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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.
293
SECRET.
C.0. S. (40)490.
25TH JUNE, 1940.
COPY NO.
37
WAR CABINET.
CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE.
HOME DEFENCE.
Note by the Secretary.
The following letter has been written by Lord Hankey
to General Ismay and is circulated for the consideration of the Chiefs of Staff.
(Signed) L. C. HOLLIS.
Richmond Terrace, S.W.1.,
25TH JUNE, 1940.
X X X
ENCLOSURE.
On the P.0. G. Committee we have lately been reviewing once more the question of whether attacks on Gurman oil offer the best possible target. I think we shall establish that oil is still a good target. But as a Minister I have to consider whether in the present emergency, and viewing the situation as a whole, it has a right to priority. This has led me inevitably into examining the situation from a wider point of view in order to get my ideas into proper perspective.
The first result of my reflections is that at the present moment, and for the next few months, Home Defence is the most immediate problem. I do not think that oil targets should have first priority unless it is established that our bombers cannot be employed more usefully for operations in connection with Home Defence. And that brings up at once the role of the different Forces, of which the bombers form a part, in Home Defence. It is on that that I wish to consult you.
I have read a number of reports and appreciations on Home Defence, but (possibly through my own fault) I have not a very clear idea as to what the official view is on the roles of the various forces.
My personal impressions based on some study of the subject are that they should be somewhat as follows:-
The first duty of the Air Force in the present stage and probably in later stages is
(i) reconnaissance, more reconnaissance, and even more
reconnaissance in order to discover assemblies of shipping, or of troops along the coast
or of aeroplane carriers and other aircraft for attacks on our shores.
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