Joint Secretaries
 
Brigadier L. C. Hollis, R. M.
Colonel E. I. C. Jacob
Commander R. D. Coleridge, R. N.
Captain J. L. McCrea, Aide to Chief' of Naval Operations Lieut. Colonel
Paul McD. Robinert, G-2, Gliq
Major W. T. Sexton, G. S. C, Assistant Secretary W.D.G.S.
 
        1. PRIORITIES FOR U.S. AND U.K. OVERSEAS EXPEDITIONS IN THE
ATLANTIC OCEAN- (ARC-4/1)
 
                 ADMIRAL STARK read the proposed plan and tilere
followed a general discussion.
 
                 ADMIRAL TURNER said that tile Joint Planning Committee
recognized the importance of the North African project (operation
GYMNAST), but were not at this stage prepared to make recommendations
on the relative priority of this and the other projects mentioned in
paragraph l(b) of their Report. The limitations on shipping and naval
escort forces made it impossible to carry out the North African plan~
and simultaneously relieve the British forces in Ireland andiceland. If
the North African project were carried out as envisaged, each power
would produce the requisite amount of shipping for its own forces, but
would have none extra available to lend to the other power. In
addition, shipping required for the British part of "GYM-
    NAST" would seriously interfere with Eritish reinforcements to the
Middle East.
 
                 The British delegation considered two possible moments
at which the North African project would have to be put into effect as
rapidly as possible; either (a) when British forces, moving from the
eastward, had occupied Tripoli, or (b) when Marshal Petain resigned, as
had been thought possible. The second occasion now seemed unlikely to
occur, though the first remained; and it was felt that the Chiefs of
Staff should obtain a decision from the President and the Prime
Minister as to whether or not it had been decided to make a political
approach to the French authorities in order to obtain an invitation to
enter French North Africa. The British forces for "GY~fNAST" were ready
but their removal from ~the United Kingdom would leave the defense of
the British Isles weak unless the United States
    took over the Iceland said Ireland Commitments. Nevertheless, the
British view was that the North African project, would have to go
forward if an
invitation were received.
 
It was generally agreed that, for the purposes of paragraph 3 of
the Joint Planning Committee's Report, the major o ....
-~i:ions in the Atlan-
tic area, only one of which could be carried out a
 
statea to De'-
 
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