P.C. meeting of 24.8.40 [illegible] imagine [illegible]

24th May 1940

My dear Kirkpatrick,

I entirely agree with the point you raised at the Policy Committee this morning as to the necessity of freeing the French from restrictions imposed on aliens in general. They have exempted us, and I feel in principle we ought to do the same. But it seems to me to be dangerous to apply the principle unrestrictedly. Would it not be wiser to enlist the services of the French Consuls in this country, i.e. to arrange that anyone who received from a French Consul a certificate that he or she could be vouched for should be exempted, but that unless such a certificate were received the restrictions should apply. Such a system would have another advantage since it would relieve the Home Security people of an extremely difficult and invidious task.

I have sent a copy of this letter to the Director General and Sir Walter Monckton.

I. Kirkpatrick Esq.