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ANNEX.
ETTER FROM THE CHIEF OF THE IMPERIAL GENERAL
STAFF TO GENERAL GAMELIN.
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Thank you for your letter of 18th February, 1940.
There was of course no doubt that the British Expeditionary Force was under your orders, but His Majesty's Government had always understood that you had delegated the direct command to General Georges as Commander-in-Chief Nord Est. This was accepted and Lord Gort's instructions were worded accordingly. It has always been a matter of great satisfaction that relations between General Georges and Lord Gort have been so cordial.
In subordinating the British Expeditionary Force to your command, the British Government is prepared, as I stated in my latter of 17th February, to accept any reasonable arrangement which you consider desirable.
In my own view there would be many advantages to us
At the if the B.E.F. were directly under your command. same time I feel that at its present strength and holding as it does a comparatively small sector of the North East Front, practical operational difficulties may arise if the Force is not under the commander responsible for operations on that Front. Difficulty and delay might, in my opinion well accrue in co-ordinating its action with that of the French Armies on its flanks.
On the other hand when the B.E.F. reaches a sufficient strength for its commander definitely to take over from the Commander-in-Chief North East Front the whole responsibility for a definite sector of the front I can foresee every advantage in the Force being directly under your command.
Whatever you may decide, I would urge that your decision should be made known at an early date.
You will appreciate that I am most anxious that there should be no ambiguity as to the Commander from the Commander-in- Chief, British Expeditionary Force receives his orders and exactly in what spheres he deals with the Commander-in-Chief, Nord Est.
You will doubtless be issuing a directive on the subject to General Georges. If I might have a copy I will than if necessary approach His Majesty's Government with a view to amending the instructions to Lord Gort.
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