After some reflection, I felt that the average age of the Ministers who were to form the supreme executive of war direction would be thought too high, and I wrote to Mr. Chamberlain after midnight accordingly:
2.9.39
Aren’t we a very old team? I make out that the six you mentioned to be yesterday aggregate 386 years, or an average of over sixty-four! Only one year short of the Old Age Pension! If however you added Sinclair (49) and Eden (42) the average comes down to 57½.
If the Daily Herald is right that Labour will not come in, we shall certainly have to face a constant stream of criticism, as well as the many disappointments and surprises of which war largely consists. Therefore it seems to me all the more important to have the Liberal Opposition firmly incorporated in our ranks. Eden’s influence with the section of Conservatives who are associated with him, as well as with moderate Liberal elements, also seem to me to be a very necessary reinforcement.
The Poles have now been under heavy attack for thirty hours, and I am much concerned to hear that there is talk in Paris of a further note. I trust you will be able to announce our Joint Declaration of War at latest when Parliament meets this afternoon.
The Bremen will soon be out of the interception zone unless the Admiralty take special measures and the signal is given to-day. This is only a minor point, but it may will be vexatious.
I remain here at your disposal.
I was surprised to hear nothing from Mr. Chamberlain during the whole of September 2, which was a day of intense crisis. . . . I wrote that night as follows to the Prime Minister.
I have not heard anything from you since our talks on Friday, when I understood that I was to serve as our 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 realize 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.
It seems to me that if the Labour Party, and as I gather the Liberal Party, are estranged it will be difficult to form an effective War Government on the limited basis you mentioned. I consider that a further effort should be made to bring in the Liberals, and in addition that the composition and scope of the War Cabinet you discussed with me requires review. There was a feeling to-night in the House that injury had been done to the spirit of national unity by the apparent weakening of our resolve. I do not underrate the difficulties you have with the French; but I trust that we shall now take our decision independently, and thus give our French friends any lead that may be necessary. In order to do this we shall need the strongest and most integral combination that can be formed. I therefore ask that there should be no announcement of the composition of the War Cabinet until we have had a further talk.
As I wrote to you yesterday morning, I hold myself entirely at your disposal, with every desire to aid you in your task.
Winston S. Churchill, The Gathering Storm