Department of the Army Files
Memorandum by the Secretary, War Department General
Staff (Smith) to the Chief of Staff,
United States Army (Marshall)
secret
[Washington,] June 21, 1942.
Memorandum for the Chief of Staff
Attached is a draft of General Ismay’s notes of today’s conference
approved by General Brooke.1 Attached also is a draft
of a rewrite based on your notes to General Handy. General Handy and I
believe this redraft is more in line with your ideas as to the points on
which we should agree. We will not be able to reconcile the two drafts
with the British. General Brooke suggests that we wait until tomorrow
before discussing the matter.
[Enclosure]
Staff Paper Presented by the Secretary, Joint
Chiefs of Staff (Smith) and the Chief, Strategy and Policy Group,
Operations Division, War Department General Staff (Handy)
secret
[Washington, June 21, 1942.]
Plans and preparations for the
Bolero operation in 1943 on as
large a scale as possible are to be pushed forward with all speed
and energy. It is however, essential that the U. S. and Great
Britain should be prepared, if necessary to act offensively in
1942.
[Page 469]
Cross-channel operations in 1942 would, if successful, yield greater
political and strategic gains than operations in any other theater.
These include operations against the Channel Islands, the Brest and
Cherbourg Peninsulas and Pas de Calais. Plans and preparations for
such operations are to be pressed forward with all possible speed,
energy and ingenuity. The most resolute efforts must be made to
overcome the obvious dangers and difficulties of the enterprise. If
a sound and feasible plan can be contrived we should not hesitate to
give effect to it. If, on the other hand, detailed examination
indicates that despite all efforts success is impossible, we must be
ready with an alternative.
Possible alternatives are operations against Northern Norway, the
Iberian Peninsula or
Gymnast. Plans for these
operations should be completed in all detail as soon as
possible.
