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THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT).
SECRET.
TO BE KEPT UNDER LOCK AND KEY.
It is requested that special care may be taken to ensure the secrecy of this document.
C.0.S.(40) 473 (J.P.)
Also Paper No.
J.P.(40) 252).
2
COPY NO.
2
17TH JUNE, 1940.
WAR CABINET.
CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE.
EIRE.
Report by the Joint Planning Sub-Committee.
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1.
Now that French resistance has definitely collapsed we must expect with absolute certainty a ruthless assault on this country; and in our view it is almost a foregone conclusion that, simultaneously with air attack, and perhaps also seaborne invasion on our East and South Coasts, we shall be faced with a Nazi descent upon Eire. We know there are very large numbers of Germans in Spain, and accumulations of shipping in Vigo and other ports. There are indications of an expedition being assembled in Norwegian ports. There is reason to think that German aircraft have been to Eire within the last few days. It would clearly be folly to ignore the very real possibility of a simultaneous descent from the North and South simultaneously, combined with the landing of airborne troops and a rebellion by the I.R.A.
2.
It is unnecessary to elaborate the dangers of such a development, which would be a deadly threat to our Western ports and to our life-line to the Americas,
3.
Meanwhile we have one semi-trained and semi-equipped division, a few Air Force training establishments and a squadron of obsolete G.R. aircraft in Northern Ireland. We have recently sent Air and Army Attaches to Dublin and have held some hasty and surreptitious "Staff Conversations". We believe it to be no exaggeration to say that, if in present circumstances the Germans were to descend upon Eire simultaneously with an attack on this country, neither we nor the Irish army could do anything effective to stop them.
4.
Mr. de Valera's Government are frightened, and we have to-day a contact with them which ineffective for military purposes
while all too for twenty years.
is closer than anything The all party rally in Dublin on 16th June showed that they are at last waking up to the dangers of the position. But it is vain to imagine that there can be any security for Eire or for the United Kingdom unless the two get together and make proper arrangements, which include the presence of British or Dominion troops ar air forces in Eire, and of H. M. Ships in Irish ports.
473 (J.P.)
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