PLAN OF ALLIED OFFENSIVE

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 105, 28 January 1943, Page 5

PLAN OF ALLIED OFFENSIVE

Great Decisions At Casablanca LEADERS MEET (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) LONDON, January 27. Complete agreement on war plans for 1943 to bring about the “unconditional surrender” of the Germans, Italians, and Japanese was announced yesterday after a 10-day conference at Casablanca between Mr. Churchill and President Roosevelt. M. Stalin was invited, but was unable to attend because of the necessity of his remaining in Russia during the present offensive. M. Stalin and Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek were kept informed of the conference decisions.

Mr. Churchill and Mr. Roosevelt met General de Gaulle and General Giraud, who expressed agreement with their decisions and also agreement between themselves.

The Historic conference is almost the sole topic of discussion among

flie public of Britain. The newspapers comment on what is known

of the military decisions—and what is not known. The news has been hailed with pleasure on both sides of the Atlantic. All the London papers make some reference to (lie absence of Al. Stalin and Marshal Chiang Kai-shek, and the “News Chronicle’’ comments that the four main allies should be fully and equally represented in the war and peace discussions, and all four should make the utmost effort to see that that is achieved. American Analysis. A message from New York says that officials in America declare that the Casablanca meeting has produced at least two tangible results. First, a decision to launch great Allied offensives in 19-13. Secondly, military if not political unity among the various French factious. Military decisions, of such magnitude have dwarfed any political considerations, and this is evidenced not only 'by the joint statement, but also by the faet that the foremost military advisers were present, while the diplomatic and political troublemakers were absent. The observers, says the message, express the opinion that this indicates that Messrs. Roosevelt and Churchill concentrated on unconditional surrender of the Axis, and liberation of the conquered countries rather than determining the future of France and other subjugated lands. The members of the conference therefore approached the French problem purely from a military viewpoint, and conceivably they warned the factional leaders that France cannot be resurrected by political bickering. Quarrelling over the future leadership is futile if there is no France to lead., It appeared that the Frenchmen agreed to pigeonhole their political differences and aspirations, and to prosecute the main task of freeing France.

Mr. Roosevelt at Casablanca said that the Allies’ main object in the Pacific was to stop Japan forever

from dominating the Pacific, the message adds.