CAB80-13 — Page 273

Page 273

Page 273

THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT 249

SECRET.

C.O.S. (40) 486

TO BE KEPT UNDER LOCK AND KEY.

It is requested that special care may be taken to ensure the secrecy of this document.

C.L.

COPY NO.

24TH JUNE, 1940.

WAR CABINET.

CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE.

ATLANTIC ISLANDS.

Aide Memoire.

We have examined the strategic importance of the Atlantic Islands in the light of the new situation which results from the collapse of France and the possibility of Spain joining our enemies, thereby rendering Gibraltar unusable as a main naval base.

2.

On the assumption that we cannot use Gibraltar, we require the various groups of islands in the Atlantic for the following reasons:-

Azores (Fayal, Tereura, San Miguel) and Cape Verde Islands (St. Vincent. Sal, Maio, St. Iago.

(1) As air bases for the blockade line. (ii) To deny their use to the enemy (iii) To maintain cable communication. Canaries.

(i) As a base for surface ships on the blockade

line covering the Straits of Gibraltar, west coasts of Spain and France. These ships would act as a deterrent to enemy ships breaking out of the Mediterranean through the Straits.

(ii) To deny their use to the enemy.

Azores and Cape Verde Islands.

3.

It is obviously desirable that these islands should be secured without opposition, but we assume that for political reasons there can be no question of seizing them until Spain has entered the war against us. Once this has occurred, these objections would probably disappear, since Portugal would be involved sooner or later. We must, however, ensure that the enemy does not forestall us, and for this reason it will be necessary to maintain continuous cruiser patrols to intercept any enemy expedition despatched either to the Azores or the Cape Verde Islands. These patrols can be provided, but only by using the cruisers which would be taken for the escort of the convoy due to sail shortly with 12 Territorial battalions to India and 8,000 details for the Middle East. It is possible to hold up those troops for a short time, but the Territorial Battalions have been promised to India and the 8000 details are definitel nceded in the Middle East.

-1-

Page 273

486

Page 273

Page 273