U. S    SERIAL ABC-4/CS'I
BRITISH SERIAL W W.-1 ('FINAL)
 
hTO BE KEPT UNDER LOCK AND KEY
 
     It is requested that special care may be taken to ensure the
secrecy of this document.
 
WASHINGTON WAR CONFERENCE AMERICAN-BRITISH STRATEGY
 
MEMORANDUM BY THE UNITED STATES AND BRITISH CHIEFS OF 'STAFF
 
NOTE'        The circulation of this paper should be restricted
             to the United States and British Chiefs of Staff and
             their .immediate subordinates
 
I. GRAND STRATEGY
 
        1.    At thp. A-B* Staff conversations in.February~ 1941~ i-t was agreed that Germany was the predominant member of the Axis Powers~ and .consequently the Atlantic and European area was considered to be the decisive theatre.
..
 
        2.    Much has happened since February last, but notwithstanding the entry of Japan into the War~ our 'view remains that Germany is still the prime
    enemy and 'her defeat is the key to victory. Once Germany. is defeated~ the collapse of Italy and the defeat of'Japan must follow.
 
        3. In our considered opinion~ therefore~ it should be a cardinal principle of A-B strategy that only the minimum of force necessary for the sa.fe-
guarding of'v. ital interests in other theatres should be diverted from operations against, Germany.
 
                                       II.      ESSENTIAL .FEATURES OF OURSTRATEGY
 
        4. The essential features of the above grand strategy are as follows. Each will be examined .in greater detail later in this paper.
 
            _a. The realization of the 'victory programme of armaments~ which first and foremost requires the security of the main areas of war industry.
 
Note--
::' For br~vity the abbreviated
A-B is used to denote
American'British
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