Memorandum by Wingate with covering note "Dear Mr Hay, Shalom! Gershon" [Gershon Ritov?], dated 30 May 1950
The paper has been annotated as being authored by Wingate. It sets out a strategy for the defence of a Jewish state in Palestine, based on partition; Wingate believes "...unrest will tend to prevail until a full exchange of population has been effected". Wingate argues against large-scale defensive schemes, such as border fences. Arab attacks will be state-sponsored incursions, plus large and small group raids, and smuggling; he sets out methods how each threat should be dealt with.
Wingate proposes that every able bodied Jewish male within ten miles of the frontier be trained and organised into armed militias, based on settlements. The settlements would have access to telephones or signalling apparatus. There would also be a frontier force with up to 900 troops. The Jewish State Defence Force would provide professional military defence and would concentrate at Mt Carmel, with the HQ at Rehaviah (Jerusalem).
Wingate then considers defence requirements in specific locations including the coastal strip and the north. Logistical requirements of the various Jewish settlements in different locations; need for an intelligence system; protection against chemical warfare including mustard gas and thermite bombs Argues Jewish land and air forces should be combined in the same command, not repeating errors of the British. Also sets out requirements for a domestic steel industry, a police force (stressing need to remain complete separate from the military) and employment of women in military and civilian roles "...it is important to employ the full woman-power of the nation".