Five Days in London, May 1940

By John Lukacs

 

The days from May 24 to May 28, 1940, altered the course of the history of this century, as the members of the British War Cabinet debated whether to negotiate with or to continue the war against Hitler. 

 

The socialist and novelist, George Orwell, was so inspired by Winston Churchill’s leadership during the nadir of World War II, May 1940- June 1941 that he dedicated his book, Nineteen Eighty- Four, to Winston Churchill. That is, the book’s hero, Winston Smith, in the opening pages of the book, drinks a toast to the past. In essence, Churchill could resolutely face the future defying overwhelming odds, because he understood well the tortuous role of civilization, and the needs of humanity to preserve progress rather than fall into the abyss of a New Dark Ages, abetted by propaganda and pseudo science.

 

As many historians have pointed out, the Soviet Union and the United States won World War II. However, just as important, from May 1940 until June 22, 1941, Great Britain might have contributed even more to the Allied Victory. That is, under the inspired leadership of Winston Churchill, Great Britain did not lose World War II. That is, despite defeatist sentiment held in France, among prominent English leaders, such as Lord Halifax, the British Secretary of State, and the Ambassador to the Court of St. James, Joseph Kennedy, Winston Churchill maintained that for the sake of civilization it was better that Great Britain go down fighting than to capitulate to a triumphant monster, Adolph Hitler.

 

During these critical days, Churchill and the members of the war cabinet were painfully considering their war responsibilities. The fate of some 400,000 British soldiers bottled up in Dunkirk-affected Churchill’s fragile political position, for he had been prime minister only a fortnight and was regarded as impetuous and hotheaded even by many of his own party.

 

What was the key political positions in Great Britain during May 1940?

 

By far, the most important political position in May 1940 was membership in the elite, War Cabinet. The War Cabinet was composed of five men, three conservatives and two members of the Labor Party.

 

The Conservative members of the War Cabinet were Winston Churchill, Neville Chamberlain, and Lord Halifax.

 

Ironically, Churchill’s principal antagonists were Neville Chamberlain, the former Prime Minister and Edward Wood, Lord Halifax, both Conservatives. Churchill’s most adamant supporters were the two Labor Ministers, Clement Atlee and Arthur Greenwood. However, given their recent elevation to the War Cabinet, these Labour Leaders spoke little during the five days of intense negotiation between Lord Halifax and Winston Churchill. 

 

What was the crux of the debate between Churchill and Halifax?

 

Lord Halifax felt strongly that Britain could not possibly win World War II given the immanent capitulation of France and that Hitler would offer better terms to Great Britain in May 1940 than after soundly defeating the British. Churchill felt differently. He believed strongly that civilized nations that lose but put up gallant defenses ultimately revitalize, but that nations who meekly submit to dictatorial adversaries fade into oblivion. Hence, Churchill felt that Britain owed a responsibility to “History” to fight on.

 

Why was Churchill so vulnerable in May 1940?

 

It must be understood that at this time, most Conservatives preferred Lord Halifax over Churchill to be both head of their party and, hence, prime minister. Members of the Labor party uniformly favored Churchill. The alliance between Labor and Churchill was a tenuous one because until 1938 Labor viewed Churchill as a reactionary, who had ruthlessly put down labor strikes in the 1920’s.  

 

However, by 1940, the situation in Great Britain was so tenuous that a national government representing both Labour and Conservatives was formed to forge a common front.  Since Conservatives outnumbered Laborites in Parliament, the resignation of Halifax and Chamberlain from the War Cabinet would have fatally undermined Churchill’s leadership. 

 

Moreover, the summer of 1940 was particularly bleak for Britain. First of all, Belgium and France capitulated, leaving almost the entire European Continent under either the control of the Nazis or the Bolsheviks. Thus, the future of democracy was questionable. Secondly, Britain’s only lifeline was the slim British channel. That is, Hitler could have easily overrun Britain if he could have successfully landed men and arms on the British islands. Thirdly, Roosevelt was carefully weighing his options. That is, Roosevelt really did not know Churchill well and thus was reluctant to provide Britain needed war materials if the British chose to surrender. Moreover, for Roosevelt to provide significant ammunition to Great Britain, he would have undermined his political aspirations for a third term. That is, Roosevelt needed not only the Democratic nomination in June 1940, but also to defeat his Republican opponent in November 1941. Furthermore, many American leaders felt that the United States needed to retain its armaments to protect against the ever-larger military threat from Japan. Lastly, Roosevelt needed to overcome strict arms embargo limitations imposed by Congress that strictly prevented aid to military combatants.

 

What was Halifax’s and Churchill’s Opposition Positions?

 

Halifax was in favor of soliciting German terms for a British surrender. Halifax felt that Britain could get better terms in May 1940 from Hitler than after Hitler defeated Great Britain.

 

Churchill felt that any negotiation with Hitler would lead to the termination of World War II on terms most unfavorable to the future of Europe and civilization. Churchill believed that Britain must remain totally antagonistic to the Nazi menace, otherwise (1) the British people would loose their confidence in the government and (2) the United States would be unwilling to provide meaningful aid to England. Churchill well understood that Roosevelt had meaningful opposition by isolationists to any preferential aide to England for both fear of antagonizing the apparent European winner, the Germans, and also because the United States had limited military supplies.

 

What was ironic about the timing of the crucial debate?

 

The miraculous evacuation of some 400,000 British and French troops from Dunkirk was not known until after the debate terminated.

 

From May 24th- May 28th 1940, Britain took the fateful step of withdrawing their troops from Dunkirk, and therefore explicitly recognizing the defeat of France. Also, the French Government had not formally sued for peace; however, Churchill recognized the defeatism pervading both leaders of the French government and the King of Belgium. On May 28, 1940, Belgium formally surrendered. France wanted Britain to join them in peace talks, while Churchill did not want to be brought down by their failing ally. During World War II, many French leaders violently detested the British for the tepid support of France in May 1940, the British destruction of the French fleet, and the British unwillingness to negotiate alongside of France with Hitler. In fact, during the invasion of North Africa, Frenchmen were willing to fight alongside Americans but not British given their strong anti-British biases.

 

What was Churchill’s major premise?

 

Given the likelihood of English isolation, Churchill’s dogged belief that somehow his country would prevail reflects an incredible leap of faith. Nevertheless, Churchill did strongly believe that civilization depended upon resistance to Germany, irrespective of any sacrifice. His ability to persuade the War Cabinet of the correctness of his views reflects his tremendous intellectual faculties, the support of Labor, and finally the support of Neville Chamberlain.  While no formal vote was taken within the War Cabinet, Churchill would have won four votes to one. After receiving the support of the War Cabinet, Churchill went to the Greater Cabinet. Churchill’s resolution impressed and swayed all of them.  He concluded, “ it was idle to think that, if we tried to make peace now, we should better terms from Germany than if went on and fought it out. The Germans would demand our fleet—our naval bases, and much else. We should become a slave state.”

 

What was the Turning Point in the Debate between Churchill and Halifax?

 

Churchill had remarkable persuasive powers, especially in one on one negotiation.  Churchill on May 27th, took Halifax on private walk, and prevailed about Halifax for the sake of British history to trust Churchill’s judgment. Lord Halifax, despite his defeatist leanings, was a very principled, nationalistic leader who notwithstanding his strong convictions felt that the honorable course was to support Churchill. Moreover, Churchill had assiduously cultivated his longtime enemy Chamberlain since joining the Cabinet in September 1939. An appreciative Chamberlain reciprocated Churchill’s magnanimity. Thus, Halifax was probably outnumbered in the War Cabinet by a margin of four to one.

Churchill’s last ace

 

On May 1928, Churchill gave a rousing speech to his entire Cabinet, and got their full support to pursue a war course against Nazi Germany irrespective of the human costs involved to the British people and their leaders. In essence, death was preferable to subservience.

 

Churchill after getting the support of the entire Cabinet, returned to the War Cabinet.  He represented truthfully that the Cabinet fully supported English continued resistance to Germany.  The War Cabinet including Halifax supported Churchill’s position.

 

Summary

 

In summary, in can be correctly assumed that these five days in May were maybe the most import of our century. Any wavering on the part of England would have led to American abandonment. Instead, over the next few days, the British successfully evacuated Dunkirk, lifting their morale.  For slightly more than twelve months, Britain and members of the Commonwealth alone struggled against Germany.