Norway Debate

• 1. Origins Of The Norwegian Campaign

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  In September 1937, Neville Chamberlain became prime minister of a National Government dominated by Conservatives. He succeeded Stanley Baldwin after years of political maneuvering within the British establishment. By March 1938, his policy of appeasement culminated in the Munich Agreement with Nazi Germany. This diplomatic strategy collapsed when Hitler occupied Czechoslovakia in March 1939. Two days later, on the 1st of September 1939, Germany invaded Poland and triggered the Second World War. Britain declared war on Germany two days after that invasion. Chamberlain appointed Winston Churchill as First Lord of the Admiralty to lead naval operations. A sustained period of military inactivity followed for over six months, known as the Phoney War. On the 3rd of April 1940, Chamberlain stated publicly that Adolf Hitler had missed the bus regarding German aggression. Just six days later, on the 9th of April, Germany launched an overwhelming attack on neutral Norway. They swiftly occupied Denmark before moving against their northern neighbor. Britain deployed forces to assist the Norwegians but faced poor planning and inadequate supplies. From the 27th of April onwards, Anglo-French forces were forced to evacuate central and southern Norway. The campaign ended in failure despite some naval victories at Narvik.

• 2. The First Day Of Dissent

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  On Tuesday, the 7th of May 1940, the House of Commons sat at 14:45 under Speaker Edward FitzRoy. Captain David Margesson made the adjournment motion to open a wide-ranging discussion on the conduct of the war. Chamberlain rose to make his opening statement five hours into the session. He reminded the House that British forces had withdrawn from Åndalsnes and Namsos to complete the evacuation. He claimed soldiers were superior man for man to their foes yet acknowledged exposure to superior equipment. Interruptions began immediately when Labour member Ben Smith shouted And abroad. An unnamed member added All over the world. Chamberlain sarcastically responded that ministers must be expected to be blamed for everything. This provoked heated reactions with members shouting They missed the bus throughout his speech. Liberal MP Henry Morris-Jones described Chamberlain as looking like a shattered man speaking without self-assurance. Leo Amery noted the House was left in a restive and depressed state of mind. Clement Attlee responded as Leader of the Opposition by quoting recent confident assertions about victory. He argued that government planning had generated widespread disappointment given the level of confidence created. Attlee raised the issue of incompetence without blaming Churchill directly. He stated that ministers had painted far too optimistic a picture of the campaign. The debate shifted focus from military operations to the entire war effort.

• 3. Keyes And Amery Turn The Tide

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  Admiral of the Fleet Sir Roger Keyes arrived in the chamber wearing gold braid and six rows of medal ribbons. He squeezed into a bench behind diarist Harold Nicolson who passed him a note about Wedgwood's remark. Keyes asked to speak next claiming the honor of the navy was at stake. He denounced a previous comment as a damned insult before turning his guns on Chamberlain. Keyes spoke mostly on naval operations particularly the abortive attempts to retake Trondheim. He told the House that the Admiralty had failed to utilize Churchill's great abilities properly. When he finished at 19:30, the House gave thunderous applause. Nicolson wrote that this speech transformed an ordinary debate into a tremendous conflict of wills. Leo Amery began speaking at 20:03 after waiting several hours for the Speaker's attention. Only a dozen members remained when he started but the chamber filled rapidly during his address. Edward Spears thought Amery was hurling huge stones at the government glasshouse with deafening explosions. Amery criticized planning failures despite intelligence warnings of German intervention. He called for a real National Government involving the Trades Union Congress. Chamberlain sat on a glum and anxious front bench listening to the conclusion. Amery delivered the final words in a near whisper pointing directly at Chamberlain. He said In the name of God go! The opponents cheered while Lloyd George later called it the most dramatic climax heard in Parliament.

• 4. Lloyd Georges Final Assault

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  David Lloyd George rose at 18:10 to deliver what would be his last major contribution to parliamentary debate. At 77 years old, he spoke in a chamber where he had sat for fifty years. Personal animosity existed between him and Chamberlain regarding their political histories. Lloyd George dismissed Hoare's entire speech in a single sentence before attacking campaign conduct. He argued Britain faced the worst strategic position ever placed due to foreign policy failures. He reviewed events from the 1938 Munich Agreement onwards to demonstrate this decline. British prestige had been greatly impaired especially in America according to his assessment. Before Norway, Americans believed Allies would win but now they feared democracy needed defense. He criticized pre-war rearmament rates and current progress as insufficient for total war. Churchill intervened briefly stating he did not think the First Lord was entirely responsible for all things. Lloyd George retorted with a brilliant metaphor about the government's handling of affairs. He turned fire onto Chamberlain personally demanding resignation. Chamberlain stood leaning over the despatch box and demanded an explanation. Lloyd George responded that Chamberlain should sacrifice the seals of office immediately. Silence fell upon the chamber as one observer noted all frustrations of eight months were released. Chamberlain told a friend two days later he had never heard anything like it in Parliament.

• 5. Churchills Defensive Summary

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  Winston Churchill began his summary at 22:11 marking the first time in eleven years he wound up a debate for the government. Many members believed this was the most difficult speech of his career because he had to defend a reverse without damaging his own prestige. Nicolson described how Churchill said not one word against Chamberlain's government yet created the impression of being nothing to do with them. The first part addressed the Norwegian campaign while the second dealt with the vote of censure. Churchill defended naval operations robustly though omitting details about blocking Narvik with a minefield. He explained that even successful use of battleships put ships at risk from many hazards. Had any come to pass, the operation would have been condemned as foolhardy instead of hailed. He attacked critics by deploring what he called a cataract of unworthy suggestions and actual falsehoods. An intervention by Arthur Greenwood regarding delays at Trondheim led to a general uproar. Labour MP Manny Shinwell demanded withdrawal of the word skulks which Churchill defiantly refused to retract. He added that the House must know the truth regardless of interruptions. Catcalls came from both sides of the House creating chaos likened to Bedlam by Chips Channon. Hugh Dalton wrote that riot developed towards the end of the speech despite Churchill's skill.

• 6. The Vote Of No Confidence

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  At 23:00 the Speaker rose to put the question that this House do now adjourn. Only 481 members voted out of an estimated 550 present when the division was called. The government won 281 votes against 200 but its majority reduced to just 81. Forty-one members who normally supported the government voted with the Opposition while another sixty Conservatives abstained deliberately. This reversal devastated Chamberlain who left the chamber pale and grim. Chips Channon shouted Quislings and Rats at rebels who replied with taunts of Yes-men. Josiah Wedgwood led singing of Rule Britannia joined by Conservative rebel Harold Macmillan. Amery, Keyes, Macmillan and Boothby were among those voting with Labour. Nancy Astor and John Profumo also defied the three-line whip. Duncan Sandys abstained while Brendan Bracken followed Churchill's example rather than his interest. Colville noted in his diary that reconstruction of the Cabinet was necessary after the shock received. Jenkins stated that such a majority would be sustainable in most circumstances but not when Britain was losing the war. Unity and leadership were obviously lacking during these critical moments.

• 7. Resignation And Coalition Formation

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  On the 9th of May and the 10th of May Chamberlain attempted to form a coalition government with Labour and Liberal participation. Both parties indicated unwillingness to serve under him but said they might join if another Conservative became prime minister. Germany began its western offensive on the morning of the 10th of May forcing immediate decisions. After receiving final confirmation from Labour requiring his resignation, Chamberlain decided to stand down. He advised the King to send for Winston Churchill as successor. Churchill formed a coalition government gaining support from both Labour and Liberals. His initial war cabinet consisted of himself Attlee Greenwood Chamberlain and Halifax. The coalition lasted until defeat of Nazi Germany in May 1945. On the 23rd of May 1945 Labour left the coalition to begin their general election campaign. Churchill resigned as prime minister then formed a caretaker ministry until July elections. This new ministry held office for two months before being replaced by the first Attlee ministry after Labour's victory. The Norway Debate transformed British history over the next five years according to Roy Jenkins.