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TO BE KEPT UNDER LOCK AND KEY.
It is requested that special care may be taken to ensure the secrecy of this document.
258
(THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT),
SECRET.
This document was considered at Co.(+1) 34 Meeting.
C.O.S. (41) 56.
24TH JANUARY, 1941.
WAR CABINET.
CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEÉ.
COPY NO.
33
1.
SUPPLY OF AIRCRAFT TO EIRE.
Memorandum by Vice Chief of the Air Staff,
It will be remembered that the Prime Minister, on the 18th December, 1940, approved our proposal that supplies of equipment included in a list forwarded by the High Commissioner for Eire on 19th November, 1940, should be withheld for the time being.
The items included in the list were confined to equipment supplied by the Ministry of Supply, i.e. guns, rifles, ammunition, etc. There was at the time no reference to the supply of aircraft but the arguments advanced for withholding the supply of other equipment would apply also to aircraft.
2.
The High Commissioner for Eire on the 24th December, 1940, asked for the following aircraft to be supplied to Eire:-
10 advanced training aircraft
13 fighter aircraft
3 target towing apparatus
"Harvard" type
"Hurricane" type
"Battle" type
supplying
Our own supply position would not permit our any of these types of aircraft and apparatus even if the present ruling of withholding supplies were lifted. In view, however, of the increasingly helpful attitude of Colone: Mulcahy, the Officer Commanding the Eire Air Force, we would however, like to make some contribution to the Eire Air Force in order to maintain the present improved atmosphere,
*
Annex I to C.0.S.(40) 1048.
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