b. The maintenance of essential .communications. c. Closing and tightening the ring around Germany, d. Wearing down and undermining German resistance by air bombardment, blockade, subversive activities and propaganda. e. The continuous development of offensive action against Germany. f. Maintaining only such positions in the Eastern theatre as will safeguard vital interests (see paragraph 18) and denying to Japan access to raw materials vital to her continuous war effort while we are concentrating on the defeat of Germany. III. STEPS TO BE TAKEN IN 1942 TO PUT INTO EFFECT THE ABOVE GENERAL POLICY. TKE SECURITY OF AREAS OF WAR PRODUCTION 5. In so far as these are likely to be attacked, the main areas of war industry are situated in:- a. The United Kingdom. b. Continental United States, particularly the West Coast. c. Russia. 6. THE UNITED KINGDOM. - To safeguard the United Kingdom it will be necessary to maintain at all times the minimum forces required to defeat invasion. 7. THE UNITED STATES. - The main centers of production on or near the West Coast of United States must be protected from Japanese seaborne attack. This will be facilitated by holding Hawaii and Alaska. We consider that a Japanese invasion of the United States on a large scale is highly improbable, whether Hawaii or Alaska is held or not. 8. The probable scale of attack and the general nature of the forces required for the defense of the United States are matters for the United States Chiefs of Staff to assess. 9. RUSSIA. - It will be essential to afford the Russians assistance to enable them to maintain their hold on Leningrad, Moscow, and the oilfields of the Caucasus, and to continue their war effort. -- 2 -- |