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(THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT).

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) 489 (J.P.)

(Also Paper No.J.P.(40) 279.)

24TH JUNE, 1940.

WAR CABINET.

CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE.

FRENCH OIL STOCKS AND SHIPPING.

COPY NO. 27

Aide Memoire by the Joint Planning Sub-Committee.

We have examined Lord Hankey's letters which we attach as Annexes I and II.

10

No

This is a subject on which is quite impossible to produce a report worth reading in the time available. doubt we shall be able to destroy some of these stocks by air action; as we have already done in Belgium, for instance at Ghent. But from the air point of view it will be necessary to examine our information in detail on each installation, its layout, distance from British bases, location in relation to centres of French civil population etc., before it is possible to give a reliable estimate as to the practicability of destroying it by air bombardment.

2.

Similary from the point of view of sabotage it is impossible to give a reliable estimate of the possibilities without far more detailed examination than we have been able to give it.

3. We fully realise the importance of destroying it quickly before the enemy has time to use it or take it away. And we recommend that the Air Staff and Inter-Service Project Board should be instructed to examine the question at once as a matter of urgency. When any oil stocks are located where they can be reached by Naval landing parties or direct bombardment they should be destroyed by the Navy as soon as possible and the necessary orders should be issued forthwith.

4.

It is assumed that no action will be taken until it is clear that no harm could be done thereby to Anglo-French relations, particularly in respect of the French Fleet.

We attach as an Annex certain preliminary observations on the points on which we have been instructed to advise.

5.

(Signed) I.S.O. PLAYFIAR.

J.C. SLESSOR. W.G. ANDREWES,

Cabinet War Room.

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