THE PRESIDENT: Shouldn’t you read above that, Paragraph 1/b?
COL. PHILLIMORE: Yes, if Your Lordship pleases. It is important. The others are much to the same effect. If I might read it:
“Report by Ia.”—This is one report by Ia on the directive of Armed Forces High Command of 30 December.
“According to this, the Führer, on report of Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, has decided: (a) Greek merchant vessels are to be treated as enemy vessels in the zone blockaded by U.S.A. and Britain; (b) in the Bristol Channel all ships may be attacked without warning. For external consumption these attacks should be given out as hits by mines. Both measures may be taken with immediate effect.”
The next extract, a report by Ia, that is, the Staff Officer Operations on the naval war staff on the directive of Armed Forces High Command, dated 30 December:
“Referring to intensified measures in naval and air warfare in connection with ‘Fall Gelb’.
“In consequence of this directive, the Navy is authorized, simultaneously with the general intensification of the war, to sink by U-boats, without any warning, all ships in those waters near the enemy coasts in which mines can be employed. In this case, for external consumption, pretence should be made that mines are being used. The behaviour of, and use of weapons by, U-boats should be adapted to this purpose.”
And then the third extract, dated 6 January 1940: