CAB80-13 — Page 143

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CHANNEL ISLANDS,

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1. At the 162nd Meeting of the War Cabinet on 12th of June, 1940, the War Cabinet gave approval for the despatch of two battalions to the Channel Islands one to Guernsey and one to Jersey. At the 163rd Meeting on the same day the War Cabinet took note of the fact that the Secretary of State for War wished to reconsider the matter in the light of the new situation.

2.

On reconsideration the Chiefs of Staff at their 178th Meeting on the 13th June decided to recommend to the and War Cabinet that the two battalions should not be sent, that owing to the imminence of the occupation of the French coast it would be better to demilitarise the Islands, and to prepare for the destruction of facilities which might be of value to the enemy. Before this recommendation 6ould be put to the War Cabinet it became apparent that it was necessary to use aerodromes in the Channel Islands for the protection of the evacuation of the B.E.F. from Brest and Cherbourg. Thereupon orders were given to re-distribute the troops in the Channel Islands, and to reinforce the defence forces with one battery of light A.A. guns.

3.

The Chiefs of Staff now consider that the policy as to the defence of the Islands when it is no longer required to use the aerodromes should be decided upon. Their recommendations are:-

(i) That all regular British troops should be

withdrawn from the Islands.,

(ii) That the local forces which remain should be given the role of internal security (including anti-sabotage) only.

(iii) That preparation for destruction of the

facilities which might be of value to the enemy, and which he could not equally well obtain on the mainland, (e.g. oil stocks) should be made to be carried out in case of invasion.

(iv) That as the Islands will have been demilitarised

it will be unnecessary and undesirable to evacuate women and children, and that the Minister of Home Security should be so informed.

(v) That orders should be issued to the

Lieutenant-Governors not to defend the Islands in the event of enemy invasion by sea or air.

We consider that effect should be given to these recommendations immediately the aerodromes are no longer required. This situation may occur almost immediately.

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