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to produce, when possible, agreed recommendations as to

Allied policy on subjects on which the Chiefs of Staff have

already agreed, and, on certain occasions to explore with

their colleagues subjects on which policy has not yet been

decided by the Chiefs of Staff.

The British Military representatives consider that in

most cases information, plans, and policy are not examined on an

allica plane ct sufficiently early stage, and they point out that

the Allied Military Committee are not usually brought into

the picture, either by the French or ourselves, until

policy has been decided on the highest level. The French

representatives share their view and mutual co-operation

tends to suffer accordingly.

8.

Before any matters of policy can be put to the

French, there are two important points which must be

considered. In the first place, it is essential that we

should present the French with an agreed British inter-

service view, arrived at by discussion in the Joint

Planning Committee.

Secondly, it will be necessary to

consider whether it is desirable that a particular subject

should be discussed with the French before the Chiefs of

Staff have approved it. In some cases Cabinet approval

may be necessary. No hard and fast rule can be laid

down.

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