I refer to your memorandum of December 14⁴ enclosing the recommendations of the Joint Intelligence Committee with regard to the general principles to be observed in the appointment of attachés and Service requirements and priorities based on these principles.

These proposals were considered by the Chiefs of Staff at their 376th meeting, January 21, and it was agreed:

(a) To approve the general principles outlined by the Joint Intelligence Committee, in particular that the Joint Intelligence Committee should be responsible for the constant review of the requirements for attaché representation abroad and recommendations regarding priorities for appointments between the various Services;

(b) That the Chief of the Air Staff and the Chief of the General Staff discuss the future policy regarding Service representation in Moscow on the understanding that only one Service attaché could be accommodated there at present; and
(c) That the appointments of military attachés to other countries he considered individually at the appropriate time.

The following comments of the Under Secretary of State for External Affairs in regard to the proposed military attaché posts are brought to your attention:

(a) Accommodation in Moscow for one attaché only was available.

(b) Diplomatic Missions to Poland and Czechoslovakia were intended and it was suggested that one Service attaché for each country should he designated and proceed at the same time as the diplomatic representative.

(c) The reasons for the appointment of a Service attaché to China as stated by the Joint Intelligence Committee did not appear valid.

(d) It was not felt that more than one Service attaché in Norway would be desirable. A representative of another Service if required for the Scandinavian countries, could be appointed to Sweden when that Mission was established.

(e) The reasons for an appointment of a Service attaché to Greece as stated by the Joint Intelligence Committee, did not appear valid, though from many points of view this would be a useful post.

(t) The usefulness of Service attachés in Central and South American countries, other than Mexico would not appear to be great and these countries should therefore be considered as very low in any system of priorities.

(g) The Joint Intelligence Committee had recommended that in the event of diplomatic missions being opened in Czechoslovakia, Sweden, Poland, Yugoslavia, Italy or Turkey, European attaché posts be reviewed. Since it was intended to establish diplomatic missions in these countries, a review would obviously be required.

H.W. BEAN
Group Captain, RCAF

⁴Voir le volume 12, document 11 ./See Volume 12, Document 11.