S E C R E T
 
     To extend operations into the eastern Mediterranean is to
project our effort away from the decisive theater of war to a
region remote therefrom and having substantially no land com-
munications leading thereto. Such operations would involve
longer and more hazardous sea communications, and would impose
a strain on available Allied means for objectives that will have 
little, if any, influence on the outcome of the war.
     Such operations, except possibly in the case of Crete, are
likely to arouse the suspicions of and be resented by Russia
as being a continuation of the historic British policy of their
domination of the Straits vis-a-vis Russia.
     An Allied occupation of Italy would appear likely to prove
more of a liability than an asset. Aside from the maintenance of
forces of occupation we would be faced with inescapable demands
for supplies, including coal, for the civil population.
     Of the various objectives mentioned, the occupation of
Sardinia and Corsica would appear to be the least objectionable.
The communications thereto will be shorter and less exposed, and
the occupation of those islands would facilitate a subsequent
operation into Southern France.
     In lieu of a further extension of operations in the
Mediterranean we should propose to the British at the forth-
coming conference the implementation of the plan for the com-
bined air offensive against German war industry. An estimate 
should be made by the planners of the effect upon German war 
making capacity of successful accomplishment of the four phases 
of that plan. Based upon this estimate the earliest practicable 
target date for ROUNDUP should be established. We should press 
the British for the acceptance of this target date and the
utilization of our means to accomplish the maximum practicable
buildup in the United Kingdom prior to that date.
 
 
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                         DECLASSIFIED
                         By Authority of
                         B.D. Scurto    
                         Date Dec 8 1976