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ANNEX II,
From: - C.-in-C. Middle East.
To:- The War Office.
130
Desp. 1503 18/2/40. Recd. 1705 18/2/40.
IEDIATE.
7289 cipher 18/2
1.
B
As explained in my cables 7162 of 11/2 and 7221 of 15/2 the position is already clear to Untent that Turkish bases east of Bandirma Tekirdag and the road and railway from Istanbul to Edirne will be overloaded by supply of Turkish Army in Thrace and that it would be most dangerous to rely on this as sole line of communication. Also that alternative bases and line of communication from Gallipoli to Edirne allotted to us by Turks are unusable without considerable expenditure.
2.
Turkish attitude in further staff talks may be that without financial aid they cannot undertake above work and must therefore forego allied assistance in Thrace, or they may wish us to use already congested bases at Istanbul etc. and single line of communication which would be highly dangerous.
It comes to this. If we attach great importance to assisting Turks to hold Thrace, as it seems inevitable that we should, additional bases and another line of communication are essential. It will take as least five or six months to carry out necessary work so that a decision must be taken immediately how
This can be done I far we are prepared to meet the expense. consider, or at least actively considered, with the information already available,
4.
We have already lost much time in planning our course of action in this theatre and further delays are highly dangerous. I request that discussion on the problem stated above may at least be begun at once.
5.
Meanwhile I have no intention of raising any financial discussion with the Turks.
C.4. (Telegrams)
To 1.0.5 (for action).
Copies to C.I.G.S.
-5-
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D.C.I.G.S.
A.C.I.G.S.
D..O. & P.
D.P.
M.0.1, 2. 5. (15 copies) G.S.(P)
D.S.D.
S.D. la.
D.Q.1.G. (a) (b)
D.F.W.
D.U.S.
D.F. (C).
D. of P. (Admiralty). D. of P. (Air Ministry).
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