First Quebec Conference
First Quebec Conference Quadrant | |
---|---|
Host country | Canada |
Date | August 17–24, 1943 |
Venue(s) | Citadelle of Quebec Château Frontenac |
Cities | Quebec City, Quebec |
Participants |
|
The First Quebec Conference, codenamed Quadrant, was a highly secret military conference held during World War II by the governments of the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States. It took place in Quebec City on August 17–24, 1943, at both the Citadelle and the Château Frontenac. The chief representatives were Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt, hosted by the Canadian prime minister William Lyon Mackenzie King.[1]
Conference
Although Churchill suggested that Mackenzie King be involved in all discussions, Roosevelt vetoed the idea due to concern that future conferences would be encumbered by all of the Allied nations demanding seats.[2] As a result, Mackenzie King's hospitality was almost purely for ceremonial purposes.[citation needed] Joseph Stalin, leader of the Soviet Union, had been invited to join the conference, but he did not attend for military reasons.[3]
The
There were discussions about improving the coordination of efforts by the Americans, British, and Canadians to
It was decided that operations in the Balkans should be limited to supplying guerrillas, whereas operations against Japan would be intensified in order to exhaust Japanese resources, cut their communications lines, and secure forward bases from which the Japanese mainland could be attacked.[citation needed]
In addition to the strategic discussions, which were communicated to the Soviet Union and to
In the Pacific theater the conference decided to bypass and isolate Rabaul rather than proceed with the original plan of taking Rabaul. This decision fulfilled General Douglas MacArthur's plan to neutralize the heavily fortified fortress of Rabaul in New Britain.[10] MacArthur's Operation Cartwheel led to the creation of a de facto prisoner-of-war camp of over 100,000 Japanese troops who were cut off from the rest of their forces.
It was clear that eliminating Italy from the war was the Allies' main priority; this was expected to be done by the end of 1943. Following this, the next hope was that Germany would be defeated by the fall of 1944, which would leave just Japan remaining among the Axis powers.[11]
Following the conference, Churchill was on holiday at a fishing camp[12] and then, on August 31, 1943, delivered a radio address[13] before travelling by a special train that was going to Washington, D.C., to resume talks with Roosevelt.[14][15]
Gallery
-
On August 18, 1943 at the first Quebec Conference. (Seated: King, Roosevelt, Churchill)
-
President Roosevelt, seated next to Princess Alice and Prime Minister King of Canada, greeting British Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden.
-
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden
-
Women's Royal Naval Service officers sightseeing after the conference
Misplaced portfolio
Given the highly secret topic under discussion at the conference, security at the Château Frontenac and the Quebec Citadelle was important. Sgt. Maj. Émile Couture (then 25 years of age) of the Canadian Army was responsible for cleaning the offices at both of these locations after the Conference had ended.
See also
- Second Quebec Conference
- List of World War II conferences
- Manhattan Project
References
- ^ "Quebec City: 400 Years of History". Retrieved 2013-01-23.
Canadian Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King hosted Churchill and Roosevelt, but did not participate in the conferences.
- ISBN 978-0275930196.
- ^ Dewaters, Diane K. (2008). The World War II Conferences in Washington, D.C. and Quebec City: Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston S. Churchill. Arlington, Texas: University of Texas. p. 115.
- ISBN 978-1-4597-0590-6.
- ^ Dewaters, Diane K. (2008). The World War II Conferences in Washington, D.C. and Quebec City: Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston S. Churchill. Arlington, Texas: University of Texas. p. 120.
- ^ Dewaters, Diane K. (2008). The World War II Conferences in Washington, D.C. and Quebec City: Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston S. Churchill. Arlington, Texas: University of Texas. p. 111.
- ISBN 978-1-4597-0590-6.
- ISBN 0-252-07039-9.
- ISBN 978-1-4597-0590-6.
- LCCN 66-60005.
- ^ "Quadrant conference, August 1943: Papers and Minutes of Meetings (Digitised 2001)" (PDF). Washington, DC: Office, U.S. Secretary, Office of the Combined Chiefs of Staff. 1943. Archived from the original on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2023 – via Combined Arms Research Library Digital Library.
- ^ "Mr. King Leaves Today for Quebec to Meet Churchill". Ottawa Citizen. 1943-08-30. Retrieved 2013-01-23.
- ^ "Text of Premier Churchill's Address". Ottawa Citizen. CP. 1943-08-31. Retrieved 2013-01-23.
- ^ "Churchill Urges Parley of Three Allied Nations". St. Petersburg Times. UP. 1943-09-01. Retrieved 2013-01-23.
- ISBN 978-1-4597-5090-6.
- ^ "How a young Quebec soldier found confidential D-Day invasion plans — and kept it a secret". Retrieved August 25, 2019.
- ^ "Permanent Exhibit". Retrieved August 25, 2019.
Further reading
- Bernier, Serge (2008). "Mapping Victory". Beaver. 88 (1): 69–72.
- Ehrman, John (1956). Grand Strategy Volume V: August 1943–September 1944. London: H.M. Stationery Office. p. 15f. British official history.
External links
- The first Quebec Conference and related conversations at Hyde Park and Washington, WISC.
- Churchill at the first Quebec Conference, 1943, The Churchill Centre, archived from the original (archival news footage) on 2009-06-29.
- full audio recording of address delivered by Winston Churchill, August 31, 1943 Archived March 5, 2016, at the Wayback Machine