Grappled with the old question of available landing-craft in relation to "Buccaneer”, "Overlord”, the invasion of southern France and the residual operations in the eastern Mediterranean. Fresh examination of the "Overlord” plan in the light of the experience of the invasion of Sicily and Italy suggested that a larger initial assault force was desirable, and that meant yet more landing-craft. The British Chiefs-of-Staff therefore once more sought to get "Buccaneer” abandoned, and with it the planned concurrent land offensive in northern Burma; their American opposite numbers nevertheless still argued that these operations were politically and militarily essential. Three days of discussion led only to deadlock. But on the evening of December 5, after hard thinking in private, Roosevelt came to a difficult decision. He sent Churchill the terse message "Buccaneer is off” Next day he signalled Chiang that European commitments left no margin for the operation.
Thus the "Sextant” and "Eureka” conferences, when taken together the longest, toughest inter-Allied meeting ever held, came to an end with all the great strategic issues at last resolved. For all the arguing and bargaining, the British and Americans parted in amity, as the concluding remarks of the final session record:
"Sir Alan Brooke said he would like to express on behalf of the British Chiefs of Staff their deep gratitude for the way in which the United States Chiefs had met their views. . .
"General Marshall said that he very much appreciated Sir Alan Brooke’s gracious tributes. . .”
On his way home Roosevelt summoned Eisenhower to Tunis, and as soon as Eisenhower had joined him in his car, he said: "Well, Ike, you are going to command 'Overlord’!” Eisenhower replied: "Mr. President, 1 realise that such an appointment involved difficult decisions. I hope you will not be disappointed.”
World History
