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CABINET PAPERS

Complete Classes from the CAB & PREM Series in the Public Record Office

Series Three: CAB 128 & CAB 129 Cabinet Conclusions & Cabinet Memoranda,
1945 and following

Part 1: The Attlee Government, August 1945-October 1951 (CAB 128/ 1-13 & CAB 129/ 1-20)

Part 2: The Attlee Government, August 1945-October 1951 (CAB 128/ 14-22 & CAB 129/ 21-47)

 

BRIEF CHRONOLOGY, 1945-1951

1945
May
War time government ends.

July
General election won by the Labour party; the first time they have gained an overall majority in Parliament .

August
Japan surrenders unconditionally to the Allied Powers.
Truman ends Lend-Lease scheme to Britain.
Keynes sent to US for $6,000 million grant-in-aid; he is offered $3,750 million at 2% interest.

December
UK accepts the US’s financial offer, as well as $234 million from Canada; all the money is spent by mid 1947.

1946
January
Decision taken to begin development of a British atomic programme.

March
The Bank of England is nationalised.

May
National Health Service Act passed.
National Insurance Act is passed, creating a comprehensive Welfare State.
Housing Act.

June
New Towns Act establishes development corporations to oversee construction of new towns.
Launch of East African Groundnuts Scheme.

July
The King David Hotel in Jerusalem is bombed.

August
Civil Aviation is nationalised.
Family Allowance introduced.

1947
January
Cabinet decision taken to begin developmnet of an independent British nuclear weapons programme.
Lord Mountbatten appointed Viceroy of India to oversee transition to independence.

March
Truman Doctrine.
National Service Bill introduced 18 month call-up period.
Coal mines nationalised; the National Coal Board is created.
Town and Country Planing Act passed.
Formation of Committee for Economic Cooperation.

June
Marshall plan announced by US government

July
Economic Planning Council, headed by Sir Edwin Plowden, established.
Convertability of Sterling introduced.

August
Government halts convertbility in attempt to ease the growing balance-of-payments crisis.
India and Pakistan gain independence

October
GATT established.

1948
January
Burma gains independence

February
Federation of Malay proclaimed
Ceylon gains independence

March
The Brussels Treaty signed.

May
State of Israel proclaimed

June
The Soviet Blockade of Berlin prompts the Berlin Airlift.
Rail, Bus, Underground, road and electricity nationalisations.
US Marshall Aid begins.
Improving economic situation.
Communist insurgency leads to state of emergency being declared in Malay.

July
End of potato and bread rationing
Criminal Justice Act introduced.
National Assistance Act replaces Poor Law provision with cash payments.

1949
January
National Service Bill comes into affect.
US recession hits British economy, Sterling crisis forces devaluation of the pound by 30%.

March
End of all cloths and textile rationing.

April
NATO created.
Fully independent Irish Republic created, Ireland withdraws from the Commonwealth.

May
End of Soviet Blockade and the Berlin Airlift.
Housing Act.

September
Council of Europe inaugurated at Strasbourg.
Dock strike
Communist victory in China
Ceylon becomes a self governing member of the Commonwealth.
Collapse of East African Groundnuts Scheme.
Commonwealth Premiers’ Conference establishes British Commonwealth with the King as its figurehead.

1950
February
General Election won by the Labour Party, but with a reduced majority (6 seats).

May
Plans for European Coal and Steel Community (Schuman Plan) announced.

June
Korean War begins.

September
Meeting in New York of British, French and German foreign ministers to discuss German situation.
The Government announces large re-armament programme of £3,600 million over 3 years.

November
Chinese ‘volunteers’ enter Korea to aid the North.

1951
January
Eisenhower appointed supreme commander of NATO.
Iron and Steel nationalisation.

April
Treaty of Paris, ratifying European Coal and Steel Community, is signed.
Festival of Britain opens in London.
Dr Mussadiq nationalises the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company.
Gaitskell’s first budget raises taxes to pay for re-armament; introduction of NHS charges leads to resignation of Wilson, Bevan and Freeman.

May
The Foreign Office spies Burgess and Maclean escape to the Soviet Union.

September
Japanese Peace Treaty signed, occupation ended.
Balance-of-payments crisis

October
Parliament is dissolved.
British High Commissioner in Malay killed by communist insurgents.
The Labour Party loses the general election (despite winning a majority of the total votes cast); Churchill becomes Prime Minister of the new Conservative adminstration with a majority of only 15 seats.

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