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(41)
This document was considered at Co.) 23 Meeting,
(THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS LRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT)'
TO BE KEPT UNDER LOCK & KEY.
It is requested that special care may be taken to
ensure the sucrecy of this document.
33 CR 3 T.
C.0.S. (41) 41.
17TH JANUARY, 1941.
WAR CABINET.
CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE,
477
COPY NO.
YUGOSLAVIA: SUPPLY OF CAPTURED WAR
MATERIAL.
Note by Secretary
+
The attached letter from Foreign Office is circulated for consideration.
Great George Street, S.W.1.
17TH JANUARY, 1941.
(R 368/368/G).
*
*
班
+ Annex.
(Signed)
A.D. NICHOLL.
Acting Secretary.
ANNEX.
One of our people in Yugoslavia has been asked very confidentially by Colonel Kojitch, an ex-Cabinet Minister said to be in close touch with the Minister of War, whether any of the captured Italian war material could be made available for the Yugoslav army.
It was pointed out to Kojitch at the time that, should this be found possible, it would necessitate some sort of guarantee that Yugoslavia would defend her integrity.
It has been represented to us that this seems to offer a good chance to get into close touch with Pesitch; that further discussions might give us a real insight into what the army, as opposed to the Government intend to do; and that it might possibly lead to the equivalent of secret staff talks.
We are, however, somewhat doubtful of the utility of following up this approach. The first charge on captured Italian war material must surely be for the Greeks, and we do not know whether there would be any to spare for the Yugoslavs. We do not think, moreover, that the offer would really have the effect of encouraging the Yugoslavs to stiffen their attitude towards Germany nor do we quite see how the proposal would lead to establishing closer relations with the new Minister of War. We could, however, put the question to our Minister at Belgrade, subject to the views of the Chiefs of Staff with particular reference to the question whether we should be in a position to offer the Yugoslavs captured Italian material after making ample allowance for Greek requirements.
*
练
*
(Signed)
PHILIP NICHOLS.
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