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THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT
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.0.S.(40) 265.
20th March, 1940.
WAR CABINET.
CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE.
COPY NO. 3C
30
THE QUESTION OF ALLIED ASSISTANCE TO BELGIUM
IN THE EVENT OF GERMAN ATTACK.
Note by the Secretary.
330
The War Cabinet at their meeting on the 19th March had under consideration a Memorandum by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on the question of Allied assistance to Belgium in the event of German attack. This Memorandum includes the following passage:-
2.
"Sir L. Oliphant should take the opportunity of emphasising once again that the effectiveness of our aid would depend on the promptness with which an invitation was addressed to us
11
The above passage might be interpreted to mean that Allied forces should not enter Belgium, even after a German violation of that country, until their Governments had received a formal invitation from the Belgian Government to do so.
3. In view of the fact that the Belgian Government have now been informed (see Foreign Office Telegram No. 7 Saving to Brussels) that in the opinion of His Majesty's Government the Allies would think it necessary to send troops into Belgium in the event of a German attack on the Netherlands, even if the Belgian Government themselves gave no active assistance to the Dutch, it is presumed that, in the event of a German attack on Belgium, the Allies would not hesitate to move into that country at once. Nevertheless, having in mind the events of the 14th/15th January, it is essential that we and the French should p absolutely clear as to the action which should automatiellv be taken in the event of a German invasion of Belgium.
W.M. (40)72nd Conclusions, Minute 1.
*W.P.(40)98.
-1-
265
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