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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)
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This dos
SECRET.
C.O.S. (41) 85.
11TH FEBRUARY, 1941.
it was considered at .5.(41) 6125
COPY NO.
85
Meeting.
WAR CABINET.
CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE
VULNERABILITY OF WHITEHALL TO AIR ATTACK.
Memorandum by the Vice Chiefs of Staff.
We endorse the views expressed in the attached Memorandum' by the Joint Planning Staff.
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The area in which the Whitehall Government buildings are concentrated is an onsily identified target, and the rela- tive immunity from intensive air attack which Whitehall has so far enjoyed londs colour to the theory that the enemy does not want to "bolt the rabbit" prematurely.
3.
How far Government buildings in Whitehall would withstand a heavy and concentrated attack is difficult to assess; to judge by the experience of Birmingham, communications, at any rate, would be almost certain to suffer severely.“
4. We understand that the scheme for moving the essen- tial elements of the Government war machine (i.e. the War Cabinet Office and three Service Departments) to protected Citadels in the suburbs has been relegated to the background.
5.
In our view the Citadels, including the necessary accommodation and feeding arrangements for personnel, should be kept ready to function at short notice. As soon as invasion appears imminent the Citadels should be mained progressively.
6.
Finally we suggest that the security of Whitehall to external attack should be reviewed. Last September the buildings were strongly guarded. Recently it would appear that these precautions have largely lapsed.
7.
We submit the above views for consideration by the Chiefs of Staff.
(Signed)
T.S.V. PHILLIPS. R.H.
HAINING.
W.R. FREEMAN.
Great George Street, S.W.1.
11TH FEBRUARY, 1941.
+
Annex.
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