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5.

Owing to the distance and inhospitable nature of the country to be traversed attack by land forces is most unlikely, and in any case would be extremely limited in scope.

There is however, the possibility that German and Italian Officers might be despatched to secure the allegiance of existing French Colonial Forces. The African soldier is characteristically prepared to accept the orders of the representatives of whatever white authority is in control of the area at the time.

6.

The enemy cannot subject our Colonies to air attack unless he can make use of French bases in Senegal and Spanish Rio de Oro or the French air route from North Africa. If the petrol stocks on this route are destroyed the threat from this directi on will disappear for some time and would in any case be slight.

Policy for the Defence of our West African Colonies.

7.

It is obviously desirable that the security of all four Colonies of Sierra Leone, ligeria, the Gold Coast and Gambia should be maintained. If this should prove impossible it would be necessary to secure the ports both for our own use and with a view to maintaining economic control, As a last resort it is essential to maintain control of Freetown as a Naval base.

Policy for the Defence of French and Belgian Colonies.

8. In view of the possibility of air attack from bases in French Colonies every effort must be made to induce the local French authorities, Civil and Military, to continue as our active allies and to defend their possessions to the utmost. They should therefore. maintain their defence forces in being in their own territories. In the event of the collapse of the French Civil Authorities it might be possible to pursuade the French Military Authorities to carry on. Failing this, it may be possible to send in to French territories British personnel to take over or assist in Civil and Military control. Finally, if the French should cease to co-operate in any way, it would be necessary to induce complete French units or individual French Colonial troops to come to British territory and operate under British control.

In any case it is essential to take steps to forestall the enemy in obtaining the allegiance of the French Colonial troops.

Congo.

A similar policy will apply to the Belgian

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