JOINT BOARD ESTIMATE OF
UNITED STATES OVER-ALL PRODUCTION
REQUIREMENTS
IV. MAJOR STRATEGY OF THE UNITED STATES AND ITS ASSOCIATES. 25. (Cont'd)
h. Retention by the United States and its Associates of the Philippines, Malaya, the
Netherlands East Indies, Australasia, Burma, and China would have far-reaching
effects. The armed forces of the United States can not be greatly increased in the
Far East if they are to discharge their heavy tasks in other regions, but the
operations of the Pacific Fleet will have an important influence on events. The
United States should undertake to provide a part of the munitions and aircraft to
China and the Netherlands East Indies. A large part of this material must be
transported in United States bottoms.
i. Retention of Eastern Siberia by Russia is necessary if Japan is to be checked. Only
material assistance can be provided by the United States to Siberia. No materials
can be sent to Siberia by water when Japan is at war with Russia, but deliveries of
aircraft could continue by air.
26. The following principles have been taken into consideration in arriving at
recommendations concerning the strengths of the armed forces which the United States would
undertake to raise or support, in whole or it part:
a. The Navy considers that, since the principal strength of the associated Powers is at
present in naval and air categories, the strategy which they should adopt should be
based on the effective employment of these forces, and the employment of land
forces in regions where Germany can not exert the full power of her land armies.
The Army believes that the foregoing strategy may not accomplish the defeat of
Germany and that it may be necessary to come to grips with the German armies on
the continent of Europe. Consequently, the Army feels that the equipment for the land armies necessary to meet this contingency should be provided as a part of the over-all production requirements.
-15-