Joint Secretaries
 
Brigadier L. G. Hollis, R. M. Colonel E. I. G. Jacob Commander Coleridge) R. N.
    Captain J. L. McCrea) Aide to Chief of Naval Operations, U.S. Navy Lieut. Colonel R. M.
Robinett G-2) General Headquarters U.S.A.
Major W. T. Sexton, Asst. Secretary, War Department General Staff
 
         The substance of the conference consisted of informal discussions of various points which
had been brought up at a conference the previous evening at the White House, at which the
President and Mr. Winston Churchill had been present.
 
1.       DEFENSE OF THE BRITISH ISLES:
 
                 ADMIRAL STARK opened the discussion with the remark that he believed it apparent
to all that the British Isles was the fortress which must be protected at all cost) and that in th. is
there was no serious diffurence of opinion. He remarked that he was wondering as to the
effectiveness of the United Kingdom defenses as regards invasion from the Continent, re-
    marking that at least two Marine Corps observers) after an inspection of the
Island defenses)had come to the conclusion that they left much to be desired. ADMIRAL STARK
stated that the comments of these officers would be transmitted to the British for such use as they
might care to make of them.
 
MARSHAL DILL remarked that the defenses were constantly being
improved.
 
                   ADMIRAL POUND welcomed Admiral Stark's proposal.
 
         2.      HEAVY BOMBERS, -
 
                    ADMIRAL STARK made the point that .in the future, heavy bombers
sent to Great Britain would be manned by American crews; that some would be sent as units.
 
                 AIR CHIEF MARSHAL PORTAL remarked that this had not been the original
agreement. GENERAL ARNOLD stated that the R.A.E. was not to be deprived
of any heavy bombers previously agreed to) but that units would be sent in addition. Details to be
worked out later.
 
                    GENERAL MARSHALL remarked that Mr. Churchill had mentioned that the
    presence of American bombers even in small numbers in England would have an important
influence on the French and the Germans.
 
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