I am directed by the Minister for Defence¹ to refer to your letter of the 16th instant² with enclosure, relative to the desire of the British Air Council to establish a range for bombing and firing from the air on the North Eastern shore of Lough Foyle, and to state that, from the military point of view, there is no objection to the proposal which can adequately be advanced. At the same time, the Minister feels strongly that on general principles, the establishment of the range is undesirable and that the Air Council should be discouraged to the greatest possible extent against putting the proposal into effect.