Page 123
Page 123
TO BE KEPT UNDER LOCK AND KEY.
It is requested that special care may be taken to Ansum the sareey of this document,
Ji 92
THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT.
This doc was considered at 2.0.8(4)402" Meeting.
SECRET.
C. O. S. (41) 705.
28TH NOVEMBER, 1941.
WAR CABINET.
Page 123
705
COPY NO.
CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE.
ASSISTANCE TO YUGOSLAVIA.
Note by the Secretary.
On 27th November the Foreign Secretary informed the War Cabinet that the dispute between the two parties taking part in the Yugoslav revolt had now been settled and that it was of the utmost importance to take more practical steps to furnish the patriots with supplies. He was invited to take
up the matter with the Chiefs of Staff.
2.
On 28th November the attached Minute from the Foreign Office was mentioned orally to the Chiefs of Staff. It will he recalled that in discussion it was felt that no aircraft could be spared from the operations in Libya to drop supplies to the Yugoslavs.
3.
Since then it has been learned that the Foreign Secretary has sent a message to General Simovitch saying that we will give what help we can in the immediate future. The Foreign Office were also proposing to inform Colonel Mihailovic and the Soviet Government accordingly and to ask the latter to impress on the Yugoslav communists the need for unity.
+
The Commanders-in-Chief in the Middle East were informed on 7th November that our policy should be to do our utmost to provide the Yugoslav rebels with the supplies necessary to maintain movement in the hills. On 17th November a further telegram was sent to the Middle East recognising that so long as virtual civil war amongst the patriots continued it was very difficult to send supplies.
5.
It is for consideration whether the Chiefs of Staff should now send a telegram to the Commanders-in-Chief, Middle East instructing them to divert one or two aircraft for the purpose of dropping supplies to Yugoslavia or whether the Foreign office should be informed that no aircraft could be spared until operations in Libya were over.
(Signed) L. C. HOLLIS.
Great George Street, S. W. 1.
28TH NOVEMBER, 1941.
WM. (41) 120th Conclusions, Minute 6. Annex.
+ C.O. S. Telegram No. 197.
C.O. S. Telegram No. 202.
- 1 -
Page 123
Page 123