u. s. arc-4/c ra~TISH ww-x4
 
January 13, 1942
 
JOINT PLANNING COMMITTEE REPORT
 
MOVEMENTS AND PROJECTS IN TIIE ATLANTIC THEATER - FOR FIRST HALF OF
1942
 
          1. We have carried out a study of tile relative importance
and interrelation of the various military movements and projects which
affect the~ Atlantic Theater and which may be required to~ ~ive effect
to the agreed Grand Strategy during tile first part of 1942, and submit
our conclusions below.
 
MOVEMENTS AND RELIEFS.
 
ICELAND AND IRELAND
 
         2.    We consider that the move of' the United States forces
into Nortilern Ireland and the relief of tile British Iceland garrison
should proceed as expeditiously as possible in order to relieve British
Divisions for the replacement of Australian Divisions in the Middle
East and to release forces for operations $n French North Africa.
'
 
        3.    The movement of United States Army Air Forces to the
United Kingdom should proceed as soon as these forces andshipping
become available, so as to increase the weight of attack On Germany.
 
RELIEF OF ARUBA AND CURACAO
 
        4.    The relief of Aruba and Curacao, subject to Dutch
concurrence, is
to be completed beforethe end of January.
 
JOINT UNITED            STATES        -BRITISH OCCUPATION OF ]~-RENCt~
NORTtl AFRICA.
 
5.    We                 regard       this project as of the first
strategical~importance in
the Atlantic             area.        We do not, however, possess the
resources within the
period under            consideration to force an entry into French
North Africa. We
cannot, therefore,initiate this operation unless we are reasonably sure
of
the assumptions upon which the plan is based, which are'
 
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