Durcheinander im angekündigten Nervenkrieg –
‚Europa zuerst‘ oder ‚Japan zuerst‘
Von unserer Stockholmer Schriftleitung
…
Durcheinander im angekündigten Nervenkrieg –
U.S. State Department (August 24, 1943)
Roosevelt-Churchill meeting, forenoon
| Present | ||
|---|---|---|
| United States | United Kingdom | |
| President Roosevelt | Prime Minister Churchill | |
| Secretary Hull | Foreign Secretary Eden |
Recognition of the French Committee of National Liberation was the principal subject of discussion, and it was presumably at this meeting that the final decision was taken that the United States and British Governments would issue separate statements on this subject.
Meeting of the Combined Chiefs of Staff, 10:30 a.m.
| Present | ||
|---|---|---|
| United States | United Kingdom | China |
| Admiral Leahy | General Brooke | Foreign Minister Soong |
| General Marshall | Admiral of the Fleet Pound | Major General Chu |
| Admiral King | Air Chief Marshal Portal | |
| General Arnold | Field Marshal Dill | |
| Lieutenant General Somervell | Vice Admiral Mountbatten | |
| Vice Admiral Willson | Lieutenant General Ismay | |
| Rear Admiral Cooke | General Riddell-Webster | |
| Rear Admiral Badger | Admiral Noble | |
| Major General Handy | Lieutenant General Macready | |
| Major General Fairchild | Air Marshal Welsh | |
| Major General Rooks | Captain Lambe | |
| Brigadier General Kuter | Brigadier McNair | |
| Brigadier General Wedemeyer | Air Commodore Elliot | |
| Commander Freseman | Brigadier Macleod | |
| Commander Long | Major General Whiteley | |
| Air Commodore Foster | ||
| Captain Brownrigg | ||
| Secretariat | ||
| Brigadier General Deane | Brigadier Redman | |
| Captain Royal | Commander Coleridge |
Combined Chiefs of Staff Minutes
August 24, 1943, 10:30 a.m.
Secret
Conclusions of the Previous Meeting
The Combined Chiefs of Staff: Accepted the conclusions of the 115th Meeting. The detailed record of the meeting was also accepted, subject to minor amendments.
Final Report to the President and Prime Minister (CCS 319/4)
The Combined Chiefs of Staff had before them a draft cover note for the final report and certain amendments arising out of the Second QUADRANT Meeting between the President and Prime Minister.
Later in the meeting Sir Alan Brooke informed the Combined Chiefs of Staff that the Prime Minister considered that the names of the naval and air commanders for OVERLORD should not be mentioned in the final report.
The Combined Chiefs of Staff: Approved the cover note and certain amendments to the final report (subsequently circulated as 319/5).
Mediterranean Operations
a. Directive to General Eisenhower (CCS 328)
The Combined Chiefs of Staff had before them a memorandum by the Combined Staff Planners covering a draft directive to General Eisenhower based on the decisions of the Combined Chiefs of Staff at QUADRANT. In the course of discussion, it was agreed that General Eisenhower should be sent only those parts of the final report to the Prime Minister and President (CCS 319/5), and of the paper relating available resources to plans (CCS 329), that dealt with the European Theater.
The Combined Chiefs of Staff: Agreed that those extracts from the Final Report of the QUADRANT Conference (CCS 319/5) and from the Implementation of Assumed Basic Undertakings (CCS 329) dealing with the European Theater should be sent to General Eisenhower with the cover note contained as an enclosure to CCS 328.
b. Discussion with Generals Whiteley and Rooks
General Whiteley outlined the position with regard to forthcoming operations in the Mediterranean. His statement follows:
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Forthcoming operations in Italy comprise two amphibious assaults:
a. Across the Straits of Messina (BAYTOWN);
b. Into Salerno Bay (AVALANCHE). These assaults will be under the command of General Alexander, and have as their object the securing of the Rome airfields and the clearing of the enemy from Southern Italy. -
The BAYTOWN assault is being carried out by the 13th Corps, with two divisions in the assault and one in reserve. The assaulting divisions are the 5th and the Canadian. The object of the BAYTOWN assault is to contain German divisions and to open the Straits of Messina for ships carrying cargoes to Naples.
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The AVALANCHE assault is under the command of the 5th U.S. Army. The assault will be carried out by the 10th British Corps, comprising 46th, 56th and 7th Armored Divisions. The 6th U.S. Corps is the immediate follow-up, and later follow-ups may include a French Corps and the 5th British Corps. The immediate object of AVALANCHE is to secure the port of Naples.
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We expect to find 16 German divisions in Italy. The German intention seems to be to deny us the Po Valley by holding a position Pisa-Rimini. It looks as if they intend to withdraw their divisions from Southern Italy to the North. The four divisions in the extreme south are, we think, withdrawing, covered by two German divisions in the Naples-Salerno area. Two more German divisions are in the Rome area disciplining the Italian Government.
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The BAYTOWN assault will take place between September 2-4. General Eisenhower was anxious to have a ten-day gap between BAYTOWN and AVALANCHE so that some of the BAYTOWN landing craft could be used for AVALANCHE. The limiting factors for the AVALANCHE assault are that it cannot be launched before September 7; that, for reasons of moon, it cannot be launched between September 11 and 21. The AVALANCHE assault will probably, therefore, take place September 9-11.
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It looks, therefore, as if the BAYTOWN assault may not meet very strong opposition. On the other hand, the Germans had large numbers of antiaircraft dual-purpose guns on the Straits, and some of these may still be in position. Even if we do not meet with much opposition, our progress is likely to be slowed down by the physical difficulties of the country and enemy demolitions. We hope, however, to pass six divisions through Calabria by 1st December.
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There is, of necessity, some anxiety about the AVALANCHE operation. The assault may be opposed within a few hours by comparable German forces. If and when the Germans realize that our assault is not in very great strength, they may move divisions to the sound of the guns and attack us with up to six divisions sometime during September. On the other hand, communications in Italy are poor and it may not be easy for the Germans to alter their withdrawal plans and concentrate divisions against our AVALANCHE assault. However, General Eisenhower must naturally be anxious to protect the AVALANCHE assault with the maximum aircraft, and to build it up just as quickly as is humanly possible. Algiers estimates that, apart from air-borne divisions, six divisions and tactical air force will be ashore in the Naples area by 1st December.
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The strategical air force cannot be moved in until we have secured the Rome airfields. It is not possible to estimate at this stage how many divisions will be required to do this – probably of the order of 16. The maintenance commitment of the strategical air force is the equivalent of approximately four divisions so considerable development will be necessary before it can be operating at full strength. This will probably include the provision of pipelines.
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For any advance north of the Pisa line, we will require ports north of Naples. Civitavecchia is a good port and can be used even if the German is in occupation of Corsica and Sardinia. We must, however, deal with those two islands before we can use Leghorn and Genoa. General Eisenhower’s intention prior to the receipt of any instructions resulting from this conference, was to continue to hit the Germans whenever and wherever possible.
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As regards operations against Southern France, the main limiting factor is likely to be landing craft. If we can only assault with approximately two divisions, we want to create diversions as much as possible from other directions. Naturally, therefore, we would like to be in possession of the Italian coast right up to the French frontier. Whether or not it will be possible to do an amphibious operation in Southern France if we are not appreciably further north than the Pisa line has not yet been examined.
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We are faced with a very difficult movement and maintenance problem in the Mediterranean. For several months we will have to be manning ports in North Africa and in Italy. Moreover, the North African ports will be working at extreme pressure. They will not only have to accept U.S. and U.K. convoys, discharge these cargoes and reload them for Italian destinations, but also they will be loading divisions for Italy at top pressure. Moreover, owing to poor communications in North Africa, we cannot always move divisions to the most desirable ports of embarkation; we have to load them where they are situated.
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On paper, General Eisenhower has a large number of divisions available. On the other hand, it is questionable whether we will be able to provide the personnel and equipment necessary to maintain these divisions on an operational scale. There is not only the problem of shipping equipment, but of dealing with it through our bases during this period of high pressure. Moreover, many of these divisions are of foreign nationalities and this leads to less elasticity and increased maintenance commitments.
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Plans for Operation BACKBONE have been prepared. Until the end of the year there are likely to be some British divisions in North Africa which could be made available. After the New Year we will probably have to rely on the French to provide the insurance for BACKBONE. Our first step would have to be to move air forces from Italy to the Spanish Moroccan area to operate from fields already prepared or earmarked. We would also have to forestall the Germans in the Balearics with a view to interfering with their coastal traffic from Marseilles. If we could deny them this coastal traffic, we could interfere appreciably with their rate of buildup.
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To sum up, I think that General Eisenhower’s main concerns are:
a. The anxious period during and immediately after the AVALANCHE assault;
b. Port congestion and the difficulties of movement in the Mediterranean;
c. Whether we will be able to maintain sufficient divisions on an operational scale.
General Rooks explained that the AVALANCHE attack would be under command of the 5th U.S. Army and would consist of two corps, one British and one American. The possibility of a German effort to sever the lines of communication through the Straits of Gibraltar was continually kept under review. Plans had been prepared by the Fifth Army, which had now been turned over to AFHQ, who would use such forces as were available to them. At present some two to four United States and British divisions were available for this purpose, though later it might be necessary to depend to some extent on French troops.
Air Commodore Foster said that already all the tactical fighter and most of the tactical bomber force was situated in Sicily. Air cover for the assault in the Salerno area would be provided by fighters based initially in Sicily. The single-engined fighters would operate from six to eight strips laid to the eastward of Messina and with their extra tanks could operate for between 15 and 20 minutes over the assault. The twin-engined fighters based on Catania and in Western Sicily, having a greater range, could remain longer over the area. In addition, A-26 units were also based on Catania, and the Fleet air arm would provide air cover with Seafires from four escort and one Fleet carrier. It was estimated that it would be possible to maintain 30 fighters continuously over the assault during the hours of daylight. The tactical bomber force would be used on an arc designed to stop enemy reinforcements while the strategical bomber force would concentrate on communications and airdromes. Since the enemy had good airdromes on the eastern coast of Italy opposite the assault area, it would not be possible to harry the enemy aircraft to the same extent as had been achieved in HUSKY. It was for this reason that the Commander-in-Chief had asked to retain the B-24s which had been used for the Ploești raid.
Captain Brownrigg explained the naval command arrangements. The AVALANCHE assault would all be under the command of Admiral Hewitt. Under him would be Admiral Hall, commanding the combat loaders carrying the 6th Corps; Admiral Conolly commanding the United States landing craft; and Commodore Oliver, the British landing craft. Admiral Hewitt would have a force of cruisers and destroyers operating under his orders and Admiral Vian would command the carrier force. Cover to the northward would be provided by a battleship force. There would be a further covering force operating to the south of the Toe in the unlikely event of the Italian ships in Taranto endeavoring to break out. The Naval Commander-in-Chief was not worried on the assault phase of the operation but realized the difficulties of safeguarding the long lines of sea communication and the various routes on which convoys would have to run. It would be impossible to divert convoys to avoid submarines and air attack and they would therefore have to fight their way through. For this reason, there was, of course, a large demand for escort vessels.
The Combined Chiefs of Staff: Took note with interest of the above statements.
Future Convoy Arrangements in the Atlantic (CCS 222/3)
Sir Dudley Pound explained that a Combined ad hoc committee had put forward the proposals contained in the enclosure to CCS 222/3 since the present arrangement of three UGS convoys per month, with a limit of 80 ships per convoy, did not provide for all the ships presenting themselves. The suggestion that four convoys per mouth should be established would require further investigation since the running of additional UGS convoys would necessitate consequential adjustments to other Atlantic convoys. With regard to paragraph 5 of the memorandum, he suggested the words “unless otherwise agreed” should be added after the words “following priority” in order to give a greater degree of flexibility.
Admiral King said that he fully appreciated that the cycle could not be changed to four convoys a month except after consultation and in relation to other convoys. He suggested that it should be agreed that the United States Navy should fix the earliest practicable date for a program of four UGS convoys a month, “with due regard to the general setup of convoys in the Atlantic.”
The Combined Chiefs of Staff: Agreed,
a. That the U.S. Navy should fix the earliest practicable date when a program of four UGS convoys per month could be established, with due regard to the general setup of convoys in the Atlantic.
b. To delegate executive authority to the Combined Military Transportation Committee to act on similar problems in the future with regard to UGS convoys in accordance with the following priority unless otherwise agreed:
(1) U.S. and British ships destined for forces commanded by the Allied Commander-in-Chief in Mediterranean.
(2) U.S. and British ships destined for India.
(3) U.S. and British ships destined for Allied forces in Middle East.
(4) U.S. and British ships carrying civil supplies for occupied territories in Mediterranean.
(5) Ships destined for Persian Gulf.
(6) Lend-Lease to Turkey.
(7) Miscellaneous.
Meeting With Dr. T. V. Soong
Sir Alan Brooke said he understood that Dr. T. V. Soong had been informed of the progress of discussions at Quebec by the President and Prime Minister. He felt it would be very useful to have Dr. Soong’s reactions to the points made by the President and Prime Minister.
Dr. Soong said that the President and Prime Minister had given him only a general outline and had suggested that he should obtain full information about actual plans from the Combined Chiefs of Staff. He was most happy to know that so much consideration had been given at QUADRANT to the war with Japan. To achieve greater security he proposed to send General Chu to the Generalissimo to inform him of the decisions taken by the Combined Chiefs of Staff.
In reply to a question by Dr. Soong, General Somervell explained the layout of the proposed pipeline to China which would carry 18,000 tons of gasoline per month. It was hoped by 1945-46 to achieve a lift of 65,000 tons of supplies by road. Some small amounts could, he hoped, be got over the road about three months after the opening.
Dr. Soong then asked for details with regard to the Chinese share of proposed operations. Was he right in assuming that the original plan was being adhered to and that Chinese forces at Ramgarh would operate from Ledo in conjunction with an advance by the forces from Yunnan?
General Marshall confirmed that in general this was the case.
In reply to a question by Dr. Soong, Sir Alan Brooke said that the size of the British forces to be employed had not yet been settled, since the full effect of the floods on the lines of communication through Assam was not yet known. These lines of communication had to carry not only supplies to be flown by air into China and those required for the forces to operate from Ledo and Imphal, but also the supplies required for the expansion of the air route and the building up of the lines of communications themselves.
Dr. Soong asked to be informed of the date on which it was proposed these operations should commence.
Sir Alan Brooke explained that it was now proposed that they should start later than originally envisaged, since it was believed better that they should carry on into the early part of the monsoon, thus assisting us to consolidate our position. The actual date was, however, not settled, nor was it possible to disclose it.
Referring to amphibian operations, Dr. Soong said that the Generalissimo had always understood that they would be carried out in Burma.
Sir Alan Brooke said that he was not in a position to disclose the selected area for the amphibious assault, but it was to take place from India and would have a direct bearing on operations in Burma and Western China.
Dr. Soong pointed out that the Generalissimo feared the Japanese capacity to attack since they had the advantage of superior lines of communication which would be hard to combat.
Sir Alan Brooke explained that the position was improving since the Japanese no longer had the same power as hitherto, and attrition against air and shipping was being forced upon them by the ever-increasing efforts of the United Nations. In Burma it was hoped that the employment of long-range penetration groups on the principle of Brigadier Wingate’s columns, would seriously interfere with Japanese lines of communications.
Dr. Soong said that he felt that it would be of no value for him, as a civilian, to express his own views on the situation.
Admiral Leahy pointed out that the success of operations in Burma was largely dependent on the confident cooperation of the Chinese forces. With this, success could be expected, but unless this collaboration was forthcoming they could not be undertaken.
General Marshall pointed out the colossal effort required to build up and maintain communications with China. The pipeline was only a small part, though that in itself necessitated the shipping of much equipment and many technicians over a vast distance. The airline was also an immense undertaking. Last week it had achieved a rate of 7,000 tons per month. It would soon achieve 10,000 tons a month and would increase from even that figure. To make this prodigious effort worthwhile, security of the lines of communication was essential.
In the Mediterranean, by a magnificent unity of effort, a great victory had been achieved. In the Far East the position was infinitely more difficult. Unity of effort and unity of action in Burma, in India and in China must be achieved. A Supreme Commander had been proposed by the British and accepted delightedly by the U.S. Chiefs of Staff. This Commander-in-Chief was faced with an extremely difficult problem and his operations could never succeed unless he was assured of complete unity of action and of cooperation by China.
At this point General Marshall left the meeting with Dr. Soong in order to inform him of a certain decision taken by the Combined Chiefs of Staff.
On his return General Marshall informed the Combined Chiefs of Staff of the lines of his discussion with Dr. Soong. He had once more emphasized to him that he, Dr. Soong, must ensure unity of action from China on behalf of the united effort and that this unity of action must be accompanied by no holding back or reluctance. Only thus could success be achieved and without it all our efforts would be futile.
The Combined Chiefs of Staff: Took note with warm approval of the statement made by General Marshall.
Relation of Resources to Plans (CCS 329; 329/1)
The Combined Chiefs of Staff had before them a memorandum by the Combined Staff Planners on the implementation of assumed basic undertakings and specific operations for the conduct of the war, 1943-44, together with certain amendments, subsequently put forward by the Combined Staff Planners. These amendments, together with certain others put forward at the meeting, were discussed in detail.
The Combined Chiefs of Staff:
a. Agreed to certain amendments to the paper including that in 329/1 (amended paper subsequently published as CCS 329/2).
b. Approved the report by the Combined Staff Planners in the enclosure to the paper.
c. Instructed the Secretaries to prepare a suitable paragraph on the subject for insertion in the Final Report.
Southeast Asia Command
The Combined Chiefs of Staff had before them the terms of an announcement to be made with regard to the appointment of Vice Admiral the Lord Louis Mountbatten as Supreme Commander of the Southeast Asia Command.
The Combined Chiefs of Staff: Took note with approval of the proposed announcement.
Propaganda Committee (CCS 310)
Sir Alan Brooke explained that the British Chiefs of Staff were not in a position to take action at present on this paper. He understood that it was being discussed by the British Minister of Information on a political level. He fully appreciated the importance of resolving the problem presented and would make every effort to insure that a solution was found as rapidly as possible.
General Marshall said that he realized that the suggestion that the Combined Chiefs of Staff should be charged with the implementation of the policy was questionable. He felt, however, that an early solution was important, particularly from the United States Chiefs of Staff point of view, since they had a particular responsibility in the matter.
The Combined Chiefs of Staff:
a. Agreed as to the necessity from the military point of view of adequate machinery for the coordination of propaganda.
b. Took note that the British Chiefs of Staff would ascertain the result of the recent negotiations by the British authorities concerned.
c. Agreed that further action in this matter should be taken up by the Joint Staff Mission as early as possible.
Message to Stalin
General Marshall read out a draft message to Mr. Stalin, which he suggested might be put forward to the President and Prime Minister as the basis of the communication to the Soviet Government. Certain minor amendments to this draft were suggested.
The Combined Chiefs of Staff: Approved the draft message to be put forward to the President and Prime Minister.
Concluding Remarks
General Marshall said that he felt that the Combined Chiefs of Staff would like to place on record their appreciation of the work done by the Planning Staffs, by General Riddell-Webster, General Somervell and Admiral Badger, who, by their industry and long hours of toil, had contributed much to the success of the conference.
Admiral King felt that special mention of the labors of the Secretariat should also be expressed.
Admiral Leahy expressed, on behalf of the United States Chiefs of Staff, his appreciation for the consideration which had been shown by the British Chiefs of Staff for the United States point of view. This had contributed largely to the success of the conference and the easy reconciliation of ideas. He believed that the conference had been of great value and that further conferences should be held at short intervals.
Sir Alan Brooke, on behalf of the British Chiefs of Staff, expressed his gratitude for the patience and consideration shown by the United States Chiefs of Staff to the British points of view. He believed that each meeting was a step forward to a full appreciation by each of the other’s point of view, and agreements were therefore more quickly reached. Now that we held the initiative, the tempo of the war was faster and meetings should, he believed, be held more frequently than hitherto.
Roosevelt-Churchill-Mackenzie King press conference, 12:15 p.m.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
THE PRESIDENT: Mr. King, you are now the “presiding officer.”
PRIME MINISTER MACKENZIE KING: Gentlemen of the press, before the Conference breaks up, the President and Prime Minister hope to have an opportunity, in which I am proud indeed to be able to join them, of interchanging greetings with you, and also of expressing to you all, our thanks for the helpful cooperation which the press has given in the period of the Conference…
(AFTER AN INTERVAL FOR THE PHOTOGRAPHERS)
Well, Mr. Churchill, would you like to say a few words to the gentlemen of the press? I call on Mr. Churchill to say a few words to the gentlemen assembled.
PRIME MINISTER CHURCHILL: Well, ladies and gentlemen, until I arrived here I thought that the President was going to follow Mr. Mackenzie King in the proceedings. I didn’t know what I was going to say, and I thought that I would base my remarks in accordance with what he said. Now he has arrived, he tells me that he wishes me to begin. Now he is going to listen to what I have got to say, and he is reserving himself not to make any errors I may make. (LAUGHTER)
Well, I understand this is a talk which is to enable us, as Mr. Mackenzie King in his very happy phrase said, “to interchange greetings,” and rather in the same way as we did at Casablanca.
Now I have quite realized that many of you gentlemen, probably the most distinguished body of great representatives that could be gathered together, have felt impatient at the fact that you were all gathered here, and there was so very little to report and write about.
Well, that was inherent in the nature of the task, because these conferences which attract world-wide attention do not themselves yield a matter which can be continually contributive to the press, or to the world. And one hopes that as a result of the decisions taken here, events will occur weeks and months later which will fully justify all the labor which was expended. And it is by those results, which are not available in any form that can be even foreshadowed today, that those who take part in these conferences must be judged; and I hope, therefore, that you will appreciate and sympathize with our difficulties, in the same way as I have tried to show I understand yours.
As an old reporter, newspaperman, war correspondent, when most of you were still unborn, I know the feelings of irritation which come when the trouble taken by the press does not seem to reap a proportionate reward.
But we are fighting a great life-and-death struggle, and I must ask for the patriotism, tolerance, and indulgence of all those who are here to make allowances for that, criticizing anything they think should be criticized, but altogether to make fair allowances for the conditions under which we are doing our work, which are essentially those of secrecy, which are essentially those the results of which, when they can be spoken of at all, should be the subject of considered statement. Therefore, I hope that you will be to our faults a little mild, and to our virtues very kind.
This is the sixth conference I have had with the President; and I know there are some people who say, “Why is it necessary to have all these conferences?” But I think a much more reasonable way of looking at it would be to say, “How is it they are able to get on with such long intervals between the conferences?”
When you think that our armies are linked together as no two armies have ever been- our fleets, air forces, and armies linked together as never before in history, not only side by side but intermingled very often – and that the operations which they are conducting are being achieved with unexampled rapidity ahead of schedule and ahead of program; and when you think of all the difference it makes to the soldiers who are fighting with all the power at their command – and at which they will have to be kept, at the same time, at the summit and at the center – and that there will have to be a clear marking out of the course ahead, and a detailed study, a deliberate study of all the steps that have to be taken – and what a difference that all makes to the soldier, and how many lives may easily be saved, and what abridgments may be achieved in this long and devastating, desecrating war – then I feel sure that you will agree with me, and with the President, that we are rightly to come together, and to bring our staffs together, to bring not only the head staffs but all the very large staffs together indispensable to the working of modern operations.
A great advantage is achieved by personal contact. I assure you it would not be possible to carry on the complicated warfare we are waging without close, intimate, friendly, personal contacts, and they have been established at every level in the very large organizations which have been brought together here at Québec.
I certainly must tell you that I have found the work very hard here – very hard. I have hardly had a minute to spare, from the continued flow of telegrams from London to the necessity of dealing with a number of great questions which cannot be hurried in their consideration; and a great many minor decisions, some of which take just as much time and trouble. All this crowding in has certainly not left me any time to go about and see people, and to make all the exterior contacts which I should like to have done, except for an hour yesterday when I saw a few people.
That, I think, has been true also of our staffs. They have worked at tremendous pressure. Not only the combined conferences, which have been daily and twice a day and so forth, but each of the staffs has had to spend long hours in conclave together among themselves; and, of course, the President has had to sit with his officers, and I with those whom I have brought over. We have had to discuss with them all the movements – the thoughts – the decisions which have been taking place.
Well, we have got to the end of the task. We have reached very good – very sound – I hope very good conclusions. They are certainly unanimous and agreed, and most extreme cordiality prevails.
Now, you must not suppose that is a small thing, because with the best will in the world differences of view must arise, when two great Nations with their immense military forces, with problems in every quarter of the globe, are working together. They must. And it is astonishing what happens, even if you are separated for as much as three months. The differences arise not on principle but on emphasis and priority which, if they are allowed to consider, do not hamper operations therefore.
I never felt more sure about anything than I do about the fact that these conferences are an indispensable part of the successful conduct of the war, and of a shortening of the struggle, and of the saving of bloodshed to the troops. The least we can do for them is to make sure that they go into action under the best conditions and the best planning, that our foresight and deliberations have played their part in all those plans.
Well, on the whole, things are very much better than they were when we met at Casablanca.
They are even better than when we met in Washington last.
Now, great operations have been successfully accomplished. All Sicily is prostrate under our authority, and apparently taking to it in a very kindly manner.
Of course, needless to say, the moment one achievement has been made, everyone rightly expects something else to come forward onto the scene; and I have no doubt something else will come, but I am sure you would be the first to silence my lips if you thought I was going in any way to give any indication other than one that would be misleading to the enemy, as you may always hear something that is coming about future operations. Still, I do look forward to great steps being taken to beating down our antagonists one after another.
And I should like to point out that the relations between the British and American armies are different from those between any other large forces in the ages, in that they are working together in the same set of operations.
Now, another reason why we are here only two, instead of three or more, is that of course a very large part of our discussions has naturally and necessarily been concerned with the war against Japan; and those are subjects of special interest to the powers who are belligerent against Japan. That you can see for yourselves.
We have had Mr. T. V. Soong here, and we have made plans for pressing forward with the study not only of short-term action but, of course, long-term; and as we hope, final and decisive actions will have to be taken against that greedy and ambitious Government and people.
Generally speaking, I have every right to give you the groundwork on which you can feel strong and healthy confidence. We are well armed. We are better armed than before-better equipped. We, who began so weak and so in many ways ill equipped, are now enjoying that superiority in weapons and in material of all kinds.
The U-boat warfare has rolled over from the debit to the credit side. The great outflow of shipping so magnificently and prodigiously produced by the United States and by Canada, together with the heavy sinkings of U-boats and the safe conduct of convoys, has undoubtedly placed us in a position where we can say without any doubt that Britain and the United States will be able to bring the whole of their weight to bear.
And that, combined with the superb exertions of our Russian ally, far away locked in the great land battles in the heart of Europe, those two combined together should give us the very best means of helping all the toiling millions– the anxious, suffering millions of the world, thrown out of their houses, taken from their fields – who through no fault or device of their own have been condemned to toil all these four years.
Thank you very much for listening to what I have had to say. But Mr. Mackenzie King reminds me, quite properly, that four years is from the British point of view, but the Chinese were in for seven years.
Well, let’s do our utmost to bring these periods of tribulations to an end; and believe me, the work which we have done here will, I am sure, play a contributory part. It is a satisfactory milestone on the road, and I have no doubt there will be other milestones in the future.
But this, I am certain, has been a most successful Conference; and if you, while not hesitating to mingle corrections with approval, will at the same time give us the best aid you can in making a success of this, and in spreading wide that feeling of confidence which I feel, and which I am sure you are justified in feeling, then I think you might have found this Conference has yielded all that you would have liked from a press point of view, and certainly feel that you have played your part with others in the great groundwork which has ended and is steadily progressing.
PRIME MINISTER MACKENZIE KING: Thank you very much. I invite you, Mr. President, to speak to the ladies and gentlemen of the press.
THE PRESIDENT: I think perhaps that I can give away a secret, by explaining that all during the early hours of this morning – I was going to say last night – the three of us were in an apologetic frame of mind to the press. We were honestly trying to give you all some spot news. And we talked for some two hours, trying to devise something along the line of a slogan – a phrase – by which this Conference might be known in the future, but we failed utterly. And that is why we come here in a spirit of apology.
The Prime Minister has well explained why there are certain things that cannot be talked about or printed, and yet I think there is one thing in which the press can help, as the press well knows, to a very great degree. This war is not being run by conferences, it goes far deeper than that. We live in democracies. The war effort in the field has gone extremely well. That is in part due to the conferences of our staffs. And yet, what the men carry, what the men eat, the ships they sail in, that all comes from the unanimity of our war effort, down to the average citizen. And I believe that it is due to the magnificent effort in all our countries, but one which must be kept up very clearly and definitely to the high pitch that it has now arrived at. We cannot afford in any way to assume that military and naval or air men can win the war alone. They need the backing of the people back home. And that is why this Conference, while of very great value, must be implemented by the people in the factories, and the shipyards, and in the fields.
We have had a series of successes. When I think back a little over a year ago – back of Casablanca – June 1942, when we were meeting in Washington, things looked pretty dark – to the days of Tobruk, to the days of a lack of an offensive on our part. We were still on the defensive, clearly, in almost every part of the world.
And we know that it takes time. We can’t order things done and have them happen overnight, or over the week end. And so, what was planned in June of 1942 didn’t go into effect until November 1942. And the things that were planned at Casablanca have only just gone into effect, as we realize through the capture of Tunis first, and then Sicily.
I think you can assume that other plans are about to be developed. But that point about the Conference being a detail, if you like, an essential part of winning the war in the shortest possible time ought to be linked with the part that the people of the United Nations must contribute–
PRIME MINISTER CHURCHILL: (INTERJECTING) Hear, hear.
THE PRESIDENT: (CONTINUING) –to the earliest and most satisfactory victory.
I think also that there are one or two things that might be assumed. I know the value of controversy making the front page – (LAUGHTER) and I think it’s an actual fact that we have gone through this series of conferences without controversy. We have a meeting of the minds, and I believe that that is going to last, not only through the war but for many, many long years after the war is over and peace comes.
In the same way, I think we ought to realize that this is a war throughout the world, that we are looking at it as a world war. Yes, we discussed the Atlantic situation, and the operations in the Mediterranean; but we have discussed equally the operations and the problems in the Southwest Pacific, of China, and even of that very important fact that happened during this Conference, the throwing out, or shall I say the self-removal of the Japs from the only part of this hemisphere that they had a foot in. Therefore, there is no difference, East and West, and below the equator or above the equator. It’s all one broad and general operation. That was one of our problems last night and into the early hours of this morning. We couldn’t say anything that would create a controversy, because there was none.
I can tell you also that not once but a dozen times, Mr. Churchill and I have said this spot is the best yet.
PRIME MINISTER CHURCHILL: (INTERJECTING) Yes.
THE PRESIDENT: (CONTINUING) We have come here to Québec, and we have appreciated the wonderful hospitality of Mr. King–
PRIME MINISTER CHURCHILL: (INTERJECTING) Hear hear.
THE PRESIDENT: (CONTINUING) –and of the Canadian people, because he speaks for them.
I don’t think we could find a more delightful spot than here, with its great historic background. I, like Mr. Churchill, wish we had had more time to get about and see things, and do things. I will say that I shall never forget the very excellent eating qualities of Québec trout. That is something that I shall long remember. All in all, it has been a tremendous success.
We wanted last night to give out some kind of statement that would be– what shall I call it? – a bit exciting. Well, a statement has been prepared. I don’t believe there’s a “cough in a carload” in it. (LAUGHTER)…
In the statement we were compelled, Mr. Churchill and I, to speak of the “fleets, armies, and air forces of the two nations.” The reason for that is that this is a staff conference between the British and American staffs; but I want to point out that it is only because of that restriction that we did not speak of the splendid forces of the Dominion of Canada. They are at the front, as we all know, working with the British and the Americans; and I don’t want anybody to think, anywhere in the world, that we have forgotten them – what the Canadians have been doing in this war.
Well, I think that’s about all that I can say.
And I merely want once more to thank Mr. King and the people of the Dominion for all that they have done to make this a very busy, but a very happy ten days since we came here.
THE PRESS: Thank you, sir.
PRIME MINISTER MACKENZIE KING: Gentlemen, just one word before you part.
I would like to say in your presence to the President and to the Prime Minister of Great Britain, how greatly honored the people of Canada have felt that they should have agreed to hold the meeting which they have just been holding in Canada, and particularly in this historic old city of Québec.
My colleagues and I were very proud indeed when we received word from Mr. Roosevelt and Mr. Churchill that they were agreed upon meeting in this city, in our country. I wish to thank them most warmly for having come here and spent the time that they have spent with us. We all wish that it might be longer. We all wish that there might have been a greater opportunity for our people to have the privilege of seeing them more, as they did yesterday in the city for the Prime Minister, and also for the President. But we have realized that this is a very serious Conference, and that the matters being discussed here are the most important of any that can be discussed in the world at this time, that every moment and hour has been precious.
It has been my privilege to know something of what has been done behind the scenes, and I would just like to assure all of you ladies and gentlemen of the press that there hasn’t been a moment in which the thoughts and the minds of these gentlemen and their military advisers have not been directed to the supreme purpose for which they have met and gathered together here.
I am delighted, Mr. President and Mr. Churchill, that you have both found it possible not only to see each other but to see just a bit of the immediate environs of the city, and to carry away many happy memories of the few days that we have had the privilege of having you in our midst.
May I say to you ladies and gentlemen of the press, on behalf of the Government, how deeply we appreciate the Government of Canada – how deeply we appreciate the very helpful cooperation that you have given to all of us during the period of the Conference. And I want to thank you on behalf of what you have sent out to the world as the picture and background in which the Conference is being held, in which you have given the atmosphere in which these deliberations have taken place, and for what you have been able to give of all the proceedings.
You have helped to put our country onto the map of the world, at this time of greatest importance in the history of the world. I thank you for having done it, and for the manner in which you have done it.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Communiqué
Québec, August 24, 1943.
The Anglo-American War Conference which opened at Québec on the 11th of August, under the hospitable auspices of the Canadian Government, has now concluded its work.
The whole field of world operations has been surveyed in the light of the many gratifying events which have taken place since the meeting of the President and the Prime Minister in Washington at the end of May, and the necessary decisions have been taken to provide for the forward action of the Fleets, Armies and Air Forces of the two nations. Considering that these forces are intermingled in continuous action against the enemy in several quarters of the globe, it is indispensable that entire unity of aim and method should be maintained at the summit of the war direction.
Further conferences will be needed, probably at shorter intervals than before, as the war effort of the United States and British Commonwealth and Empire against the enemy spreads and deepens. It would not be helpful to the fighting troops to make any announcement of the decisions which have been reached. These can only emerge in action.
It may however be stated that the military discussions of the Chiefs of Staff turned very largely upon the war against Japan and the bringing of effective aid to China. Mr. T. V. Soong, representing the Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek, was a party to the discussions. In this field, as in the European, the President and the Prime Minister were able to receive and approve the unanimous recommendations of the Combined Chiefs of Staff. Agreement was also reached upon the political data underlying or arising out of the military operations.
It was resolved to hold another Conference before the end of the year between the British and American authorities, in addition to any tripartite meeting which it may be possible to arrange with Soviet Russia. Full reports of the decisions so far as they affect the war against Germany and Italy will be furnished to the Soviet Government.
[Consideration has been given during the conference to the question of relations with the French Committee of Liberation, and it is understood that an announcement by a number of governments will be made in the latter part of the week.]
The Combined Chiefs of Staff to President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill
Québec, 24 August 1943.
Secret
Enclosure to CCS 319/5
QUADRANT: Report to the President and Prime Minister of the Final Agreed Summary of Conclusions Reached by the Combined Chiefs of Staff
In previous memoranda (CCS 319 and CCS 319/2) the Combined Chiefs of Staff presented certain agreed conclusions reached during the present conference regarding operations in the main theaters of war. These amended conclusions have been related to resources available, and an agreed summary is submitted herewith.
Overall objective
In conjunction with Russia and other Allies to bring about at the earliest possible date, the unconditional surrender of the Axis powers.
Overall strategic concept for the prosecution of the war
In cooperation with Russia and other Allies to bring about at the earliest possible date, the unconditional surrender of the Axis in Europe.
Simultaneously, in cooperation with other Pacific Powers concerned to maintain and extend unremitting pressure against Japan with the purpose of continually reducing her Military power and attaining positions from which her ultimate surrender can be forced. The effect of any such extension on the overall objective to be given consideration by the Combined Chiefs of Staff before action is taken.
Upon the defeat of the Axis in Europe, in cooperation with other Pacific Powers and, if possible, with Russia, to direct the full resources of the United States and Great Britain to bring about at the earliest possible date the unconditional surrender of Japan.
Basic undertakings in support of overall strategic concept
Whatever operations are decided on in support of the overall strategic concept, the following established undertakings will be a first charge against our resources, subject to review by the Combined Chiefs of Staff in keeping with the changing situation.
a. Maintain the security and war-making capacity of the Western Hemisphere and the British Isles.
b. Support the war-making capacity of our forces in all areas.
c. Maintain vital overseas lines of communication, with particular emphasis on the defeat of the U-boat menace.
d. Continue the disruption of Axis sea communications.
e. Intensify the air offensive against the Axis Powers in Europe.
f. Concentrate maximum resources in a selected area as early as practicable for the purpose of conducting a decisive invasion of the Axis citadel.
g. Undertake such measures as may be necessary and practicable to aid the war effort of Russia.
h. Undertake such measures as may be necessary and practicable in order to aid the war effort of China as an effective Ally and as a base for operations against Japan.
i. To prepare the ground for the active or passive participation of Turkey in the war on the side of the Allies.
j. To prepare the French Forces in Africa to fulfill an active role in the war against the Axis Powers.
Execution of the overall strategic concept
The following operations in execution of the over-all strategic concept are agreed upon.
THE U-BOAT WAR
a. Progress Report
We have had encouraging reports from the Chiefs of the two Naval Staffs regarding the U-boat war. We have approved recommendations made by the Allied Submarine Board which should result in further strengthening our anti-U-boat operations. The Board has been directed to continue and expand its studies in search of further improvements.
b. Facilities in the Azores Islands
The facilities of the Azores Islands will be used for intensified sea and air operations against the U-boat.
NOTE: On the successful conclusion of the negotiations for the use of the Azores we have taken note of the assurance given by the British Chiefs of Staff that everything will be done by the British as soon as possible after actual entry into the Azores has been gained to make arrangements for their operational and transit use by U.S. aircraft.
THE DEFEAT OF THE AXIS IN EUROPE
We have approved the following operations in 1943-44 for the defeat of the Axis Powers in Europe.
THE BOMBER OFFENSIVE
The progressive destruction and dislocation of the German military, industrial and economic system, the disruption of vital elements of lines of communication, and the material reduction of German air combat strength by the successful prosecution of the Combined Bomber Offensive from all convenient bases is a prerequisite to OVERLORD (barring an independent and complete Russian victory before OVERLORD can be mounted). This operation must therefore continue to have highest strategic priority.
OPERATION ‘OVERLORD’
a. This operation will be the primary U.S.-British ground and air effort against the Axis in Europe. (Target date 1 May 1944). After securing adequate Channel ports, exploitation will be directed toward securing areas that will facilitate both ground and air operations against the enemy. Following the establishment of strong Allied forces in France, operations designed to strike at the heart of Germany and to destroy her military forces will be undertaken.
b. There will be a balanced ground and air force build-up for OVERLORD, and continuous planning for and maintenance of those forces available in the United Kingdom in readiness to take advantage of any situation permitting an opportunistic cross-Channel move into France.
c. As between Operation OVERLORD and operations in the Mediterranean, where there is a shortage of resources, available resources will be distributed and employed with the main object of insuring the success of OVERLORD. Operations in the Mediterranean Theater will be carried out with the forces allotted at TRIDENT except insofar as these may be varied by decision of the Combined Chiefs of Staff.
We have approved the outline plan of General Morgan for Operation OVERLORD and have authorized him to proceed with the detailed planning and with full preparations.
OPERATION ‘JUPITER’
In case circumstances render the execution of OVERLORD impossible, it may be necessary to consider JUPITER as an alternative. Plans for this operation, with particular reference to an entry into Southern Norway, should therefore be made and kept up to date.
OPERATIONS IN ITALY
a. First phase. The elimination of Italy as a belligerent and establishment of air bases in the Rome area, and, if feasible, farther north.
b. Second phase. Seizure of Sardinia and Corsica.
c. Third phase. The maintenance of unremitting pressure on German forces in Northern Italy, and the creation of the conditions required for OVERLORD and of a situation favorable for the eventual entry of our forces, including the bulk of the reequipped French Army and Air Force into Southern France.
OPERATIONS IN SOUTHERN FRANCE
Offensive operations against Southern France (to include the use of trained and equipped French forces), should be undertaken to establish a lodgement in the Toulon-Marseilles area and to exploit northward in order to create a diversion in connection with OVERLORD. Air nourished guerrilla operations in the Southern Alps will, if possible, be initiated.
AIR OPERATIONS
a. Strategic bombing operations from Italian and Central Mediterranean bases, complementing POINTBLANK.
b. Development of an air ferry route through the Azores.
c. Air supply of Balkan and French guerrillas.
OPERATIONS IN THE BALKANS
Operations in the Balkan area will be limited to supply of Balkan guerrillas by air and sea transport, to minor Commando forces, and to the bombing of strategic objectives.
GARRISON REQUIREMENTS AND SECURITY OF LINES OF COMMUNICATION IN THE MEDITERRANEAN
Defensive garrison commitments in the Mediterranean area will be reviewed from time to time, with a view to effecting economy of force. The security of our lines of communication through the Strait of Gibraltar will be assured by appropriate dispositions of our forces in Northwest Africa, so long as there remains even a remote possibility of the Germans invading the Iberian Peninsula.
EMERGENCY RETURN TO THE CONTINENT
We have examined the plans that have been prepared by General Morgan’s staff for an emergency operation to enter the Continent. We have taken note of these plans and have directed that they be kept under continuous review with particular reference to the premises regarding the attainment of air superiority and the number of troops necessary for the success of these operations.
The war against Japan
LONG-TERM STRATEGY
We have made a preliminary study of long-term strategy for the defeat of Japan and are of the opinion that the following factors require particular emphasis:
a. The dependence of Japan upon air power, naval power, and shipping for maintaining her position in the Pacific and Southeast Asia.
b. The consequent need for applying the maximum attrition to Japan’s air force, naval forces and shipping by all possible means in all possible areas.
c. The advantage to be gained and the time to be saved by a more extensive use of the superior air resources at the disposal of the United Nations, both in the strategic field and in conjunction with operations on land.
We consider that great advantage may be obtained, by modern and untried methods, from the vast resources which, with the defeat of Germany, will become available to the United Nations. We have in mind:
a. A project rapidly to expand and extend the striking power of the United Nations air forces in China as well as of the ground troops for their defense by employing the large numbers of load carrying aircraft available to open an “air road” to China.
b. The employment of lightly equipped jungle forces, dependent largely upon air supply lines.
c. The use of special equipment, such as artificial harbors, HABBAKUKS, etc., to enable the superior power of the United Nations to be deployed in unexpected and undeveloped areas.
From every point of view operations should be framed to force the defeat of Japan as soon as possible after the defeat of Germany. Planning should be on the basis of accomplishing this within 12 months of that event. Decisions as to specific operations which will insure a rapid course of events must await further examination on the lines indicated above.
The deployment of forces and the operations to be undertaken in the war against Japan must be in accord with the overall objective and strategic concept reaffirmed in Sections I and II above.
We are agreed that the reorientation of forces from the European Theater to the Pacific and Far East should be started as soon as the German situation, in our opinion, so allows.
The principle has been accepted that the forces to carry out operations from the East, including the Southwest Pacific, shall be provided by the United States, and for operations from the West by Great Britain, except for special types not available to Great Britain which will be provided by the United States. The employment of Dominion forces will be a matter of discussion between all Governments concerned.
SPECIFIC OPERATIONS 1943-44
We have found it impracticable during QUADRANT to arrive at all the necessary decisions for operations in the war against Japan in 1943-44. We therefore propose that, as soon as the necessary further examinations have been made, a Combined Chiefs of Staff Conference should be held wherever may be most convenient, unless agreement is reached through the ordinary channels. There are, nevertheless, certain decisions which we feel able to make at once.
OPERATIONS IN THE PACIFIC 1943-44
We approve the proposals of the United States Chiefs of Staff for operations in the Pacific in 1943-44 as follows:
GILBERTS
The seizure and consolidation of the Gilberts preparatory to a further advance into the Marshalls.
MARSHALLS
The seizure of the Marshall Islands (including Wake and Kusaie) preparatory to a westward advance through the Central Pacific.
PONAPE
The capture of Ponape preparatory to operations against the Truk area.
CAROLINES (TRUK AREA)
The seizure of the eastern Carolines as far west as Woleai and the establishment of a fleet base at Truk.
PALAU ISLANDS
The capture of the Palaus including Yap.
OPERATIONS AGAINST GUAM AND THE JAPANESE MARIANAS
The seizure of Guam and the Japanese Marianas.
PARAMUSHIRU
Consideration of operations against Paramushiru and the Kuriles.
OPERATIONS IN THE NEW GUINEA-BISMARCKS-ADMIRALTY ISLANDS SUBSEQUENT TO CURRENT OPERATIONS
The seizure or neutralization of eastern New Guinea as far west as Wewak and including the Admiralty Islands and Bismarck Archipelago. Rabaul is to be neutralized rather than captured.
OPERATIONS IN NEW GUINEA SUBSEQUENT TO THE WEWAK-KAVIENG OPERATION
An advance along the north coast of New Guinea as far west as Vogelkop, by step-by-step airborne-water-borne advances.
OPERATIONS IN INDIA-BURMA-CHINA THEATER, 1943-44
To carry out operations for the capture of Upper Burma in order to improve the air route and establish overland communications with China. Target date mid-February 1944.
It is recognized that the extent of these operations is dependent upon logistic considerations as affected by recent floods.
To continue preparations for an amphibious operation in the spring of 1944. Pending a decision on the particular operation, the scale of these preparations should be of the order of those contemplated at TRIDENT for the capture of Akyab and Ramree.
To continue the preparation of India as a base for the operations eventually contemplated in the Southeast Asia Command.
To continue to build up and increase the air routes and air supplies of China, and the development of air facilities, with a view to:
a. Keeping China in the war.
b. Intensifying operations against the Japanese.
c. Maintaining increased U.S. and Chinese Air Forces in China.
d. Equipping Chinese ground forces.
We have decided that our main effort should be put into offensive operations with the object of establishing land communications with China and improving and securing the air route. Priorities cannot be rigid and we therefore propose to instruct the Supreme Commander in formulating his proposals to regard this decision as a guide and to bear in mind the importance of the longer-term development of the lines of communication.
EXAMINATION OF FUTURE OPERATIONS
We have directed that the following studies shall be made forthwith:
A study and report on the following operations and their relation one to another:
a. An operation against Northern Sumatra; target date spring 1944.
b. Operations southwards from Northern Burma; target date November 1944.
c. Operations through the Moulmein area or Kra Isthmus in the direction of Bangkok; target date to be as early as practicable.
d. Operations through the Malacca Straits and Malaya for the direct capture of Singapore; target date to be as early as practicable.
e. The capture of Akyab and Ramree to determine whether it is necessary to the success of operations in a to d above or the operations in Upper Burma.
A study of the potentialities and limitations of developing the air route to China on a scale sufficient to employ all the heavy bomber and transport aircraft likely to be available for the Southeast Asia Theater and China in 1944-45, on the assumption that Germany is defeated in the autumn of 1944.
This study to specify the action required to implement the best possible plan resulting from the above without prejudice to the operations in paragraphs 37 and 38.
SOUTHEAST ASIA COMMAND (General)
The vigorous and effective prosecution of large-scale operations against Japan in Southeast Asia, and the rapid development of the air route through Burma to China, necessitate the reorganization of the High Command in the Indian Theater. It has, therefore, been decided that the Command in India should be divided from the operational Command in Southeast Asia as described below:
COMMAND IN INDIA
The administration of India as a base for the forces in Southeast Asia will remain under the control of the Commander-in-Chief, India. Coordination of movement and maintenance both of the operational forces based on India and of the internal garrison can best be carried out efficiently by one staff responsible in the last resort to one authority with power to decide priorities. This machinery exists today in the Government of India and in GHQ India. It is the only machinery which can carry out the dual tasks of meeting the internal requirements of India as well as the requirements of operations in the Southeast Asia Theater.
COMMAND IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
A Supreme Allied Command in Southeast Asia should be set up as follows:
a. The command and staff to be a combined British and American one on the lines of the North African Command.
b. The Supreme Allied Commander to be British, with an American deputy. He should have under him Naval, Army and Air Commanders in Chief, and also a Principal Administrative Officer to coordinate the administrative planning of all three Services and of the Allied forces.
c. The Deputy Supreme Allied Commander and the Commanders of the three Services mentioned above, acting under the orders of the Supreme Allied Commander, to control all operations and have under their command such Naval, Military and Air forces as may be assigned to the Southeast Asia Theater from time to time.
AREA INCLUDED
The boundaries are set out in detail in CCS 308/3, but, generally, they include Burma, Ceylon, Thailand (Siam), the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra.
DIVISION OF RESPONSIBILITY BETWEEN INDIA AND SOUTHEAST ASIA
Conflicts of opinion over priorities in connection with administration must be anticipated. It will, therefore, be necessary for someone on the spot to resolve these differences day by day as they occur. This authority should be the Viceroy, not in his statutory capacity as Governor-General, but acting on behalf of the British War Cabinet.
The Supreme Commander will in any event have direct access to the British Chiefs of Staff on all matters, and if he is not satisfied with the ruling of the Viceroy on administrative matters, he will be able to exercise this right. The Commander-in-Chief, India, will continue to have the right of direct access to the British Chiefs of Staff.
DEPUTY SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER
General Stilwell will be Deputy Supreme Allied Commander of the Southeast Asia Theater and in that capacity will command the Chinese troops operating into Burma and all U.S. air and ground forces committed to the Southeast Asia Theater.
The operational control of the Chinese forces operating into Burma will be exercised, in conformity with the overall plan of the British Army Commander, by the Deputy Supreme Allied Commander, or by his representative, who will be located with the troops.
The operational control of the 10th Air Force will be vested in the Deputy Supreme Allied Commander and exercised by his air representative located at the headquarters of the Air Commander-in-Chief.
General Stilwell will continue to have the same direct responsibility to Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek as heretofore. His dual function under the Supreme Allied Commander and under the Generalissimo is recognized.
The organization and command of the U.S. Army and Navy Air Transport Services in the Southeast Asia area will remain under the direct control of the Commanding General, U.S. Army Air Forces, and of the Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Fleet, respectively, subject to such supply and service functions as may be by them delegated to the Deputy Supreme Allied Commander. Bequests by the Supreme Allied Commander for the use of U.S. troop carrier aircraft for operational purposes will be transmitted to the Deputy Supreme Allied Commander.
Requests for the use of surface transportation capacity in and through India, or for development involving construction for the air route to China, will be passed through the Supreme Allied Commander in order that they may be related, as regards priority, to his requirements before being placed on the Commander-in-Chief, India.
COMMAND RELATIONSHIP
The Combined Chiefs of Staff would exercise a general jurisdiction over strategy for the Southeast Asia Theater, and the allocation of American and British resources of all kinds between the China Theater and the Southeast Asia Command. The British Chiefs of Staff would exercise jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to operations, and would be the channel through which all instructions to the Supreme Commander are passed.
THE COORDINATION OF AMERICAN AGENCIES SUCH AS OSS, OWI, FCB, ETC., WITH COMPARABLE BRITISH ORGANIZATIONS
In order to facilitate the free exchange of information and coordination between the U.S. and British quasi-military agencies in India and the Southeast Asia Command, a Combined Liaison Committee will be set up at New Delhi.
There will be full and open discussion in the Combined Liaison Committee before any quasi-military activities involving operations in India or the Southeast Asia Theater are undertaken. However, before plans for such operations in these areas are put into effect by U.S. agencies, the concurrence of the government of India, the Commander-in-Chief, India, or the Supreme Commander, Southeast Asia Theater, must be obtained as applicable.
Conclusions on miscellaneous subjects
MILITARY CONSIDERATIONS IN RELATION TO SPAIN
We suggest that our general policy should be to deny the enemy his present privileged position in Spain, and to supplant him there to as great an extent as possible, thus transferring to the Germans the anxiety that has hitherto been ours. In pursuance of this policy, we suggest that we should now intensify pressure by economic and political means in order to obtain the following objectives:
a. Discontinuance of supplies of raw materials to Germany. The most important material which Germany obtains from Spain is wolfram, of which commodity Spain and Portugal supply the largest proportion of German requirements.
b. Withdrawal of the Blue Division from the ranks of the enemy.
c. A modification of the present distribution of Spanish forces in Morocco so as to remove any suggestion of distrust of the United Nations.
d. Cessation of the use of Spanish shipping for the benefit of our enemies.
e. Denial to the enemy of secret intelligence facilities.
f. Facilities for civil aircraft of United Nations.
g. A more benevolent attitude towards escaped Allied prisoners of war.
h. Elimination of objectionable anti-Allied propaganda and increase in pro-Allied propaganda.
MILITARY CONSIDERATIONS IN RELATION TO TURKEY
We are of the opinion that from the military point of view the time is not ripe for Turkey to enter the war on our side. Our policy should be as follows:
a. We should ask Turkey to interpret the Montreux Convention strictly, so as to exclude the passage of all German shipping of military value through the Straits.
b. We should ask that supplies of chrome to Germany should be stopped.
c. We should ask Turkey to continue:
(1) To improve her internal communications.
(2) To complete the airfields required for HARDIHOOD.
(3) To allow us to install the full RDF and Sector Control facilities which we require.
(4) To complete the construction of storage facilities required for the full HARDIHOOD Plan.
(5) To raise the effectiveness of their fighting forces.
d. Our policy on equipment to Turkey should be that we should continue to supply such equipment as we can spare and as the Turks can absorb.
REEQUIPPING THE FRENCH FORCES
We have approved the rearmament of French units up to and including eleven divisions by 31 December 1943 as recommended by the Commander, North African Theater.
‘PLOUGH’ FORCE
General Morgan and General Eisenhower have been given the details of PLOUGH force and have been asked to report as to possible uses for it in their respective theaters.
SPECIAL OPERATIONS IN SARDINIA AND CORSICA
We have asked General Eisenhower to examine the possibilities of intensifying subversive activities in Sardinia and Corsica with a view to facilitating entry into those islands.
HABBAKUK
We have examined the possibilities of constructing “floating airfields” and have given our approval to the active pursuit of further experiments.
PIPELINE, INDIA-CHINA
We have approved, subject to prior requirements for Military operations in Burma, the construction of a four-inch pipeline from Assam to Kunming and of a six-inch pipeline from Calcutta to Assam. These will facilitate air operations in China and ease congestion on the existing lines of supply.
SUPPLY ROUTES IN N.E. INDIA
We have approved, subject to prior requirements of operations in Burma, intensified development of the supply routes into and in Assam and have issued directives to theater commanders concerned with a view to a target of 220,000 tons per month being reached by 31 December 1945.
Relation of available resources to the operations decided upon
We have carried out an examination of the available resources of the United Nations with a view to assessing our ability to carry out the operations decided upon. We find in general that these resources will be sufficient to meet our needs. In some cases, however, the availability of resources is dependent upon conditions which cannot be foreseen at this time. The subject therefore should be kept under constant review, and if shortages develop or conflicts of interest arise, they will be referred to the Combined Chiefs of Staff for decision.
Roosevelt-Churchill-Mackenzie King luncheon meeting, early afternoon
| Present | ||
|---|---|---|
| United States | United Kingdom | Canada |
| President Roosevelt | Prime Minister Churchill | Prime Minister Mackenzie King |
| Mr. Hopkins | Mrs. Churchill | |
| Subaltern Mary Churchill | ||
| Foreign Secretary Eden |
Harriman-Eden conversation, afternoon
| Present | ||
|---|---|---|
| United States | United Kingdom | |
| Mr. Harriman | Foreign Secretary Eden |
From an informal note by Harriman:
Had a talk with Eden about Russia and the proposed discussion, and the agenda.
The Pittsburgh Press (August 24, 1943)
700 bombers fire Berlin
Flames visible for 250 miles; RAF loses 58 planes
By Walter Cronkite, United Press staff writer
…
‘Forward action’ pledged at Québec; fleets, armies, planes to hit Japs
War in Pacific principal topic, Roosevelt and Churchill announce
By Merriman Smith, United Press staff writer
Québec, Canada –
President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill announced today that their eight-day war conferences had been largely devoted to the war against Japan and promised that powerful “forward action” would be executed soon by the fleets, armies and air forces of the two nations.
In what probably will be regarded as their “Declaration of Québec,” the two leaders announced the possibility of a tripartite conference with Russia, but in an explanatory press conference accompanying their statement explained tactfully that Russia was not asked to this largely-Pacific meeting because she is not at war against Japan.
Refraining from any positive statement on details of the decisions reached here, Mr. Roosevelt and the Prime Minister told in their joint statement how the war talks were devoted “largely” to “the war against Japan and the bringing of effective aid to China.”
Plans unanimously approved
Then they announced their unanimous approval of the plans reached by their Combined Chiefs of Staff and agreement on “political issues underlying or arising out of the military operations.”
The statement also disclosed that the question of recognition of the French National Committee of Liberation had been on the agenda and that announcements from a good “many” governments on this point could be expected some time late this week.
British and American leaders will hold another similar conference before the end of this year, the announcement said, “in addition to any tripartite meeting which it may be possible to arrange with Soviet Russia.”
Russia’s position clear
Then, clearly saying that Russia has no part in Allied plans for the Pacific, the statement continued:
Full reports of the decisions so far as they affect the war against Germany and Italy will be furnished to the Soviet government.
The two leaders reminded the approximately 150 reporters gathered in the open on the upper terrace of the King’s bastion at the Citadel that “the whole field of world operations” was surveyed in “the light of many gratifying events.”
Other plans to develop
Mr. Roosevelt pointed out that plans reached at their Casablanca Conference last January had just become apparent – in Tunis and Sicily. Mindful that he and Mr. Churchill had met last May in Washington, the President said he thought it could be assumed that other plans were about to be developed – a statement that was generally accepted as meaning activities, because at several other points in the talk, they spoke of action soon.
Mr. Churchill said that the armed forces of Great Britain and the United States were more closely united than any armies of different countries in history.
Because the emphasis of the Québec Conference was on the defeat of Japan, Mr. Churchill said that there was no call for representation by others than belligerents against the Japanese.
Tribute paid Russians
Later, Mr. Churchill paid high tribute to the Russian drive against the German Army, with the activation of plans reached here and in past meetings and in the future, Great Britain and the United States will be able, he said, to bring the whole of their weight to bear. This, combined with the powerful operations of Russia, “should give us,” he added, “the very best means for releasing the suffering, Axis-oppressed peoples of the world.”
Because the Allies are engaged in a life-and-death struggle, Mr. Churchill, said, speaking informally, it is impossible to talk in detailed terms, but he added that very good conclusions had been reached here. Any differences before the conference here involved priority and emphasis, he said, but there was nothing but complete unanimity of principle.
Slouched in chair
With Sicily prostrate after an operation planned last winter at Casablanca, the British Prime Minister, slouched in a chair and with his hat down over his eyes, said the world could rightly expect another Allied achievement to be forthcoming.
Great steps, he added, were being taken to bat down our antagonists one after another.
Canadian Prime Minister W. L. Mackenzie King also participated in the press conference. The three men sat in a terrace outside the Citadel, atop the ramparts 400 feet above the St. Lawrence River.
They had their backs to the top of the rampart which formed a ledge.
Eden, Hopkins present
As the conference started, Anthony Eden, British Foreign Secretary, took a seat on the ledge behind Mr. Churchill, Beside him were Brandon Bracken, British Minister of Information; Harry Hopkins, Mr. Roosevelt’s personal advisor, and Stephen T. Early, his Press Secretary.
Mr. Churchill was chewing on half an unlit cigar which he discarded over the parapet just before talking. It missed Mr. Eden, but only because he ducked.
Without qualification, Churchill said, that our forces – meaning apparently those of Great Britain and the United States – were better armed, better equipped and superior in weapons to the enemy; that the German submarine warfare against Allied shipping had rolled over from the debit to the credit side of the war ledger; that Allied shipping was mounting every day in volume.
Spread confident feeling
Spread wide the feeling of confidence, he added, waving his arms for emphasis and looking around the large group. That is how, he said, “you can play your part along with the others in winning the war.”
Mr. Roosevelt followed Mr. Churchill in addressing the reporters who were not permitted to ask questions, and played on the life-and-death struggle theme started by the Prime Minister. He said that while things were progressing much better, there was still much long, hard fighting ahead.
That fact, said the President, makes it necessary for full-shouldered support of the war effort by all peoples of the United Nations particularly those who make the things the armies and navies and air forces use in seeking victory.
Mr. Churchill muttered, “Hear, hear.”
Charts vast improvement
The President spoke of a series of recent successes and charted the vast improvement in the Allied position since he and Mr. Churchill conferred in Washington in June 1942, in which he described as “the dark days” of Tobruk. The plans made were then activated in November 1942, with the invasion of North Africa. Then he told how their meeting at Casablanca produced the Tunisian and Sicilian campaigns.
The President cited that series of events to support the assumption which he, himself, had offered: That another big Allied move is about to be disclosed. Both he and Mr. Churchill stressed, however, that the disclosure would come only with action and destruction for the enemy. Now would they give any hint as to its general locale.
Both the President and the Prime Minister stressed the importance and the achievements of their conferences and said the meetings of the High Command of the two nations would be held more often in the future.
Victory conference aim
The overall aim at each conference naturally is the winning of the war in the shortest possible time, Mr. Roosevelt said.
Mr. Roosevelt stressed the global aspects of the war, saying that the talks here in Québec covered far more than Japan, but took in the East and the West; over and under the equator, proving that this is all one operation.
Aside from the predictions of doom for the Japs, it is a safe bet Messrs. Roosevelt and Churchill and their imposing array of military and political experts also considered these questions:
- A final knockout punch at the heart of German armed strength;
- The cleanup of Italy and the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean;
- Commanders for forthcoming operations in all theaters;
- The general Soviet situation;
- An assortment of political problems, including luring Spain away from her Axis ties;
- Recognition of the French National Committee of Liberation.
Hopkins present
The final decision on the Pacific was in the hands of what British Minister of Information Bracken described as the “great trinity” of the Pacific – Britain, the United States and China as represented by Mr. Roosevelt, Mr. Churchill and Chinese Foreign Minister T. V. Soong. The British Information expert characterized Mr. Hopkins as an “honorary member” of the trinity in the conference yesterday.
Mr. Bracken’s term “trinity” touched off new speculation about the relation of these conferences to the Soviet Union.
Officials still declined to offer an explanation of why Russia withdrew Ambassador Maxim Litvinov from Washington weeks ago but announced it only after the Québec Conference were well underway. One source described the action as “making faces” and professed ignorance as the reason.
Opinion about the Litvinov transfer was divided, one school favoring the idea that it was a rebuke to the Anglo-American strategists for failing to provide a second front; the other school regarding it as a rebuke to Litvinov for not having influenced the Allies into a second front.
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