CAB80-32 — Page 27

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ANNEX II,

SUPPLIES FOR MALTA.

Memorandum by the Admiralty.

The following is a summary of how the present 9-months policy was arrived at.

2.

At the end of August at the time of the 300th Meeting of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, Haltu was provisioned up to the end of March 1942 (7 monts) and it was estimated that the convoy prepared would amend this date to May 1942 (9 months).

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This convoy "HALBERD'' was duly prepared, sailed and arrived with a loss of one ship, and with the exception of coal, kerosene and wheat which rolost in the EMPIRE STAR generally fulfilled the expectations in paragraph 2,

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At the end of September it was decided that no further convoys of the "HALBERD-SUBSTANCE" type could be contemplated, but that other methods to continue long-term provisioning of the Fortress were to be considered.

5.

After Staff discussions, it was decided to attomet to maintain the existing position and that the goal to be aimed at was to attempt to leave Malta stored up to the end of 1942 by the end of March 1942, taking advantage of the winter dark night periods to effect this, This would leave the summer of 1942 clear of anxieties in this direction whatever happened in North Africa.'

6.

J

On the 2nd October a meeting was held in the Admiralty at which Sir Edward Jackson, Lieutenant Governor of Malta, and representatives of all three Services and the Colonial Office were prosent, to investigate

the practicability of implementing this as the general policy.

7.

Though it was, however, found that the number of ships required and consequent impairment of secrecy might militate against the achievement of this policy, all effort has continued to be directed towards putting into the fortress the maximum amount of storos before the end of March, 1942.

8 •

Malta is now stocked up to May 1942 with the

following exceptions:-

Coal Kerosene Fodder

(The consumption of the latter can be largely reduced by slaughter of livestock and horses, but this would result in increased demand for milk and petrol for transport purposes.)

9.

The policy being pursued is that of supplencing this stock on an all-round basis, so that on a time estimate no commodity essential to the life of the Forts will prove to be lacking earlier than any other. (Th only exception is that, as far as can be judged from past consumption and possible increased development, the stock and projected supply

- 3m

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