Plan Dog memo

It described four possible scenarios for American participation in World War II, lettered A through E:[2] The memorandum, which was submitted to Roosevelt on November 12, 1940, recommended option D, the origin of its name ("Dog" was D in the Joint Army/Navy Phonetic Alphabet): I believe that the continued existence of the British Empire, combined with building up a strong protection in our home areas, will do most to ensure the status quo in the Western Hemisphere, and to promote our principal national interests.

I believe that the chances for success are in our favor, particularly if we insist upon full equality in the political and military direction of the war.The memo also suggested that until hostilities broke out, the US should adopt policy A: Until such time as the United States should decide to engage its full forces in war, I recommend that we pursue a course that will most rapidly increase the military strength of both the Army and the Navy, that is to say, adopt Alternative (A) without hostilities.

At a meeting on January 17, 1941, Roosevelt concluded that the primary objective must be maintenance of the supply lines to Britain and ordered the navy to prepare for the escort of convoys.

"[3] A few weeks after the Attack on Pearl Harbor, at the Arcadia Conference, the United States adopted the recommendations of the memo in the form of the "Europe first" policy.

Although the United States did not go entirely on the defensive in the Pacific, as the memo recommended, the European Theatre was given higher priority in resource allocation throughout the war.