CAB80-20 — Page 143

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ANNEX III.

Copy of a letter dated 7th October, from the Secretary of State for war, to the Prime Minister.

127

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SE

Thank you for your minute on my letter to Archie Sinclair about air reinforcements to the Middle East. The proposal I there made was additional to the programme agreed some months ago and confirmed at the Cabinet last week. This programme is, as I understand it, at present and for some time to come, one of replacement, i.e., the Air Force are sending out more modern machines Hurricanes and Blenheims, Mark IV to take the place of the older

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machines which will be put to reserve, One of the most disturbing factors in respect of our air position in the Middle East is that so many machines are obsolescent, e.g., Wellesleys in the Sudan. There is not, I think, any present intention of increasing the number of squadrons in the Middle East.

As with all African problems, this is another question of the balance of risks. As we get stronger here, which, with bad weather, our own production and American help, we can surely hope to do, we may feel bold enough to send more help to the Middle East, where, as the attached message+ from Cairo rightly says, flying conditions will be as good as they will be bad over England in the next few months.

It is very difficult to assess what is Italy's true attitude towards the war. Graziani's advance hitherto has been cautious, but this may be an indication of determination rather than otherwise. On the other hand, if Italy is unenthusiastic about the war, an increase in our forces in the Middle East sufficient to enable us to take even a local offensive might have immensely important results on the duration of the war.

雜

Annex V.

Annex IV.

JE

粥

ANNEX IV.

Jopy of an extract from "The Times"

ITALIAN REQUEST FOR AIRCRAFT?

From our Special Correspondent.

CAIRO, 6TH OCTOBER.

Marshal Graziani has flown back to Libya after his conference with Mussolini and the Axis military leaders in Rome,

One of the main points of the Brenner debate turned on the question of the Italian Air Force, according to one report here. Mussolini is understood to have pressed Hitler for the loan of several thousand aircraft, with pilots and ground crews, bombs and petrol a loan to continue through the winter months, when flying conditions will be as good here as they will be bad over England.

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