Office of the Historian

J. C. S. Files

Joint Chiefs of Staff Minutes

Potsdam, July 18, 1945, 10 a.m.
[Extracts]
top secret

1. Memorandum for the President on Unconditional Surrender Formula for Japan

(J. C. S. 1275/52)

Admiral Leahy presented the draft of a memorandum from the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the President as prepared by the Secretary and amended by General Arnold.3

The memorandum was reviewed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff and amended in certain respects.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff:—

Approved the memorandum for the President as amended during discussion.4

[Page 65]

2. Relation Between the Chiefs of Staff of the United States and of the Nations Participating in the War Against Japan

(J. C. S. 14235)

Admiral Leahy said that he had discussed this matter with the President, who considered that it was undesirable to bring up the question of a military alliance with the British at the present time. He considered that our relations with our allies were not sufficiently stabilized to warrant consideration of a permanent relationship between the military commands.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

6. French and Dutch Participation in the War Against Japan

(C. C. S. 842/16)

Admiral King and General Marshall each proposed changes in the draft memorandum contained in C. C. S. 842/1. These changes were discussed at some length and a draft by General Marshall was modified in accordance with suggestions by Admiral King.

General Marshall also proposed changes in the draft letter by the British contained in C. C. S. 842.7 He said that in case the British would not accept the draft proposed by the U. S. Chiefs of Staff that the U. S. Chiefs of Staff could consider the draft by the British as amended by him.

General Marshall’s changes in the proposed draft by the British were reviewed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff and changes were made thereto.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff:—

Approved the substitute memorandum to the French and Netherlands Representatives to the Combined Chiefs of Staff proposed by General Marshall and directed that it be presented to the Combined Chiefs of Staff. (Subsequently circulated as C. C. S. 842/2.8)

7. Staff Conversations With Portugal

(C. C. S. 462/259)

Admiral Leahy asked why this matter was being brought up at the present time.

Admiral King replied that it was because of the negotiations with the Portuguese in regard to Santa Maria which the Portuguese had insisted upon connecting with the question of liberating Timor.

[Page 66]

The Joint Chiefs of Staff:—

Agreed that C. C. S. 462/25 adequately expressed their views.

8. Disposition of Captured German Passenger Ships

(J. C. S. 1405/210)

General Gross pointed out that the disposition of captured German passenger ships had already been covered by a memorandum to the President.11 Since, however, he understood that the British Chiefs of Staff intended to bring this matter up before the Combined Chiefs of Staff, he considered it wise to present a paper to the Combined Chiefs of Staff on the subject. He said that the point of issue was that the ships should be allocated in toto to the U. S. lift.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff:—

Approved the memorandum in the Enclosure to J. C. S. 1405/2 and directed that it be presented to the Combined Chiefs of Staff. (Subsequently circulated as C. C. S. 679/6.12)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  1. Not printed.↩
  2. The draft memorandum referred to is not printed. It had been prepared under a directive given by the Joint Chiefs of Staff at their 196th Meeting, July 17 (see ante, p. 40).↩
  3. For the memorandum as approved, see document No. 1239, post.↩
  4. Not printed. For the aspect of the subject here discussed, as raised initially by the British Chiefs of Staff, see vol. i, document No. 550.↩
  5. Document No. 617, printed in vol. i.↩
  6. Not printed.↩
  7. Document No. 1289, post.↩
  8. Document No. 1296, post.↩
  9. Not printed.↩
  10. Document No. 1005, post.↩
  11. Document No. 1190, post.↩