10th January 1938
The wireless was an unwelcome distraction. “...as pressure continues to mount for the Foreign Secretary to resign, the Prime Minister, the Right Honorable Clement Atlee spoke today of the need for Britain to remain focused on clear goals, especially of domestic affairs. The Prime Minister did not speculate at the future of Mr Eden, however it is widely expected that the Foreign Secretary will announce his resignation during the session in the House of Commons today. That is the news. We now return you to our program The Year that Was 1937...”
“Turn that off please.” Mr Eden said in a worn voice. “They are right. This is it. Before the house today, I shall lay myself bare. One would think a quiet few years on the back benches will be my punishment, or worse still a peerage, but I doubt that I would be inflicted with such an awful appendage. It is the way of the world, but damn it I must take the French bullet.”
The Prime Minister tried to appear sympathetic, but it was of little comfort. “I'm sorry Anthony. But the French took us by surprise on this. I have had a private conversation with the French Prime Minister, and he regrets what has happened, but in his words, it was necessary action for France to take. I suppose this will be your last cabinet as Foreign Secretary. A great shame.”
Eden scrunched his nose up at the idea. 'One day, I'll be conducting the cabinet meetings from the Prime Minister's chair.' He murmured. “I shall brief the cabinet, announce my resignation, then in the house announce it publicly. By the end of the afternoon, I shall be no longer the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom.”
The morning had lasted an eternity, every minute seemed as if an hour. There was polite quiet in the cabinet room, as Mr Eden was the last to enter. For although the resignation of a Foreign Secretary was not uncommon, as head of the parliamentary One Nation Party, the loss of the Foreign Office was a bitter blow, and amongst the hastily formed ranks, loyalty was not always clear or guaranteed, and with Chamberlain making constant incursions, it was an uncertain time to be a member of One Nation.
“Fellow members of the cabinet. As you are no doubt aware, and have read in every newspaper since December, that French land and air forces have been involved in Spain. This was a tremendous and unexpected event, as the analysts at the War Office in conjunction with the Foreign Office place not very high praise on the French army, and in some ways this has become apparent. The French have been slogging South since December, but their military forces are not exactly up to scratch and are successful far below what was expected. We can only assume that this will highlight, in front of the world, the inadequacies of the French army. In combination with the Republican forces, they are squeezing the rebels between them; they haven't taken Madrid as such, but its a slow and dirty process. They are advancing on all fronts, but this has had a noticeable affect on the reactions in both Rome and Berlin. This is more dangerous than anything that could transpire of the French action.”
The French and Spanish Government Advance.
The Foreign Secretary paused for a moment. There was total silence, save for the distant rumblings of a busy and unconcerned city. “Rome will be the first concern. Mussolini is a wily devil, and our intelligence shows that the presence of Italy in Spain has significantly declined, whilst naval intelligence suggests that Italian supplies have been significantly wound down since France became directly involved. What the ultimate aim of this is, we are not sure, however, we cannot under no justification make a concession or a deal with this territorially demanding dictator. Rome has remained quiet on this largely like us. From my impressions, it came as much of as a surprise to them as it did to us. However, we now come to Berlin, who to be blunt, has done the exact opposite. Although we are not privy to the diplomatic communications between Germany and France, we understand that terse words were exchanged between the German and French diplomatic services. We understand that Herr Hitler flew into some sort of rage at the news. We have seen, a determined effort on the part of Germany to increase the supply of military and other material to the rebels. It would appear that Herr Hitler appears to be going all in with the rebels. However the considered opinion is that he will come up short. It should be further noted that this will keep his attention focused on Spain for some time, so that his mind cannot wander to other things, his eyes keep focusing on Czechoslovakia, that will undoubtedly surface at some point on the horizon.”
He once again paused. He placed his papers down on the long table that the cabinet sat around. He spoke again, afresh and determined as ever. “The action of the French will undoubtedly make Herr Hitler more willing to undertake expansionist foreign policy in the near future, and we must stand firm against it, we must stand firm against the dictators.” He paused, as if contemplating the future – for indeed through his mind was running scenarios of the future. “You are no doubt aware that there has been tremendous pressure for my resignation over the mess with the French action, and our position and a host of other issues. I spoke to the Prime Minister this morning, and gave him my letter of resignation, which would be effective as of this evening, after my announcement in the House this afternoon.”
Mr Eden sat down quietly, dejected that another jaunt in the cabinet was coming to an end. However as the cabinet continued discussing mostly home affairs and government business, Mr Eden became increasingly disconnected with the affairs of state. As the clock ticked by, the cabinet broke for a short break. Mr Eden said a few short words to the Prime Minister and left abruptly, the words between the Prime Minister and Mr Eden remain undiscussed.
The next order of business was the military looming review of defenses. It would fall to Mr MacMillan to conduct it, along with the summery of events in Spain. “It has proved to b quite an interesting exercise the French involvement in Spain. However starting with what we have gathered from the government forces movements, they have pushed northwards, though it has been very heavy going, whilst Madrid is being fought for, Franco is throwing everything his reserves into Madrid, at the expense of stopping the tide from the North. The rebels simply don't have enough to stop an entire French Army have crashing down on them, and its just delaying the inevitable. The French tanks are practically on the outskirts of Barcelona, and have penetrated deeply elsewhere. However as much as this is a military victory, the political situation is less than satisfactory. There are various elements on the government side that would just as much like to try and seize power as the rebels did, there are Anarchists and Bolsheviks and a whole host of elements that would like to see Spain become far more left leaning. Further we know that large stocks of Russian weapons, including tanks and aeroplanes are in Spain, as well as Russian intelligence services. The considered opinion at the War Office is that once the rebels are destroyed, the fighting won't end. Spain will be chronically unstable and French forces may remain there for some time. However, the French are not merely walking over the frontier, they are having to fight for it, and there have been some set backs as the Foreign Secretary noted.”
“How does this affect the armed forces in size, use and budget?” Mr Dalton, the Chancellor of the Exchequer lamented.
“It changes little. The current defense plans are such to maintain the focus on the Royal Navy and the maintenance of a top rate air force. The radio detection network is progressing well as are the various hulls that have been laid down of late. The army as we are no doubt aware, is tied up in Ireland and Palestine, which is why a solution for that island needs to be found, be it in some form that we can bring most, if not all of those divisions back. Every day there are new attacks, the rebellion in the South is reaching a critical point, and soon I fear, that the military sustainability in both cost and lives will warrant a political solution to this widening military problem. The same can said about Palestine. The Zionist contingent in Palestine is going mad over the green paper for Palestine that has been floating about and the sooner we get a political grip on the situation, the better it will be militarily.”
There was a slight pause. “Thank you secretary of state for war.”
Palestine – Unwanted distractions from Europe.
The air was clean and fresh, a little to cool for some, but bearable for others. “You see Winston, it is as much as separating the head from the body, which has become polluted by socialist tendencies. Winston, Anthony is a good man, but has been corrupted by his advisor's seeking to promote their own causes, when there is only one cause, that both you and I know to be true.” Mr chamberlain said, taking a sip of port.
Mr Churchill, whilst smoking a fat cigar looked determined as ever. “Neville, what we believe to be true, we cannot deny from our very cause as Englishmen. I only serve my King and my Country and Empire, even if it required – the ultimate sacrifice. Young Anthony has been corrupted, but he commands good men and fights for what he believes, and I must admire that in the man.”
Mr Chamberlain seemed calm, yet stirring. “Winston, for the good of the country, in a little time perhaps, we can stride forward together into government. As we previously discussed, should we form a government you can anything you want, and when the time comes, I consider you a candidate for the highest office.”
Mr Churchill – dreams for high office.
Mr Churchill fed off the praise and charm. “Thank you Neville.”
“I know you command great respect on both the back benches and in the country. Winston, support me, that is support the country, and we can do anything. We can change Britain for the better, put an end to the injustices and the wrongs that have been purported by the socialists in government now. I think we understand each other.”
Winston relax, and nodded his head, the fat cigar bobbing up and down sprinkling a light covering of ash onto his waistcoat. “I hear that Duff-Cooper is about to jump ship.”
Mr Chamberlain leaned forward. Not just yet. When the time is right, he has been
promised the Foreign Office. His ideas about foreign policy are what we would expect. He is not the only one Winston. He is not the only one, and soon, Anthony will have little choice. See the light of day and reality or fade away into oblivion, after all a man cannot hope to be Prime Minister without a party.” He said with slight discord. “Winston, with your support, we can govern properly once more, and do the right thing for Britain.”
