J, C. S. Files
The Commanding General of the Army Air Forces
(Arnold) to the Secretary of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
(McFarland)
top secret
[Washington,] 5 December
1944.
J. C. S. 1176/1
Joint Chiefs of Staff
Russian Participation in the War Against
Japan
Reference: J. C. S. 11761
Note by the Secretaries
The enclosed memorandum from the Commanding General, Army Air Forces,
dated 3 December 1944, has been referred to the Joint Staff Planners
in collaboration with the Joint Logistics Committee for necessary
action.
A. J. McFarland
E. D. Graves,
Jr.
Joint Secretariat
| Distribution |
Copy No. |
Distribution |
Copy No. |
| Admiral Leahy
|
l |
Captain Campbell
|
13 |
| General Marshall
|
2 & 17 |
Colonel Lincoln
|
14 |
| Admiral King
|
3 |
Admiral McCormick
|
15 |
| General Arnold
|
4 |
Admiral Cassady
|
16 |
| Admiral Edwards
|
5 |
General Wood
|
18 |
| General Handy
|
6 |
General Tansey
|
19 |
| General Somervell
|
7 |
Captain Tobin
|
20 |
| Admiral Horne
|
8 |
Colonel Benner
|
21 |
| Admiral Cooke
|
9 |
Secy, JCS
|
22 |
| General Hull
|
10 |
Secy, JPS
|
23 |
| Admiral Duncan
|
11 |
Secy, JSSC
|
24 |
| General Lindsay
|
12 |
|
|
Enclosure
war
department
headquarters of
the army air forces Washington
3 December 1944.
Memorandum for the Secretary, Joint Chiefs
of Staff:
Subject: Russian Participation in the War
against Japan
Reference: JCS
1176
1. I approve JCS 1176 with the
recognition that it is a basic paper limited to an expression of
broad principles and policies.
[Page 376]
2. I am aware that detailed planning in some cases cannot be
realistically undertaken until fuller information is available
concerning Russia’s capabilities and intentions. Additional
facts are also required on the Far Eastern-Siberian area. There
are nevertheless a number of phases of Russian participation in
the war which in my opinion should be anticipated and studied
without delay on the basis of information now at hand. I have in
mind such problems as:
-
a.
- Creation of a stockpile in the Maritime
Provinces.
-
b.
- Securing passage through the Kurile Islands.
-
c.
- Securing passage through La Perouse straits, with
possible consideration to Russian occupation of
Karafuto.
-
d.
- Creation, training and supply of a Russian strategic
bomber force.
-
e.
- Development and use of the port of
Petropavlovsk.
-
f.
- Creation and supply of an air transport line through
Petropavlovsk to the Maritime Provinces.
-
g.
- Establishment of bases for strategic air operations
from Kamchatka.
-
h.
- Preparation for movement of Army Air Forces and other
units to the Maritime Provinces, and means of supplying
these units.
3. It seems to me that these and other operations, some of which
are already under consideration, must be carefully gone into
immediately by the Joint Staff Planners, the Joint Logistics
Committee, and other agencies concerned, with a view to
submitting appropriate reports and recommendations to the Joint
Chiefs of Staff. Those operations which are accepted should be
developed and plans prepared as to when they must be done, who
is going to do them, how they are going to be done, and what
supplies and forces will be required. This line of action will
make it possible to negotiate more realistically with the
Russians, and to inform them for example that a particular
operation will take twelve months to mount, which accordingly
requires a decision by the Russians at once.
4. I consider that on short notice we should be prepared to
present a paper to the Russians at the next staff meeting,
setting forth the point of view of the United States Chiefs of
Staff. A paper of this kind obviously cannot be completed far in
advance, as the situation is fluid and subject to change in the
light of the work of the Roberts Mission and further facts that
may become available. The Joint Staff Planners should
nevertheless have ready at all times studies which are as
complete as possible under existing circumstances so that a
single paper can be quickly prepared setting forth our
objectives, capabilities and requirements as well as those of
the Russians.
H. H. Arnold
General, U. S. Army
Commanding General, Army Air Forces
