CAB80-32 — Page 60

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OT UNDER OOK AND KEY. quested that special care may be taken to ensure the secrecy of this document.

EC 48

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

424

this document was considered at Cro(4) Meeting

SECRET.

C.0.S. (41) 695.

22nd NOVEMBER, 1941.

WAR CABINET.

CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE.

COPY NO.

33

COMPULSORY EVACUATION OF THE SOUTH AND EAST

COASTS.

Memorandum by the Commander-in-Chief, Home Forces.

The Prime Minister's approval of the recommendation by Lile Chiefs of Staff that the compulscry evacuation of the "31 towns" should take place well before the estimated zero date for invasion has substantially improved the prospects of carrying out the operation successfully.

2.

I have discussed the implications of the new arrange- ment with the Civil Departments concerned, with particular reference (a) to the interpretation to be assigned to the term "zero minus x days" in the Lord Privy Seal's minute and (b) to the practicability of including Brighton, Hove, Shoreham, Portslade, Southwick, Worthing and Littlehampton in the scheme,

3.

The Civil Departments have prepared a memorandum

(which is attached hereto Annex 1) setting out their views on

these points, and I append a summary of their conclusions (Annex II) together with a note by Sir Philip Game (Annex III),

It is

40

As regards (a), the view of the Departments is that, for civil operational reasons, it would be preferable not to attempt to divide the towns into categories (nodal points and others) as had been originally contemplated, but to evacuate them all in one single uninterrupted operation. estimated that if evacuation is begun at zero minus 15 days i should be completed before zero minus 5 days, ine, before th I am prepared t worst dislocation due to bombing is likely. accept this proposal.

I

5.

For a number of reasons the Civil Departments are anxious to retain the scheme for the compulsory evacuatior schoolchildren in advance of the remainder of the populati even though this part of the scheme will not be put into operation if the proposal put forward above is approved, concur in this suggestion since, if circumstances arise in which this part of the scheme can be operated, the encouragement which would be given to parents and others to remove themselves voluntarily with the children would appreciably ease the working of the compulsory evacuation scheme,

+ If the Brighton group is included;

7 days.

~1-

otherwise zero minus

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