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(THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT
TO BE KEPT UNDER LOCK AND KEY.
It is requested that special care may be taken to ensure the secrecy of this document.
SECRET.
c.o.s.(40) 487 (J.P.)
Also Paper No. J.P. (40) 274).
24TH JUNE 1940.
WAR
CABINET.
CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE.
COPY NO. 277
PLANS TO MEET A GERMAN INVASION OF EIRE.
Report by the Joint Planning Sub-Committee.
258
On the 22nd June we submitted a Draft Directive to the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief who, in accordance with the decisions of the Defence Organisation Committee ← is being appointed to command all the British troops who may be called upon to operate in Ireland.
2.
In this directive, it was proposed (paragraph 14) that the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief should be responsible for all planning in connection with operations in Ireland. The General Officer Commanding-in-Chief was, however, informed (paragraph 15) that an examination of the ports in Eire and the factors affecting the rapid move of forces from the United Kingdom, including the question as to whether any division allotted to him should move to Northern Ireland, was being carried out by the Service Staffs.
3.
This examination has now been carried out by the Inter-Service Planning Staffs and we attach their report, which brings to light two main problems:-
(a) The question as to whether any division ear.
marked for Ireland should be held in the United Kingdom or Northern Ireland.
(b) The necessity for making available troops not only for Eire but for other operations such as Cape Verde Islands and Azores.
C.O.S.(40) 479 (J.P.)
A D.0.(40) 18th Meeting, Minute 2.
Appendix.
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487 (J.P.)
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