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THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERЯment
TO BE KEPT UNDER LOCK AND KEY.
It is requested that special care may be taken to ensure the secrecy of this document.
SECRET.
C.O.S. (40)230.
30
COPY NO.
34
WAR CABINET.
CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE.
HOSTILITIES, WITH RUSSIA.
(Reference: C.0.s. (40) 24th Conclusions,
Minute 2)
Note by Secretary.
At a Meeting of the Chiefs of Staff Sub- Committee held on 6th February, 1940* which, in the absence of the Chiefs of Staff, was attended by the Deputy Chief of the Imperial General Staff, the Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff and the Director-General of Operations, Air Ministry, the implications of possible hostilities with Russia
were discussed.
There was general agreement on the following
points:-
(a) Any examination of the implications of
war with Russia must be related to our main object the defeat of Germany.
(b) It would be a mistake to over estimate the
possible Russian threat to Allied interests. The more commitments Russia undertakes the quicker she is likely to collapse..
(c) It seemed unnecessary for the Joint Planning
Sub-Committee to consider the advantages and disadvantages of going to war with Russia since this was mainly a political question. It was more a matter of presenting a picture of the action which the Allies might take against Russia and the action which Russia might take against the Allies.
* C.0.S.(40) 24th Conclusions, Minute 2.
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