chamberlain declares war--5/6/25

06 May 2025

chamberlain declares war--5/6/25

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Today's selection-- from Churchill's Citadel by Katherine Carter. On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland, an act which started World War II:

“When reports spread that Germany had attacked Poland on 1 September, the mood in Parliament's corridors was described by one onlooker as 'nervous and panicky'. The session that evening was due to start at 6pm and the dignitaries gathered in the diplomatic gallery overhead included those who had visited Chartwell in recent years. Ivan Maisky greeted Quo Tai-chi in a friendly fashion, and they took seats beside one another. They were joined by Joe Kennedy, who initially went to sit on Maisky's other side but, upon recognising the Russian Ambassador, reportedly leapt out of his seat, made a clumsy gesture and instead moved to the second row. The assembled diplomats looked down at the chamber of the House of Commons, which was as crowded as the press, guest and Lords' galleries overhead. “Churchill had visited Chamberlain at Downing Street that afternoon. The Prime Minister said he saw no hope of averting war and proposed to form a small War Cabinet. Nothing was formally agreed then, as Britain had not yet made any declarations of war. Churchill made a case for the inclusion of Liberal MPs, which would naturally include their party leader, Archie Sinclair, who had been such a frequent visitor to Chartwell in recent years, and was a co-creator of the 'Chartwell Plan' at the height of the abdication crisis. At that time it was thought that Labour would refuse to join a coalition government, as they would not be willing to serve under Neville Chamberlain as Prime Minister, and so the priorities were thought to be the unification of the Conservative Party, and successfully bringing in the Liberals. “When Neville Chamberlain rose to his feet in the debating chamber that evening, a hush descended. 'I do not propose to say many words tonight', he began, acknowledging that the time had come for actions. With German troops having crossed the Polish border that morning, the British Ambassador in Berlin had handed a document to the German Government, saying that unless assurances were given that all aggressive action against Poland had been suspended, and their forces withdrawn, the Government of the United Kingdom would fulfil its full obligations to Poland. Chamberlain outlined steps being taken for defensive preparation, including the immediate mobilisation of the Royal Navy, the Army, and the Royal Air Force. To ensure sufficient manpower for all three forces, the Military Training Act would be expanded, which meant all fit men between 18 and 41 would be called upon for military service. 'We have no quarrel with the German people,' Chamberlain then exclaimed, 'except that they allow themselves to be governed by a Nazi Government.’ Describing the Nazis' 'sickening technique' of attack, which had by now become familiar to all in attendance, he concluded by banging his fist on the famous box on the Speaker's table and declared: 'We are now resolved that these methods must come to an end.' “There were a number in attendance who criticised Chamberlain's wording and delivery given how pivotal a moment in Britain's history his speech was likely to be. Quo Tai-chi was among those who were unimpressed not just with the speech, but also with the policy of appeasement that had led to it. He remarked afterwards, implying that the British Government's actions in recent years had led to that outcome: 'The sky is black with chickens coming home to roost. “

“The next day, by which time Poland had been under heavy attack for 30 hours, Churchill waited anxiously at Morpeth Mansions. …

Churchill and Neville Chamberlain

"That evening, parliamentarians gathered in the House of Commons at 7.30pm, where Neville Chamberlain seemed to waver in his resolve, announcing that the withdrawal of German forces from Poland would allow Britain to resume negotiations. Many were appalled, including the Conservative MP Leo Amery, who wrote in his memoirs: 'For two whole days the wretched Poles had been bombed and massacred, and we were still considering within what time-limit Hitler should be invited to tell us whether he felt like relinquishing his prey!’ Another Munich suddenly seemed to be a possibility at a time when, as Churchill later recalled, 'the temper of the House was for war'. “By evening, Churchill had become infuriated by the Government's inaction and irritated that he had not yet been brought into the Cabinet. He invited Anthony Eden, who by then was Dominions Secretary, Bob Boothby, Brendan Bracken, Duncan Sandys and Alfred ‘Duff' Cooper to meet him at his Morpeth Mansions flat at 10.30pm. Churchill immediately declared that he had been very ill treated, having been asked by the Prime Minister to join a new War Cabinet when it was officially created, but had not heard a word from him since. All in attendance were enraged, with Boothby especially irate and insisting that Churchill should go to the House of Commons the next day and somehow take Chamberlain's place as Prime Minister, though he admitted that doing so risked splitting the country. Churchill reportedly declared that he had no wish to be Prime Minister. The offer the day before was merely a place in the War Cabinet as a Minister without portfolio. Those in attendance argued that he should refuse to serve unless Eden was included in the War Cabinet also. Bracken added to the noise, saying that those who had resigned because of their consciences at the time of the Munich Agreement should also be included. “Churchill withdrew from the group to write a letter to the Prime· Minister saying that events that day had created a new situation, and that he hoped an announcement of his inclusion in the War Cabinet was imminent. A flurry of telephone calls followed, and Churchill alluded to the group that 'a friend' would shortly tell him what had taken place at Cabinet that day. His attempts to be covert were quickly ruined by Mrs Hill, who politely entered the room and announced 'Mr Hore-Belisha is on the telephone'. Churchill took the call, in which Hore- Belisha described that day's stormy Cabinet meeting, and confirmed that they had decided to deliver the ultimatum to Germany the next morning. Churchill disclosed to those gathered in his flat that he would still send his letter to the Prime Minister if he had heard nothing by the following morning. “True to his word, when he had not yet been summoned, Churchill gave his letter to Mrs Hill to deliver to Downing Street on the morning of 3 September. 'I remember delivering a letter to Number 10,' she later recalled of her walk on that blue-skied Sunday morning; 'that was my first sight of Number 10, delivering a letter from Mr Churchill to Chamberlain saying "You said when war was declared that I would be invited to join the Cabinet."’ The letter, which Mrs Hill had typed for Churchill the night before, read as follows: “I have not heard anything from you since our talks on Friday, when I understood that I was to serve as your colleague, and when you told me that this would be announced speedily. I really do not know what has happened during the course of this agitated day; though it seems to me that entirely different ideas have ruled from those which you expressed to me when you said 'the die was cast'. I quite realise that in contact with this tremendous European situation changes of method may become necessary, but I feel entitled to ask you to let me know how we stand, both publicly and privately, before the debate opens at noon. “This was followed by the announcement at 10am of Britain's ultimatum to Germany, which would expire in one hour. People gathered and watched the minute hand on their clocks creeping towards 11am. At 11.15am the Prime Minister broadcast to the British people, and announced to the world that Britain was now at war with Germany. Churchill listened to it on the radio in his flat with Clementine by his side. The eerie stillness that followed was interrupted by what Churchill described as 'a strange, prolonged, wailing noise'. It was assumed by many to be an air-raid siren, to which the cool Clementine simply remarked that she was impressed by how prompt Germany was. Churchill grabbed a bottle of brandy, placed it under his arm and calmly made his way out of the flat, accompanied by Clementine, Thompson and Mrs Hill. They made their way to their designated shelter, an open basement which, much to Churchill's frustration, had no telephone or portable wireless. The Churchills and their staff were joined by the tenants of several flats. 'Everyone was cheerful and jocular, as is the English manner when about to encounter the unknown', Churchill remembered years later. He, however, could not get the image of London in ruins out of his mind and pictured the horrors of explosions and collapsing buildings. After ten minutes they heard the cry of 'All Clear' and Churchill hurried towards Westminster. “At the same time, a group of MPs had been making their way towards the Houses of Parliament when the sirens began. 'We had better make for the House', Anthony Eden instructed those who were with him, which included Bob Boothby and Churchill's son-in-law Duncan Sandys. Upon arriving, the group was told to go down to the air-raid refuge. A stifling ten minutes followed with everyone from Cabinet ministers to cooks crowded in corridors. Some asserted that they had heard gunfire and bombs, but it was later confirmed that the raid warning had been activated in error, and all present were told they were free to go. “At noon, the House of Commons debating chamber filled with MPs. Chamberlain looked pale and unwell, but proclaimed: 'You can imagine what a bitter blow it is to me that all my long struggle to win peace has failed.' He gave his version of events of recent days, describing the course of Germany's aggression against Poland and Britain's determination, together with France, to implement their guarantees by declaring war. He concluded as if in a state of heartbroken disbelief, saying: 'Everything that I have believed in during my public life has crashed into ruins.' Unfortunately, neither his words nor his tone inspired the much-needed courage and fortitude for the gathered parliamentarians. 'His was not the speech of a man who intended to lead us through the struggle', Boothby wrote to Churchill later that day. Harold Macmillan later reflected: 'It would have been better if, at this moment of failure and disappointment, he had passed the burden into other and stronger hands.' Churchill then followed with his own speech, in which he reflected on Britain's ill-starred efforts for peace, and the resilience, strength and energy that would be needed for the path that lay ahead. “Outside, the storms of war may blow and the lands may be lashed with the fury of its gales, but in our own hearts this Sunday morning there is peace. Our hands may be active, but our consciences are at rest ... We are fighting to save the whole world from the pestilence of Nazi tyranny and in defence of all that is most sacred to man. This is no war of domination or imperial aggrandisement or material gain; no war to shut any country out of its sunlight and means of progress. It is a war, viewed in its inherent quality, to establish, on impregnable rocks, the rights of the individual, and it is a war to establish and revive the stature of man. “What Churchill refrained from disclosing in his speech, though it was already being speculated in the press, was that he had received a note from Chamberlain asking him to meet him after the House had adjourned for the day. '10 Downing Street, Thompson', he told his bodyguard after the speeches had finished. When Churchill returned to his car after leaving the Prime Minister's office, he opened the door and sat next to Clementine, who had been waiting anxiously for him. 'It's the Admiralty,' he told his wife; 'That's a lot better than I thought.’”