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(THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJECTY'S GOVERNMENT).
TO BE KEPT UNDER LOCK & KEY, it is requested that special care may be taken to
ensure the secrecy of this document.
SECRET.
C.O.S.(40) 831.
(also A.D.A.(40) 3).
14th OCTOBER, 1940.
185
C.L.
COPY NO. 2
29
}
WAR CABINET.
CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE.
ANGLO-DUTCH-AMERICAN TECHNICAL CONVERSATIONS.
Note by the Secretary.
The Service representatives appointed to undertake the technical conversations with the Dutch and the Americans met to-day to consider their future procedure in the light of Foreign Office Telograms Nos. 2241 and 2265 from Washington and the conclusions reached by the Chiefs of Staff at thoir Meeting on the 12th October, 1940.
It would appear that a mere interchange of information without any consideration of possible joint plans would be of little value. The British representatives therefore assume that they should approach the Dutch representatives and Admiral Ghormley with the proposal that conversations should be carried out on the hypothetical basis of a war between Japan, Germany and Italy on the one hand and U.S.A., the Netherlands and Great Britain on the other. There is 'some reason to suppose that Admiral Ghormloy will be propared to discuss matters on a hypothetical basis of this kind, at any rate on naval aspects, and this would form a starting point for more comprehensive discussions in Washington.
If the Chiefs of Staff approve this proposal, the British representatives would require a brief to guide them in the subsequent discussions somewhat on the lines of the telegram despatched to the Commanders-in-Chief in the Far East, (C.O.Š. (40) 815 (Revise) Annex), adjusted as necessary to take account of the slightly different nature of the talks. It is suggested that the Joint Planning staff should prepare this brief and in anticipation of the approval of the Chiefs of Staff, the matter has been referred to them for action.
The British representativos observe that the telegram to Commanders-in-Chief in the Far East referred to in the last paragraph has been despatched but has not been followed up as yet with a telegran telling them that
They the full conversations envisaged are in abeyance. suggest that such a telcgram should now be sent and that Commanders-in-Chief should also be informed that an approach is being made to the Dutch Government to agrec to an exchange of information at home and at Singapore.
32 C.0.S.(40) 547th Meeting, Minute 5.
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831
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