CAB80-25 — Page 335

Page 335

Page 335

a

279

TO BE KEPT UNDER LOCK AND KEY.

It is requested that special care may be taken to

ensure the secrecy of this document,

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

This document was considered at (1) 38 Meeting.

SECRET.

C.0.S.(41)65.

31ST JANUARY, 1941.

WAR CABINET.

65

33

COPY NO.

CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE.

SUPPLIES TO GREECE.

Note by Secretary.

The attached report* by the Chairman of the Committee for the Co-ordination of Allied Supplies is circulated for consideration by the Chiefs of Staff.

2.

Lord Hankey points out that the outlook far supplies of armaments to Greece is very disquieting and, on a long view, can only be dealt with by drastic action requiring very early decision and involving questions of very high policy. He feels bound, therefore, to invite attention to the question as a matter of great urgency.

3.

The conclusions reached in the report may be summarised up as follows:-

(a)

Adequate supplies to Greece of arms and

ammunition, cannot be permanently secured by present methods. As regards ammunition, all existing stocks for the over-numerous types of Greek guns have been or are being purchased. After that, supplies can only be manufactured in America, eventually at the expense of our own types of ammunition. They will not reach Greece until the end of the year.

Some supplies, however, can be manufactured in Greece, and steel and other materials must be allotted for this purpose. The A.A. defence of the Greek ammunition factory should be considered in the interests of ourselves as well as of Greece.

(b) From the point of view of what would serve

Greek interests best, the only satisfactory solution is the early rearmament of the Greek Forces with British standard weapons,

either from our To re-arm Greece however, present holdings or production in the immediate future would have a most detrimental effect on our own armament programme, and would defer considerably the date at which our present grave · deficiencies would be met.

* Appendix A.

-1-

Page 335

Page 335

Page 335Page 336