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THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT 16

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)454.

13TH JUNE, 1940.

WAR CABINET..

CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE.

COPY NO.

37

1.

EGYPTIAN DECLARATION OF WAR ON ITALY.

Memorandum by the Chief of the Imperial

General Staff.

At their 99th Meeting on 27th April, 1940, the

Chiefs of Staff:-

2.

"(1) Agreed that it would be essential to press Egypt to declare war on Italy at the same time as ourselves."

As a result of the 161st Meeting of the War Cabinet

on 11th June, 1940, telegram No. 443 DIPP was sent to the

Ambassador in Egypt suggesting that a state of non-belligerency would meet our requirements until an attack by Italy forced

Egypt to declare war.

From the military point of view there are many dangers

likely to arise from a state of non-belligerency on the part of

Egypt. As examples:-

(a) Egyptian Coast Defence gunners may refuse to fire at Italian shipping approaching Alexandria or the Canal ports.

(b) Egyptian A. A. gunners may refuse to fire at

Italian Aircraft, and our own A.A. guns would be useless at night since all the S/L are manned by Egyptians.

(c) The motor patrols along the Lybian frontier belong to the Egyptian army. If they come in contact with Italian forces they may avoid fighting. (d) The garrison of Mersa Matruh is part British and

part Egyptian. The Commander will be seriously embarrassed if he cannot count on the obedience of all the troops under his command.

War Office.

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454

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