As an Ally of Britain I do not wholly agree that the landing 
 
of large dies f troops on the Continent of Europe necessarily
 
follows as the only means to win the war. Egypt, Suez and Gibraltar 
 
I consider vital and must be held. This doubtless will involve land 
 
combat. Land combat in Egypt, for example, will handicap the enemy 
 
in the matter of distance as well as Britain. Land war on the 
 
Continent of Europe will handicap Britain and ourselves alone. Land 
 
warfare on the Continent of Europe, I believe, is poor strategy.
 
     In addition to the vital considerations discussed in your 
 
secret memorandum under Plans (B) and (C), unlimited and limited war 
 
against Japan, the following vital factors should be added.
 
          If we wage war against Japan, either limited
 
     or unlimited, under Plan (B) or (C), we are aiding 
 
     the enemy by enabling the Third Ally, Japan, to 
 
     participate in the war. At present Japan can render 
 
     no material aid to Germany or Italy by actual 
 
     operations in Europe. Should we wage war against 
 
     Japan and enable Japan to fight, and furthermore, to 
 
     fight in an area to her own advantage, it seems to 
 
     me to be extremely poor strategy.
 
                    As you have pointed out in your secret memorandum 
 
     if we wage war upon Japan under the present circum-
 
     stances we will have started something and our ability 
 
     to finish it will depend, not upon ourselves, but upon 
 
     some one else, namely, upon Great Britain and upon her 
 
     holding out for a prolonged period of time. In battle
 
                                                -2-