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3.

To this request the War Office replied that the first essential was for a plan to be agreed by the British, French and Turks, and submitted for approval to His Majesty's Government, and that, until such approval had been given, the question of financial assistance to Turkey could not be considered and should not be raised in discussions at Ankara.

4. Two further telegrams (Nos. 7289 and 7290 dated 18th February) have now been received (Annexes II and III). From these it is clear that the Turkish General Staff are prepared to accept the Anglo-French report summarised in Annex I, but are not prepared to find the money for the administrative improvements necessary before the plan can be put into operation. This matter is now being examined by the Turkish Government.

5.

It is not, however, clear from these telegrams whether the assistance outlined in Annex I is essential to the security of Thrace. It would be uneconomical to send to Turkey Anglo-French forces whose presence is not essential and which might, therefore, be more profitably employed elsewhere.

6.

It

Moreover, the time factor must be considered. will take at least five or six months to complete the work required in Thrace for the Army Units alone, apart from the work required on aerodromes.

If the assistance now proposed is essential to the security of Thrace, and if the emergency arises in the Spring, either the Anglo-French forces will have to use the already over-loaded Turkish bases and line of communication, or it will be impossible to provide assistance on the scale required. The first course, is in the opinion of the Commander-in-Chief, Middle East, highly dangerous; the second might lead to the loss of the use of the Dardanelles and Bosphorus.

7.

I propose, therefore, that the attached telegram (Annex IV) should be sent to the three Commanders-in-Chief to give them guidance in their discussions with the Turkish General Staff on 26th February.

In the meantime, I suggest that the Chiefs of Staff should invite the Minister for Co-ordination of Defence to take up with the Treasury the question of providing financial aid to Turkey for the work required.

(Signed)

EDMUND IRONSIDE.

lar Office.

21st February, 1940.

Chief of the Imperial General Staff,

-2.

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