A copy of Wingate's memorandum on the wartime situation in Palestine; the paper is not dated but was probably written in 1941 or 42. Wingate sets out a military strategy for defending Palestine in the face of an Axis advance into the Near East. He argues that it is now possible to exploit the terrain in Palestine using mobile and motorised forces. It is important that the mountain areas and the port of Aqaba should be held. Surprise mobile attacks would be possible "it will be found that modern warfare is characterised by the bold use of three-dimensional spearheads, followed up by armies of occupation."
Wingate proposes creating a large Desert Force, which would dominate the East Mediterranean littoral and the Persian Gulf, "To sum up, as long as we hold Palestine strongly and aggressively, Germany is not winning the War...Let us lose Palestine ,, and we are well advanced towards losing the War." Wingate argues the Jewish population must be mobilised, creating a 30,000 strong Jewish army to defend Palestine, which would release British police etc for service in North Africa. Advocates industrial development of Palestine to support the war. Aqaba should be developed as a port and the Desert Force would provide overall military cover for the region. Believes this plan would also win US support. Suggests the Jews can defend Palestine without British help, and is critical of the White Paper [Macdonald White paper 1939 Palestine a statement of policy] saying "...we have added the Jews to our enemies without pleasing the Arabs."