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  4. Document 443

Hopkins Papers

Memorandum by the Military Assistant Secretary to the British War Cabinet (Jacob)1

undated

Suggested Statement To Be Made to Mr. Soong

1.
The building up of the Air route to China has been going on according to plan in spite of difficulties, and deliveries in August are expected to be over 7,000 tons. Expansion will continue.
2.
We are intending to carry out the largest operations in Northern Burma during the coming winter, which the physical limitations of the lines of communication, which have been aggravated by the recent floods in Bengal, will allow us to carry out. The start of these operations will be co-ordinated with those of the Chinese by General Stilwell. Their object is to enable us to join hands with the Chinese forces, and thus to pave the way for the eventual opening of the Ledo Road to China.
3.
An amphibious operation against the Japanese will be launched from India in 1944. The point of attack will be settled after the completion of further studies which have been set on foot.
  1. The source text is undated but bears the following manuscript endorsement: “(Copy handed to Mr. Hopkins 22.8.43)”. An accompanying minute by Churchill’s Private Secretary (Martin) attributes this paper to Jacob and states: “The Prime Minister has seen this and thinks it good, subject to the views of the Staffs.” Cf. ante, p. 960.↩