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TO BE KEPT UNDER LOCK AND KEY.
requested that special care may be taken to ensure the secrecy of this document.
THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT.
This documt was considered at c.0.5(4) 419 Meeting.
SECRET.
C.0.S.(41) 737.
11TH DECEMBER, 1941.
WAR CABINET.
CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE.
33
COPY NO.
216
ST. PIERRE AND MIQUELON.
Note by Secretary.
The Prime Minister's reference to the Chiefs of Staff was referred in the first instance to the Committee on Foreign (Allied) Resistance, and the following is an extract of the conclusions* of the meeting of this Committee on the subject:-
"THE COMMITTEE:
(i) Agreed that the present Canadian proposal to send
six marines to oversee the work of the Cable and Wireless Station would not provide the essential security.
(ii) Agreed that, apart from the dilemma created by the recent request to the Canadian Government not to break off diplomatic relations with Vichy, the soundest solution would be to permit Admiral Muselier to rally the Islands to the Free French.
(iii) Instructed the Secretary to convey the Committee's
views to the Chiefs of Staff with a strong recommendation that, if it were not found possible at present, to permit the rallying of the Islands to the Free French, it should be represented to the Canadian Government that their present proposals regarding the Cable and Wireless Station were unsatisfactory, and that nothing short of a complete taking over of the Cable and Wireless Station by British personnel would afford the necessary security to our convoys, or prevent a
leak of other information from America to the Axis."
It is suggested that this question should be considered by the Vice Chiefs of Staff at their meeting to-morrow afternoon, Friday, 12th December.
Great George Street, S. W. 1.
11TH DECEMBER, 1941.
(Signed) L. C. HOLLIS.
تھ
C.o. S. (41) 724.
*
C. F.R. (41) 65th Meeting, Minute 2.
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737
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