President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill to Marshal Stalin
Quebec, September 16, 1944
Top secret
Priority
Number 66, top secret and personal to Marshal Stalin from the United States Government and His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom.
In our Conference at Quebec just concluded we have arrived at the following decisions as to military operations.
Operations in North West Europe
It is our intention to press on with all speed to destroy the German armed forces and penetrate into the heart of Germany. The best opportunity to defeat the enemy in the west lies in striking at the Ruhr and Saar since it is there that the enemy will concentrate the remainder of his available forces in the defence of these essential areas. The northern line of approach clearly has advantages over the southern and it is essential that we should open up the northwest ports, particularly Antwerp and Rotterdam, before bad weather sets in. Our main effort will therefore be on the left.
Operations in Italy
As a result of our present operations in Italy
a) Either Kesselring’s forces will be routed, in which case it should be possible to undertake a rapid regrouping and a pursuit towards the Ljubljana gap; or
b) Kesselring’s army will succeed in effecting an orderly withdrawal, in which event we may have to be content with clearing the Lombardy Plains this year.
Our future action depends on the progress of the battle. Plans are being prepared for an amphibious operation on the Istrian Peninsula to be carried out if the situation so demands.
Operations in the Balkans
Operations of our air forces and Commando type operations will continue.
Operations against Japan
We have agreed on further operations to intensify the offensive against the Japanese in all theaters, with the ultimate objective of invading the Japanese homeland.
Plans for the prompt transfer of power to the Pacific theater after the collapse of Germany were agreed upon.
ROOSEVELT
CHURCHILL