Cablegram 111 [A] LONDON, 25 July 1942, 2.25 p.m.
IMMEDIATE FOR THE PRIME MINISTER MOST SECRET PERSONAL HIMSELF
My telegram 107 of 20th July. [1] The discussions on very high
level referred to were with Hopkins, Marshall and King who arrived
in this country on Friday of last week. Their presence here was
kept a very close secret and I was specially asked to make no
reference to it. The object of the visit was to review with the
Government and Chiefs of Staff [here our broad] [2] strategy of
the war.
As a result of a week of almost continuous discussions, agreement
has been reached between the Chiefs of Staff and Marshall and King
which will now be submitted to the President and War Cabinet here
for confirmation.
The decisions do not involve any departure from the major
strategic policy already agreed upon but make recommendations of
an operational character which it is not possible for me to
telegraph. My own impression of the decisions is that they are
sound. [3]
The contacts which have been established by the Chiefs of Staff
with Marshall and King during the past week will be of the utmost
value and constitute in my view the greatest step forward that has
yet been taken towards the establishment of Anglo-American
strategy and operational co-operation.
In particular I am glad to say that the discussions showed a
greater appreciation of the importance of the Pacific which is
exemplified by the allocation to that theatre of substantial
American Air Forces previously car-marked for the European
theatre.
The above is of course most secret and confidential.
BRUCE
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1 On file AA: M100, July 1942.
2 Inserted from Bruce’s copy on the file cited in note 1.
3 The principal decision was to give priority to an Allied landing
in French North Africa rather than in northern France.
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[FA:A3195, 1942, 1.29312]
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