CAB80-13 — Page 240

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ANNE X.

DIRECTIVE TO DEUT-GENERAL G.J. GIFFARD, C.B.. D.S.O.

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You are appointed General Officer Commanding, West Africa, and will act under the direct orders of the War Office.

2. Your command will comprise Nigeria, Gold Coast, Sierra Leone and Gambia. You will be responsible for the defence of these colonies, and you will command the military forces in them.

3. You will be responsible for advising on all Military matters the Governors of Nigeria, Gold Coast, Sierra Leone and Gambia, and will at all times act in close co-operation with them,

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You will also be responsible for co-operation and consultation with the French Civil and Military authorities in French West Africa (which includes Senegal, Mauritania, French Guinea, Ivory Coast, Dahomey, French Sudan and Niger), in French Equatorial Africa (which includes Gaboon, Middle Congo, Ubangha-Shari and Chad) and in the mandated territories of Togoland and Kamerun, In addition, you will be responsible for co-operation and consultation with the Belgian Civil and Military authorities in the Belgian Congo.

5. When dealing with the French Sudan you will co- operate with the Commander-in-Chief, Middle East, or such officer as he may delegate; and when dealing with the

Belgian Congo you will co-operate with the General Officer Commanding, East Africa, who will remain responsible for the Katanga area of the Belgian Congo where the copper mines are situated.

6. The policy of His Majesty's Government with regard to British West African colonies is that every effort should be made to ensure the security of all four colonies. If this should in the event prove impossible, the aim should be to secure all ports. In the last event it is essential that the port of Freetown should be secured at all costs as a naval fuelling base.

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The policy of His Majesty's Government regarding French Colonial possessions in West Africa is that every effort should be made to ensure that the local French administrations should continue as our active Allies, and should maintain their forces for the defence of their own territories. Failing this, we should endeavour to persuade the French military authorities to assume control, and, if they refuse, také over the administration ourselves. Finally, if all forms of control over French territories prove impossible, we should endeavour to persuade as many French units or individuals as possible to move over into British territories and serve under us. In any event civil and military officers should gain contact with all French authorities with instructions to pursue the above policy. We hope to send you reinforcements of officers of experience in the very near future.

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