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This document was considered at COS. (41) 30

Meeting.

254

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

SECRET.

UNDER LOCK AND I

and that special care may be take. Unsure the secrecy of this document.

C.0.3.(41) 55

24th January 1941.

WAR CABINET.

CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMIT EE.

COPY NO.

33

WAR MANURIAL FOR YUGO-SLAVIA.

Note by Secretary.

The Foreign Office have asked the Chiefs of Staff to consider telegrams No. 95 and 96* from Belgrade in which Mr. Campbell asks whether any war material can be made available to supplement the present meagre supplies of the Yugo-Slav Army.

2.

It appears from telegram No. 95 that the United States Government has also been approached but meanwhile the Foreign Office feel that it might well be to our advantage to offer in the very near future some war material to Yugo-Slavia, even if the offer was only a token one.

3.

The Foreign Office think that the chances of the Yugo-Slavs being ready to reach an agreement with the Turks, that they would declare war should Bulgaria be invaded, would be improved if the Yugo-Slavs could count on our supplying them with at least some of the

it would be a token war material they require at once: of what we (with U.S.A. assistance) might possibly be able to do for them later.

4.

The Foreign Office realise that it will be very difficult to make any war material available since our own requirements and those of the Greeks probably leave nothing to spare. Nevertheless they would like to be able to instruct Mr. Campbell, if the Chiefs of Staff agree, to tell the Yugo-Slavs something to the following effect

5.

"Having regard to our own commitments and the needs of our Allies, we are naturally hard

if, howev pressed to find spare war material; the Yugoslavs could reach some arrangement with the Turks which we would regard as satisfactory, this would of course make it easier for us to contemplate the comparative sacrifice which would be necessary in order to supply a part of their needs."

The Foreign Office have consulted the Ministry

Ø Annex I.

* Annex II.

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