnoles de l'Orne, France, to WSC, praising his speech on the Air Force, and commenting on Germany, and the international situation.

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House of Commons Amendment to the Address representing that the strength of British Air defences was "no longer adequate to secure the peace, safety and freedom of Your Majesty's faithful subjects" signed by WSC, Sir Robert Horne, Leo Amery, Frederick Guest, Lord Winterton and Robert Boothby [typescript copy, with handwritten annotations].

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Letter from WSC to Edward Fitzroy [Speaker of the House of Commons], explaining that he wants to have a debate in Parliament on the work of the Committee of Imperial Defence's sub-committee on defence against attack from the air, to emphasize the importance of the subject. Unsigned copy.

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Letter from Desmond Morton, Crockham Hill, Kent to WSC, expressing disappointment that WSC had not been appointed Minister of Defence, and criticising Baldwin's choice, Sir Thomas Inskip (later Lord Caldecote).

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Telegram from Charles Taylor MP to WSC, expressing disappointment that WSC had not been appointed Minister of Defence.