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TO BE KEPT UNDER I OCK IND KEY.

takon te

It is requested that consoul care ma

ensure the secrecy of this document.

367

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

SECRET.

This comment was considered at Co. (1) 50 Meeting.

C.O.S. (41)79

8TH FEBRUARY, 1941.

WAR CABINET.

33

COPY NO.

CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE.

ARMS FOR YUGOSLAVIA,

(Previous Reference C.0.S.(41) 30th Meeting Minute 5.)

Note by Secretary.

On the 25th January the Chiefs of Staff agreed that there would be no hope of supplying in the near future any of the war material to Yugoslavia mentioned in Mr. Campbell's list*. This decision was communicated to the Foreign Office and in reply the following letter has been received and is circulated for the consideration of the Committee:-

#

X

X

X

The main argument of the attached telegrams is that a

complete failure on our part to respond to the Yugoslav request will have a serious lowering effect on their morale whereas a mere token delivery or even a promise to deliver in the near future will have political effects out of all proportion to its military significance. With this argument we are in full agreement.

We realise that Campbell's suggestion about the anti- aircraft and anti-tank guns promised to Greece is impracticable since we promised not guns but units and that all our available supplies of these weapons must be kept for Turkey and Greece. But it occurs to us that there may perhaps be other material which we can more easily spare and which we could at any rate offer to the Yugoslavs as a gesture, even if it does not figure on their list of requirements. It has been suggested for instance that we might offer to supply a few Bren-gun carriers, which are excellent weapons, have the additional advantage of looking like small tanks and of which we have a plentiful supply. Are there any other weapons of which we could make them a token gift?

As we are most anxious to do something for the Yugoslavs we should be very grateful if you would examine this suggestion.

X

X

X

X

(Signed) L. C. HOLLIS.

* C.0.S. (41) 55, Annex 2.

Gt. George Street, S.W.1.,

8th February, 1941.

+ Annex 1.

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