THEATRE OF EMPLOYMENT OF THE A.I.F. AND LOCATION OF G.O.C., A.I.F.

The Chief of the General Staff [1] raised the subject of the
theatre of employment of the A.I.F., and outlined four possible
alternatives:-(i) Its retention in the Near East for assistance to
Turkey in the event of hostilities in this region.

(ii) Its transfer to Egypt for defence purposes in that area.

(iii) Its transfer to Marseilles without delay for the completion
of its equipment and training for use in France.

(iv) Its embarkation from the Near East and transfer to the United
Kingdom, via the Cape.

The Chief of the General Staff strongly favoured alternative
(iii), as he considered the Germans would make their next effort
against the French Army, and it was of great military and
psychological importance to have Australian soldiers in France.

The Chief of the General Staff also recommended the War Cabinet to
reconsider its decision to retain Lieut.-General Sir Thomas
Blamey, G.O.C. of the A.I.F., in Australia. He pointed out that
Major-General Mackay, who was G.O.C. of the 6th Division, was
inexperienced in the higher administrative and political
principles relating to the control of the A.I.F., and it was
important that Lieut.-General Blamey should be on the spot to
ensure that the known policy of the Australian Government was
adhered to and the fullest safeguards observed against the
dispersion of the A.I.F.

It was decided in regard to the theatre of employment of the
A.I.F. that a further cablegram be sent to the United Kingdom
Government, asking for a reply to the cablegram of 8th May [2],
which requested additional information to supplement the
strategical appreciation already furnished and the strength and
distribution of the Allied Forces and of those of the enemy in the
various theatres. In the cablegram, advice is to be requested
regarding the material side of Britain's war effort, including the
output of aircraft, and the Chiefs of Staff are to enumerate the
various points on which information is required, to ensure that
the advice will provide a comprehensive basis for a full
strategical appreciation. Particular attention is to be paid to
the situation in relation to the Mediterranean and the Near East,
and the bearing it will have on the theatre of employment of the
A.I.F. The importance of reconstituting the whole Expeditionary
Force at the earliest possible date, as mentioned in the cablegram
of 8th May to the Dominions Office, was stressed, together with
the assurance of the United Kingdom Government that this will be
done.

It was decided that Lieut.-General Sir Thomas Blamey, G.O.C. of
the A.I.F., should now proceed to Palestine.