S E C R E T
 
doubtful success. Having a definitely secondary interest in the
Pacific but feeling the political necessity of conducting
immediate offensive operations, the British advocate measures
that, from the strictly military point of view of the U.S.,
seem indirect and lacking decisive effect in terminating the war.
It is difficult to assess the relative weight given by
the British to the factor of military practicability of direct 
decisive operstions and to their political desire to improve 
their post-war position. Both factors have undoubtedly played
a part. However, unless the British are actually convinced that
Mediterranean operations are the best military strategy they
must see definite advantages therein, to their post-war position
as, regards Europe. It would seem that the defeat of the Axis in
Europe, however accomplished would restore the pre-war British
position in the Mediterranean. Her insistence that war be fought
in that area would suggest that the British desire to
substantially improve their pre-war position in the Mediterranean
and consider that actual occupation of certain areas, will
greatly tend to strengthen their case at the peace table.
 
     It is believed that the proposals that will be advanced
by the British will include operations involving the occupation
of one or more of the following objectives, viz:
     a. In the eastern Mediterranean - Crete, Dodecanese,
     Greece, Turkey.
           b. In the western Mediterranean - Sardinia, Corsica,
     Italy.
     Each of such proposals should be examined from, inter
alia, the point of view not only of the extent to which it
will further the prosecution of the war, but of the extent to
which it will absorb available means to the detriment of: an
intensification of the air effort from the U.K.; the prosecution
of the war effort in the Pacific on the scale approved by ANFA; 
and the build-up of BOLERO.
 
 
               - 13 -
 
                    DECLASSIFIED
                    By Authority of
                       JCS 927/495-1
                    By DBS   Date APR 13 1973