4. The Chiefs of Staff therefore decided, as a first step, to instruct the Joint Intelligence Sub-Committee, in collaboration as necessary with representatives of other Departments concerned, to report whether the hostility of the Arab states individually or of the Middle East "Arab world" collectively, was a likely contingency. The countries to be taken into account are Egypt, Palestine, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Transjordan, and the Yemen. 5. The answer to the problem will largely depend on the outcome of the Palestine Conference, and it is therefore proposed that the subject should be examined (a) in the light of information as to the existing situation (i.e.