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                   Washington War Conference
                   American-British Strategy.
           Memorandum by the British Chiefs of Staff.
                       I. GRAND STRATEGY
 
 
1.        At the A-B* Staff conversations in February, 1941, it was agreed that Germany
was the predominant member of the Axis Powers and consequently the Atlantic and European
area was considered to be the decisive theatre.
 
2.        Much has happened since February last, but notwithstanding the entry of Japan
into the War, our view remains that Germany is still the prime enemy and her defeat is the key to
victory.  Once Germany is defeated, the collapse of Italy and Japan must speedily follow.
 
3.        In our considered opinion, therefore, it should be a cardinal principle of A-B
strategy that, only the minimum of force necessary for the safeguarding of vital interests in other
theatres should be diverted from operations against Germany.
 
             II. ESSENTIAL FEATURES OF OUR STRATEGY
 
4.        The essential features of the above grand strategy are as follow's.  Each will be
examined in greater detail later in this paper.
 
     (A ) The realisation of the victory programme of armaments, which first and foremost
          requires the security of the main areas of war industry.
     
     (B ) The Maintenance of essential communications.
 
     (C ) Closing and tightening the ring around Germany.
 
     (D ) Wearing down and undermining German resistance
 
Note:-
* For brevity the
abbreviation A-B is
used to denote
American-British