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1.
There is no doubt that an air mission under the
Air Vice-Marshal as outlined will be of great value, and need is really urgent (See my t."egram No. 6).
Under
2.
It would be quite impracticable to treat the R.A.F. in Greece as entirely separate from the other services. any arrangement I feel sure that the Air Vice-Marshal will continue to co-operate whenever necessary. The closest co- operation has already been achieved whenever the Amiral, General and Air Vice-Marshal have met, and I am strongly of the opinion that this should continue.
3.
Misunderstanding seems to have arisen owing to loose use of the terms "Mission" and "military", and I suggest that the word "Mission" be used only for the three separate aval Military and Air Missions, not for mission as a whole, which should continue to function but may be better described as Inter Service Committee or Council,
4.
I suggest that it should be considered whether this Committee (consisting of the 3 officers mentioned) should be empowered to communicate direct with Chiefs of Staffs in London.
5.
On the score of the forces involved the Air Vice-Marshal should be Chairman of the Committee, whilst on the score of seniority and of magnitude of Greek army problems it should be General Heywood. Actually divergencies are more liable to cccur between the army and air, for which reason a naval Chairman is perhaps more suitable. I therefore suggest that Admiral Turle should be confirmed in his appointment.
6.
Question of Air Attache has been dealt with in my telegrams No. 10 and 11.
Repeated Middle East Intelligence Centre No. 4 for the three Commanders-in-Chief.
(Copies sent to Service Departments Lord Hankey,
Commander Coleridge and i.I.3.b.)
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