3.    If the operation in French North Africa as submitted in our plan
    (U. S. Serial ABC-4/2, British Serial WW) is undertaken, we see no
prospect any other major movements being carried out in theAtlantic
area for at leas
three months, and normal reinforcements to the eastward from the United
King dom will be severely curtailed. The reason is lack of an adequate
amount of troop transport, in view of the heavy reinforcements being
sent to Hawaii, Samoa, and Australia, and requirements for the
continuous support of outlyin United Statesand United Kingdom field
armies, garrisons, and naval forces. Furthermore, minimum requirements
for naval protection of new lines of naval communications will
seriously reduce the protection now being afforded the trade routes in
the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.
 
         4. No major overseas operations can be performed by the United
States unless adequate shipping is immediately madeavailable for
preparation as
trooptransports.
 
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