Scope and Contents Speech notes for WSC's speech (27 July) on the fall of Mussolini including an assessment of his regime and the principles to be used in negotiations with Italy; and also on events and operations in the Soviet Union and the bombing of Germany. Also includes correspondence from 1st Lord Halifax [earlier Edward Wood and Lord Irwin, British Ambassador to the United States]; Francis Keenlyside [Assistant Secretary in charge of Shipping Policy]; Sir Edward Bridges [Secretary to the Cabinet]; and...

Scope and Contents Notes for WSC's speech (27 February) on supplementary navy estimates, protecting merchant and fishing vessels from U-boats, the strength of the Fleet, and naval losses. Also includes cutting from the Daily Telegraph reporting WSC's speech and relevant extract from Hansard. Published: Complete Speeches VI pp 6194-8.Incomplete notes for WSC's speech (11 April) on the German invasion of Norway and Denmark and the naval battle off Norway. Also includes relevant extract from Hansard. Published:...

Scope and Contents Notes for an unused speech by WSC (prepared for 8 May) on conscription and the Military Training Bill.Notes for WSC's speech (19 May) on relations with the Soviet Union and Poland, and the effect of an agreement with the Soviet Union on relations with other European nations. Published: Complete Speeches VI pp 6117-23.Notes for WSC's speech (23 May) on his objections to the White Paper on Palestine, and the legacy of the Balfour declaration [supporting a Jewish national home in Palestine]....

Scope and Contents Includes notes and correspondence from: Kathleen Hill and Maud Stanley [Secretaries to WSC]; John Rodgers [Ministry of Information]; Ernest Brown [Minister of Health]; John Martin [Prime Minister's Principal Private Secretary] sending on material for a speech on shipping losses. Also includes material from unused speeches on confidence in WSC's government (January 1942) and the possibility of the invasion of Britain (no date); cutting from the Daily Telegraph of a letter from Harold Smith;...

Scope and Contents Speech notes for WSC's speech (9 January, Pilgrim's Society Luncheon, Savoy Hotel, London) entitled "United States co-operation" proposing a toast to Lord Halifax [earlier Edward Wood and Lord Irwin] on his appointment as British Ambassador to the United States and on the death of [11th] Lord Lothian [earlier Philip Kerr]. Published: Complete Speeches VI, pp 6327-9.BBC broadcast by WSC (9 February) entitled "Give us the tools" on the war situation including: the repulsion of the threat of...

Scope and Contents Speech notes for WSC's broadcast (15 February) on the fall of Singapore and reviewing the war. Subjects covered include: the Atlantic Charter and assistance provided by the United States; operations in the Soviet Union; the entry of Japan into the war; the Home Front and difficulties of food supply; and the strength of China. Also includes correspondence from James Stuart [Government Chief Whip]; Sir Archibald Sinclair [later 1st Lord Thurso, Secretary of State for Air]; [General Wladyslaw]...

Scope and Contents Speech notes for WSC's speech (12 October, Usher Hall, Edinburgh, Scotland) on receiving the freedom of the city entitled "Our greatest glory" on: King George VI and Queen Elizabeth; the death of George, Duke of Kent; his visit to inspect the fleet; his links with Scotland; speeches made by Hitler, [Joachim von] Ribbentrop and [Hermann] Goering; events and operations in the Soviet Union and the Battle of the Atlantic. Also includes correspondence from Captain Ronald Brockman [Admiral's...

Scope and Contents Press cuttings of WSC's broadcast from Washington, United States (14 May) on the Home Guard in which he pays tribute to the members of the Home Guard. Also includes correspondence from Sydney Redman [Principal Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for War]; Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Thomas Moore [Chairman of the Home Guard Joint Parliamentary Committee] (3); Robert Gransden; George Anderson, Principal Officer Eastern civil defence region (2); telegrams from the Ministry of Information;...

Scope and Contents Notes for WSC's speech (9 January, Pilgrim's Society Luncheon, Savoy Hotel, London) entitled "United States co-operation" proposing a toast to Lord Halifax [earlier Edward Wood and Lord Irwin] on his appointment as British Ambassador to the United States and on the death of [11th] Lord Lothian [earlier Philip Kerr]. Also includes cutting from the Times reporting WSC's speech. Published: Complete Speeches VI, pp 6327-9. Various cuttings reporting WSC's speech (17 January, Glasgow [Scotland])...

Scope and Contents Notes for WSC's speech (14 July, County Hall, London) entitled the "Grit and Stamina of London" on the German bombing of London, the prospects for the future, and British bombing of Germany. Published: Complete Speeches VI, pp 6448-52.Brief notes for WSC's speech (14 July, Civil Defence Review, Hyde Park, London). Published: Complete Speeches VI, pp 6447-8.Also includes cuttings from the Yorkshire Post and the Glasgow Herald reporting the above two speeches.Cutting from the Times on the...

Scope and Contents Cuttings from the Listener containing the text of WSC's broadcast (8 December, BBC) entitled "The Great Alliance of Free Peoples" on the attack on Pearl Harbor [United States], liaison with President Roosevelt, and the declaration of war on Japan. [Repeat of WSC's speech delivered to the House of Commons earlier that day with one added paragraph; for further material see CHAR 9/149 and CHAR 9/180] Published: Complete Speeches VI, pp 6523-6.Notes for WSC's broadcast (24 December, Washington...

Scope and Contents Notes for WSC's broadcast (20 January, BBC) on the war situation, entitled "A house of many mansions" on the German threat to neutral and allied shipping, to neutral nations, and Finland's stand against the Soviet Union. Also includes cuttings from the Times and the Listener containing the text of WSC's broadcast. Published: Complete Speeches VI, pp 6183-6.Notes for WSC's statement (24 January, House of Commons 1922 Committee) on British naval strength, the U-boat war, pocket battleships,...

Scope and Contents Notes for WSC's broadcast (8 August, United States [National Broadcasting Company]) entitled "A hush over Europe" on German and Italian war preparations, and [Adolf] Hitler's pivotal role. Published: Complete Speeches VI pp 6149-51.Notes for WSC's broadcast (1 October, BBC) entitled "The first month of war" on Poland, the Soviet Union, U-boat attacks, the situation in Britain, and Franco-British relations, which includes the phrase that Russia "is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an...

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Telegram from WSC to Harry Hopkins [Special adviser and assistant to the President of the United States, Franklin Roosevelt] asking that the President's attention be drawn to the very heavy sinkings by U-boats in the Western North Atlantic: gives figures since January 12.

Scope and Contents Telegram from the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] to WSC regarding personnel changes at ABDA [Australian, British, Dutch and Australasian] Command: states that Admiral Thomas Hart [United States Admiral in the Pacific] has asked to be relieved and suggests that "the Dutchman" [Vice-Admiral Conrad Helfrich, Commander-in-Chief, Netherlands Naval Forces in the East] replace him as Acting Commander in Chief of all naval forces; notes message about sinkings in Atlantic which...

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Telegram from Harry Hopkins [Special adviser and assistant to the President of the United States, Franklin Roosevelt] to WSC: states that some moves are being made with regard to the situation in the Western North Atlantic, that shipments are getting off to the Soviet Union, and that the President is considering the Far East matter of command.

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Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt]: comments on the pressure and personal stress he is under; comments on the health of "Max" [1st Lord Beaverbrook, earlier Max Aitken]; states that "Democracy has to prove that it can provide a granite foundation for war against tyranny"; comments on Roosevelt's forthcoming radio broadcast regarding the flight of the German ships [the Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Prinz Eugen] from Brest [France].

Scope and Contents First Lord of the Admiralty's printed minutes, September 1939.Includes texts of minutes from WSC (sometimes annotated with additional printed information) to: various naval directors; the Sea Lords, particularly 1st [Sea Lord, Admiral of the Fleet Sir Dudley Pound] and [3rd Sea Lord and] Controller [Rear-Admiral Bruce Fraser]; [Permanent] Secretary [Sir Archibald Carter]; Deputy Chief of Naval Staff [Rear-Admiral Tom Phillips]; Prime Minister [Neville Chamberlain]; other senior officers and...

Scope and Contents First Lord of the Admiralty's printed minutes, October 1939.Includes texts of minutes from WSC (sometimes annotated with additional printed information) to: various naval directors; Deputy Chief of Naval Staff [Rear-Admiral Tom Phillips]; the Sea Lords, particularly 1st Sea Lord [Admiral of the Fleet Sir Dudley Pound] and [3rd Sea Lord and] Controller [Rear-Admiral Bruce Fraser]; [Permanent] Secretary [Sir Archibald Carter]; other senior officers and civil servants.Subjects covered by the...

Scope and Contents First Lord of the Admiralty's printed minutes, December 1939.Includes texts of minutes from WSC (sometimes annotated with additional printed information) to: the Sea Lords, particularly [3rd Sea Lord and] Controller [Rear-Admiral Bruce Fraser], 1st Sea Lord [Admiral of the Fleet Sir Dudley Pound], and 4th Sea Lord [and Chief of Supplies and Transport, Vice-Admiral Guy Royle]; Deputy Chief of Naval Staff [Rear-Admiral Tom Phillips]; Prime Minister [Neville Chamberlain]; [Permanent] Secretary...

Scope and Contents First Lord of the Admiralty's printed minutes, January 1940.Includes texts of minutes from WSC (sometimes annotated with additional printed information) to: the Sea Lords, particularly 1st [Sea Lord, Admiral of the Fleet Sir Dudley Pound], 2nd [Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel, Admiral Sir Charles Little], and [3rd Sea Lord and] Controller [Rear-Admiral Bruce Fraser]; Deputy Chief of Naval Staff [Rear-Admiral Tom Phillips]; [Permanent] Secretary [Sir Archibald Carter]; various naval...

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Two copies of telegram from WSC to Harry Hopkins [Special Adviser and Assistant to President of the United States](Washington) on shipping losses in April.

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Telegram from President Roosevelt to WSC promising extra supplies for the Middle East; expressing belief that Atlantic will be decisive theatre; and reporting that Ambassador William Leahy [United States Ambassador to Vichy France] believes Marshal Henri Petain [President of the Vichy Republic] has support of French, but will be ignored by Germans infiltrating Morocco.

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Telegram from General Jan Smuts [Prime Minister of South Africa] to WSC with detailed assessment of likely German attack: Ukraine Caucasus, Middle East plus French Africa, Britain and the Atlantic. With note in the hand of John Colville [Prime Minister's Private Secretary] that the Dominions Office have asked for this telegram to be circulated to the War Cabinet and Defence Committee.

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Telegram from WSC to General Jan Smuts [Prime Minister of South Africa] agreeing with assessment; Middle East has been fortified, western Mediterranean more doubtful; United States aid in Atlantic essential; Hitler massing forces against Russia.