CAB80-13 — Page 70

Page 70

Page 70

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.

55

SECRET.

C.0.S.(40)462.

14th JUNE, 1940.

WAR CABINET.

CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE.

FRANCE.

Note by the Secretary.

COPY NO.

30.

The attached Minute by the Prime Minister is circulated for urgent consideration.

The Prime Minister has asked that the reply should be ready for discussion at a Meeting to be held this afternoon at 6 p.m. at a place to be notified later.

(Signed) L. C. HOLLIS,

Richmond Terrace, S.W.1.

ANNE X.

COPY OF A MINUTE FROM THE PRIME MINISTER

TO THE CHIEFS OF STAFF,

1.

The days of uncertainty in France continue and we cannot yet tell whether the French will ask for an Armistice or fight on, All our present effort is to induce them to fight on. It is therefore impossible to arrest the movement of the 52nd and Canadian Divisions An order may at any time have to be sent to them to withdraw. Until it is sent they should continue to disembark and deploy with the utmost rapidity so as to be use and play a part in stimulating French resistance. The slowness with which they are able to take the field is astonishing, and even in present circumstances of uncertainty ought not to be allowed to continue unimproved. It is most improbable that the Third Division will be sent to France, but no change can yet be made in its equipment.

2.

On the other hand we should now begin at the utmost speed to evacuato all valuable military stores, especially ammunition from the line of communication from Rennes to St. Nazaire. I am told there are nearly

462

-1-

Page 70

Page 70

Page 70Page 71