HOTCHKISS, CAIRO
                         OPNAV
DEC.21, 1941
 
     SMITH/PITKIN
          R.V.ROBINSON
 
               192300 (CONTINUED)     PART 2-192315 CR 0178
                                      PART 3-192330 CR 0176
                                      PART 4-192345 CR 0180
 
     STRICTLY PRESIDENTIAL FOR THE PRESIDENT FROM BULLITT-
AS YOU ARE AWARE, BUT FEW PERSONS IN WASHINGTON REALIZE, THE
FIGHTING IN THIS AREA IS BEING CARRIED ON BY COMPARITIVELY TINY
FIGHTING FORCES.
 
THEREFORE A SLIGHT INCREASE OR DIMUNITION IN FORCE HERE MAKES THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DEFEAT AND VICTORY.  IN VIEW OF THE VITAL
IMPORTANCE OF NORTH AFRICA FOR AN ULTIMATE ATTACK ON ITALY AND
GERMANY, AND IN VIEW OF THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A BRITSH ARMY ON
THE EASTERN BORDER OF TUNISIA RATHER THAN A GERMAN ARMY, AND IN
VIEW OF THE FACT THAT THE ENEMY IS NOW ON THE RUN I BELIEVE THAT 
(1) IT WOULD BE FOLLY TO WITHDRAW FORCES OF ANY KIND FROM THIS AREA
NOW.
(2) THAT THE FORCES NOW HERE SHOULD BE STRENGTHENED IN ANY WAY
THAT WILL NOT REDUCE FORCES WHICH ARE VITALLY NEEDED AT OTHER
POINTS.  
IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THE ESTABLISHED PROGRAM FOR DELIVERIES HERE OF
AIRCRAFT, AIRCRAFT EQUIPTMENT, ,30 AND .50 AMMUNITION, 250 LB. BOMBS
AND 500 LB. BOMBS AND MOTOR TRANSPORT SHOULD BE MAINTAINED AND
THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO DIVISION TO OTHER AREAS.
 
IT IS VITAL THAT THE PROGRAM FOR DELIVERY OF KITTY-HAWK SP-40'S,
BOSTONS A-20 AND BALTIMORES MARTIN BOMBERS SHOULD BE MAINTAINED.
 
IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT THAT THE PROJECTS WHICH WERE STARTED BY
GENERAL BRETT SHOULD BE CARRIED THROUGH.  IN VIEW OF SERIOUS GERMAN
ATTEMPTS TO REINFORCE THIS THEATRE OF WAR NOTABLY BY THE TRANSFER
OF THE ENTIRE 2ND GERMAN AIR CORPS FROM THE MOSCOW FRONT TO ITALY
AND FLIGHTS OF PLANES OF THIS AIR CORPS TO LIBYA, IT IS MY BELIEF THAT
THE SUCCESS 
                                        (CONTINUED ON
                                             SHEET 2)