February 16, 1942. Dear Mr. President : As you know, in Northern Areland there are at present but two British divisions and one of our regiments with some odds and ends extra . Before this gets to you it is possible that more of our troops will move in but even so, the situation is dangerous. Within a fortnight I hope to get off to you some sort of rough estimate of what people on the ground feel is requsisite in the way of troops and materiel in order to give us a preponder- ance of force against any possible German invasion. A British air intelligence officer off the record tells me that he believes it possible for the Germans to land 200.000 air born troops in Southern Ireland in a few days, with fuel and amunition, artillery and three ton tanks. With air bases established they could undoubtedly run in a big convoy landing three divisions in the Cork-Wexford area. If they control the island Britain is pretty well cooked, as the life line of supplies will be cut. You know what can be done and what not with the means available. I am writing to you direct, instead of through channels because you will see at once what I mean and its significance and not pooh pooh the possibility and talk about British sea power. Off hand it seems as if three of our tank divisions and six mobile divisions would be a minimum force to make the defense secure, that is on the assumption that Britain could send over two or three more divisions within forty eight hours. If the Germans seize the air fields as they would easily do |