CANARIES AND PORTUGUESE ATLANTIC ISLANDS. 7. A'German invasion of Spain will lead to the immediate denial of Gibraltar as a Naval Base and in all probability the inVoIvement of Portugal as well as Spain in the war. In those circumstances, it w. ill be essential to secure the Canaries as a N~val Base. It is possible that the Spaniards would themselves offer us facilities in these islands. On the other'hand, the Spaniards may oppose our occupation of the Canaries. While a Spanish offer of facilities would eliminate the need for a large occupying force, ,it would be necessary to provide sufficient additional air and an~i-aircraft defenses to meet the threat of German air forces based on the mainland of Africa, as well as harbor protection for the Naval Base, and for an air patrol of the sea. 8. If we have gained an entry into French North Africa and the Spaniards subsequently acquiesce in a 6erinart move into Spain, we could not at the same ~ime undertake an operation to capture the Canaries. 9. If the opportunity to carry out North Africa operations does not occur., and the Germans move into Spain with Spanish acquiescence~ the capture of the Cana nies, even against opposition, and the occupation of the Azores and ,Cape Verdes will become essential. 10. It has been agreed that the responsibility for the occupation of the Canaries is a Brl~ish one~ but it would probably be necessary to obtain N~val assistance from the United States. A British assaulting force is already earmarked for this operation and should~ we consider, be kept in being. ll. Occupation of the Cape Verdes has been accepted as a United States responsibility. A portion of the United States Army forces set up for North Africa would be used for this operation. The necessary naval support would z h~ve to be prOv. ided by United States Naval .Forces. 12. In the event of a German move .into the Iberian Peninsula, .it is almost certain that Portugal will admit British forces into the Azores, and probably Madeira. .For the security of these islands the chief requirement will 'be air and anti-aircraft defenses and'harbor protection. ~'The prOv. ision of these forces is a British responsibility and the .necessary forces should be earmarked. Considerable diffficulty, however, will be found'in prOv. iding ,the shipping for this operation simultaneously with that for North Afnica or the Canaries. 13. If the move of British forces to the Azores becomes possible~ we are of the opinion that the United States should occupy the Cape 'Verdes in order to make certain that these islands are denied to the enemy and secured for future use. The occupation of the Cape Verdes will be of considerable 3 -- |