J. C. S. Files
The Joint Chiefs of Staff to the President
For Confidential Information of the President:
Subject: Memorandum on Command.
In the event that the proposal for over-all command as shown in Enclosure “A”1 is turned down by the British Chiefs of Staff, the U. S. Chiefs of Staff recommend that the President proceed directly with the Prime Minister as follows:
Emphasize most strongly that the United States cannot accept the risks and inevitable losses of American lives and resources involved in a committee control of closely related operations. “We are willing to take any justifiable risk and accept necessary losses, but it is unthinkable that we should, under any circumstances, countenance avoidable losses.
The necessity for unified command, in our opinion, is so urgent and compelling that, in spite of the fact that the bulk of the forces, both ground and air, will ultimately be American, we are willing to accept a British officer as over-all commander for European operations provided the man named is Sir John Dill. This indicates the weight we give to the matter of undivided command and responsibility. Sir John Dill is well known to our officials and to the American public. He has worked on an intimate personal basis with the U. S. Chiefs of Staff since our entry into the war. We have the highest opinion of his integrity of character and singleness of purpose. He understands our organization, our characteristics, our viewpoint on many subjects, and our way of doing business.
If the proposal outlined above is adopted—and it must be—then Eisenhower should remain in command in the Mediterranean. The question as to what individual should immediately command the cross-Channel phase of Overlord is a matter which can be discussed further.
Admiral, U. S. Navy,
Chief of Staff to the Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy