CAB80-13 — Page 228

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MOST SECRET.

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ད་

DRAFT DIRECTIVE TO GENERALFFICER

ས འནས་་ར་ཆ་

COMMANDING

-CHIEF BRITISH FORCES OPERATING IN IRELAND.

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1.

You are appointed General Officer Commanding-in- Chief of all British Troops operating in Ireland.

2.

3.

The War Cabinet have decided:-

(a) That no steps should be taken to occupy

ports in Southern Ireland in advance of an aggression by Germany.

(b) That, in the event of aggression by Germany, we should go to the assistance of the Government of Eiro, with all the forces which could be spared.

The security of the Belfast Area must always be

Not maintained as the basis of our strategy in Ireland. only is it essential to deny to the enemy the port and aerodrome facilities which exist in this area, but the industries located there are of great importance to the war effort of the Empire, and the port of Belfast affords Zase facilities for landing forces far superior to those available in any other port in Ireland.

4。

If required to operate in Eire your primary object, in conjunction with Eire forces, will be the rapid destruction of such enemy forces as may establish themselves in that country, and the denial to the enemy of such localities, including aerodromes, as might facilitate further invasions.

5.

It is important that British garrisons should be established, as soon as circumstances pernit, at the following places so that these can be used by British forces:-

(a) Shandon Estuary, including the seaplane base at Foynes and the military aelodrome at Rineanna.

(b) Queenstown and Lough Swilly.

6.

It must be expected that some interval of time will elapse between the first German landing and a request for assistance from the Eire Government. It is of the utmost importance therefore that when the request is made the forces under your command should be ready, and that no time should be lost in taking action against the enemy. It is not intended that any action should be taken in Eire until a request for assistance is received from the Eire Government.

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