:45:01
Sorry that I couldn't entertain
Eleanor when she was in Australia.
:45:05
She enjoyed visiting
with Mrs. MacArthur.
:45:07
You, as I recall, were
out of town fighting a war.
:45:13
Oh, and, Douglas, before
we get down to business,
:45:17
I'd like to take this opportunity
to present you with a decoration.
:45:20
The Order of Merit for
Conspicuous Inspiration...
:45:24
of the American People.
:45:35
General MacArthur, we have asked you
here because the Joint Chiefs of Staff...
:45:39
have been considering for about
a year, without a decision,
:45:42
the next step to be taken
in the Pacific war.
:45:45
The president has decided he
would like to hear firsthand...
:45:48
the views of his commanders
in chief in the field.
:45:51
Admiral Nimitz, would you please present
the plan prepared by you and Admiral King.
:45:55
Yes, sir.
:45:57
In our westward drive
across the Pacific,
:46:00
the navy's
consistent goal...
:46:03
has been to cut Japan's
line of communication.
:46:06
Now, as you know, the central
Pacific offensives...
:46:08
have taken under control the Gilbert, the Marshall,
and the Mariana Island groups.
:46:13
In our view, the sound strategy
for early victory...
:46:16
is to occupy the western Pacific
and seize Formosa,
:46:21
both to control
the Formosa Strait...
:46:23
and as a jumping-off point
against Japan.
:46:26
Now, this means bypassing...
:46:29
the main Philippine island
of Luzon...
:46:32
until Formosa is secured.
:46:34
After General MacArthur's
troops...
:46:37
have seized
the southern Philippines,
:46:39
the access of advance that
should get the highest priority...
:46:42
is the central Pacific offensive
toward Formosa.
:46:46
General MacArthur
could then move into Luzon...
:46:49
and recapture Manila after
my forces have taken Formosa.
:46:52
In fact,
with the fall of Japan,
:46:56
the liberation
of the northern Philippines,
:46:58
including Manila,