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THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT).
TO BE KEPT UNDER LOCK AND KEY.
SECRET.
C.O.S.(40) 467 (J.P.)
(Also Paper No.
J.P.(40) 244
It is requested that special care may be taken to
ensure the secrecy of this decument.
15TH JUNE. 1940.
116
2'7
COPY NO.
WAR CABINET.
CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE.
DIRECTIVE TO LIEUTENANT-GENERAL BOURNE.
Report by the Joint Planning Sub-Committee submitting a
draft directive.
Ø
We have been instructed to prepare, in consultation with General Bourne, a draft directive for the Commander Offensive Operations. We have studied the views of the Prime Minister and the discussion and conclusions of the Chiefs of Staff at their meeting.
2.
The Prime Minister has ordered that offensive operations should be directed against the coasts in enemy occupation from Norway to France. The attached draft directive covers these operations.
3.
In our discussions we found it necessary to make a clear distinction between raiding operations and combined operations to capture and hold important localities.
For both types of operations similar equipment and to some extent similar methods of training are required. It is desirable that there should be one authority, who can advise on the technical training of troops for such operations and who would be responsible for the development of design of equipment and for advice as to production and allotment.
4.
*
We have recommended that certain operations should be undertaken against the Azores and Cape Verde Islands (we have mentioned the troops required for their capture in paragraph 10 of the draft directive), and we do not doubt that other similar operations will be required in the future.
Although it is essential that, when a commander is appointed for any combined operation, he should be solely responsible for its planning and execution, the existence of a permanent expert organisation, to act in an advisory capacity, would prove of consideration value.
6 C.O.S.(40) 179th Meeting, Minute 2.
* Paper No. C.O.S.(40) 465 (J.P.).
467
(J.P.)
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