Foreign Relations of the United States, Conferences at Washington and Quebec, 1943

J. C. S. Files

Memorandum Considered by the Combined Chiefs of Staff¹

secret

[Washington, May 25, 1943.]

Proposals To Be Made to Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek

The following are the proposals which will be made to Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek with regard to operations in the Anakim Theater:

First, the concentration of available resources as supreme priority within the Assam–Burma area on the building up and increasing of the Air Route to China to a capacity of 10,000 tons monthly by early fall, and the development of Air facilities in Assam with a view to:

a. Intensifying Air operations against Japanese in Burma;

b. Maintaining increased American Air forces in China; and

c. Maintaining the flow of air-borne supplies to China.

Secondly, vigorous and aggressive land and Air operations will be begun at the end of 1943 monsoon from Assam into Burma via Ledo and Imphal in step with an advance by Chinese forces from Yunnan, with the object of containing and engaging as many Japanese forces as possible, covering the Air Route to China, and as an essential step towards the opening of the Burma Road.

Thirdly, amphibious operations against the Burmese coast with the purpose of interrupting Japanese communications between the coast and their northern front.

Fourthly, the interruption of Japanese sea communications into Burma.

For the above purposes all possible measures will be taken to secure the Naval Command of the Bay of Bengal by an adequate force. No limits, except those imposed by time and circumstances, will be placed on the above operations, which have for their object the relief of the siege of China.

1. This paper, which appears to be a revision by the Combined Chiefs of Staff of the memorandum printed supra, was discussed by Roosevelt and Churchill at their meeting with the Combined Chiefs of Staff on the morning of May 25; see ante, p. 204. At that meeting, it was agreed (that Roosevelt and Marshall should make use of the wording of this paper in their conversations with Chinese authorities to whom copies of the document might be handed for retention. Regarding Roosevelt’s meeting with Soong and Marshall’s conversation with Chu on the afternoon of May 25, see the editorial notes, ante, p. 208.