893.154/469

The Adviser on Political Relations (Hornbeck) to the Secretary of State

S Mr. Secretary: Important among the questions which it may be assumed will come in for some discussion at Quebec is the question of campaign for the re-conquest of Burma, or at least a part of Burma, toward the objective of reopening the Burma Road into China.

In the opinion of Far Eastern officers of the Department, it is highly desirable from a political point of view that plans for proceeding with this operation be implemented and proceeded with at the earliest possible moment after the end of the present monsoon, (i.e. this Fall) and that nothing be permitted to occur which would give the Chinese the impression that this campaign is being arbitrarily delayed or deferred.

S[tanley] K H[ornbeck]