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4.
command of General Gamelin, it would be necessary; in order not unduly to restrict his discretion in its employmont, to agree to its subordination, if General Gamolin so desires, either to the Commander- in-Chief in France (if appointed) or to the Commander of the French "Army of the North-East".
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This Report was approved by the Committee of Imperial Defence in the following torns which were repeated verbatim by the United Kingdom Delegation at the Staff Conversations when communicating the decision in writing to their Fronch
colleagues:-
5.
#1
The arrangements for the Command of the British Field Force, when operating on the Continent, should be based on the subordination of its Commandor to the French Commander-in-Chief, on the understanding that the Commander of the British Field Force will be at liberty to appeal to his own Government before executing any order which appears to him to imperil the British Army.
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This proposal was agreed to by the French Delegation on the 28th August, 1939.
6.
I the wocks immediately preceding the outbreak of war, the French had not decided the exact organisation which
It was they would adopt for their Higher Command in France. generally thought that there would be a Commander-in-Chief of the Armies of the North-East, who would be General Georges; and it was understood that the British Expeditionary Force, in the early stages of the war, would be under his Command. The only confirmation of this is a notc from our Military Attacho in Paris dated 3rd September, 1939, written after discussion with General Dentz (thon Doputy Chief of Staff at the Ministero de la Guerre). In this note, there was a diagram which showed Gonoral Georges as commanding the North East Theatro, and it was stated :-
"The British Field Force will come directly under
the orders of General Georges."
7.
This view was in accord with that formed by the War Office as a result of discussions with the French Staff prior to the outbreak of war which was reflected in the instructions issued to General Lord Gort on his assuming
Tho rolovant Command of the British Expeditionary Force. paragraph is as follows
8.
2. You will be under the command of the French Commander-in-Chior, North East theatre of operations".
Since the arrival of the British Expeditionary Force in France, they have received orders on a number of occasions from General Georgos, and have dealt with his Headquarters on all matters such as the taking over of the line, the relief of French troops, etc.
x C.I.D. 368th Mooting, Hinute 4.
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