Office of the Historian

J. C. S. Files

Memorandum by the British Chiefs of Staff

secret
C. C. S. 404/1
[Cairo,] 22 November 1943.

Sextant Agenda

1.
We have considered the Agenda for Sextant proposed by the United States Chiefs of Staff (C. C. S. 404) and while we have no specific objections to the subjects set out in their memorandum, we suggest that a more simple agenda would meet the case.
2.
We, therefore, propose that the main subjects for discussion should be as follows:
I.
Reaffirm Over-All Objective, Over-All Strategic Concept and Basic Undertakings
(C. C. S. 319/5, paragraphs 2–5 and paragraphs [paragraph] 6, as subsequently amended by agreement between Combined Chiefs of Staff (see C. C. S. 380/2))1
II.
Southeast Asia Operations
III.
“Overlord” and the Mediterranean
IV.
The War Against Japan
V.
Progress Reports
3.
Discussion of the above main subjects would include the introduction of most, if not all, of the points put forward in the American agenda. The arrangements for dealing with the detailed subjects would, however, be made from day to day.
4.
It will be noted that Southeast Asia operations have been placed second on the list, in view of the intention to bring the Generalissimo and Admiral Mountbatten into the discussions at the earliest stage.
5.
It is thought that the Progress Reports should be left to the end of the Conference when the main items have been disposed of. This procedure will not, of course, preclude points being raised for discussion when the Progress Reports are taken.
A. F. Brooke
C. A. Portal
A. B. Cunningham
  1. C. C. S. 319/5 was adopted at the First Quebec Conference, August 1943, the documentation of which is scheduled to be published subsequently in another volume of the Foreign Relations series. Paragraphs 2–5 of C. C. S. 319/5 are verbally identical with paragraphs 2–5 of C. C. S. 380/2, November 6, 1943, ante, p. 157. Paragraph 6 differs in the two papers after subpoint h. Extracts from, or the whole of, 39 of the paragraphs of C. C. S. 319/5 are printed in Ehrman, vol. v, pp. 1, 8–10, 12–15.↩