Editing First Quebec Conference

{{Short description|1943 Allied conference during World War II}}
{{Infobox summit meeting
| name         = First Quebec Conference
| other_titles = Quadrant
| image        = Quebec conference 1943.png
| alt          = <!-- See [[Wikipedia:Alternative text for images]] -->
| caption      = [[William Lyon Mackenzie King|Mackenzie King]], [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] and [[Winston Churchill]] at the First Quebec Conference
| country      = Canada
| date         = August 17–24, 1943
| motto        =
| venues       = [[Citadelle of Quebec]]<br />[[Château Frontenac]]
| cities       = [[Quebec City]], Quebec
| participants = {{plainlist|
*{{flag|Canada|1921}} (as host)
*{{flag|United Kingdom}}
*{{flag|United States|1912}}}}
| chairperson  = 
| follows      = 
| precedes     = 
| website      = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->
| keypoints    = 
}}

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 of Quebec|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]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Quebec City: 400 Years of History |quote=Canadian Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King hosted Churchill and Roosevelt, but did not participate in the conferences. |url=http://www.cbc.ca/archives/categories/society/celebrations/quebec-city-400-years-of-history/war-conference-at-quebec.html#tabs-2 |access-date=2013-01-23 }}</ref>

==Conference==
[[Image:The Quebec Conference, Canada, August 1943 TR1347.jpg|thumb|upright=1.35|[[William Lyon Mackenzie King|Mackenzie King]], [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]], [[Winston Churchill]], and the [[Alexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone|Earl of Athlone]]<br>at [[Citadelle of Quebec|La Citadelle]] in [[Quebec City]]]]

Although Churchill suggested that Mackenzie King be involved in all discussions, Roosevelt vetoed the idea owing to concern that future conferences would be burdened by all of the Allied nations demanding seats.<ref>{{Cite book|title = The Canadian Army and the Normandy: A Study of Failure in High Command|last = English|first = John A.|publisher = Praeger Publishers|year = 1991|isbn = 978-0275930196|location = London|pages = 31}}</ref> As a result, Mackenzie King's hospitality was almost purely for ceremonial purposes. [[Joseph Stalin]], leader of the [[Soviet Union]], had been invited to join the conference, but he did not attend for military reasons.<ref>{{Cite book|title = The World War II Conferences in Washington, D.C. and Quebec City: Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston S. Churchill|last = Dewaters|first = Diane K.|publisher = University of Texas|year = 2008|location = Arlington, Texas|pages = 115}}</ref>

The [[Allies of World War II|Allies]] agreed to begin discussions for the planning of the [[Invasion of Normandy|invasion of France]], codenamed [[Operation Overlord]], in a secret report by the [[Combined Chiefs of Staff]]. It was agreed that Overlord would commence on May 1, 1944, but this was subsequently disregarded, and a later date was finalised.<ref>{{Cite book|title = Winston Churchill and Mackenzie King: So Similar, So Different|last = Reardon|first = Terry|publisher = Dundurn Press|year = 2012|isbn = 978-1-4597-0590-6|location = Toronto|pages = 254}}</ref> However, Overlord was not the only option; for example, [[Operation Jupiter (Norway)|Operation Jupiter]] remained a strong possibility had the Germans proved too powerful on the French coast.<ref>{{Cite book|title = The World War II Conferences in Washington, D.C. and Quebec City: Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston S. Churchill|last = Dewaters|first = Diane K.|publisher = University of Texas|year = 2008|location = Arlington, Texas|pages = 120}}</ref> In the [[Mediterranean and Middle East theatre of World War II|Mediterranean]] (a [[Theater (warfare)|theatre]] on which Churchill was very keen) they resolved to concentrate more force to remove [[Italy]] from the alliance of [[Axis powers]] and to occupy it along with [[Corsica]]. Churchill and Roosevelt made it clear that they would only accept unconditional surrender from Italy, with a complete and immediate cessation of fighting.<ref>{{Cite book|title = The World War II Conferences in Washington, D.C. and Quebec City: Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston S. Churchill|last = Dewaters|first = Diane K.|publisher = University of Texas|year = 2008|location = Arlington, Texas|pages = 111}}</ref> News came through of the [[Allied invasion of Sicily|fall of Sicily]] to Allied forces, an invasion that had taken just 38 days.<ref>{{Cite book|title = Winston Churchill and Mackenzie King: So Similar, So Different|last = Reardon|first = Terry|publisher = Dundurn Press|year = 2012|isbn = 978-1-4597-0590-6|location = Toronto|pages = 256}}</ref> It was then decided that an [[Allied invasion of Italy|invasion of Italy]] would begin on September 3, 1943. However, an [[Armistice of Cassibile|armistice was signed that same day]], which officially put Italy out of the war.<ref>{{Cite book|title = History of United States Naval Operations in World War II: Sicily - Salerno - Anzio: January 1943–June 1944|last = Morison|first = Samuel Eliot|publisher = University of Illinois Press|year = 2002|isbn = 0-252-07039-9|location = Champaign, IL|pages = 239}}</ref>

There were discussions about improving the coordination of efforts by the Americans, British, and Canadians to [[Manhattan Project|develop]] an [[atomic bomb]]. Churchill and Roosevelt, without Canadian input, signed the [[Quebec Agreement]], stating that the nuclear technology would never be used against one another, that they would not use it against third parties without the consent of one another, but also that [[Tube Alloys]] would not be discussed with third parties. Canada, although not being represented at the particular meeting, played a key role in this agreement as it was a major source of uranium and heavy water, both essential in the atomic bomb.<ref>{{Cite book|title = Winston Churchill and Mackenzie King: So Similar, So Different|last = Reardon|first = Terry|publisher = Dundurn Press|year = 2012|isbn = 978-1-4597-0590-6|location = Toronto|pages = 249–250}}</ref>

It was decided that operations in the [[Balkans]] should be limited to supplying [[guerrilla warfare|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|date=August 2020}}

In addition to the strategic discussions, which were communicated to the Soviet Union and to [[Chiang Kai-shek]] in [[China]], the conference also issued a joint statement on [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]], intended to calm tensions as the British [[belligerent occupation|occupation]] was becoming increasingly untenable. The conference also condemned German atrocities in [[Poland]].{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}

In the [[South West Pacific theatre of World War II|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|Douglas MacArthur's]] plan to [[Neutralisation of Rabaul|neutralize]] the heavily fortified fortress of Rabaul in [[New Britain]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Reports of General MacArthur: The Campaigns of MacArthur in the Pacific |volume=I |chapter=Chapter V: Up from Papua |chapter-url=https://history.army.mil/books/wwii/MacArthur%20Reports/MacArthur%20V1/ch05.htm |lccn=66-60005 |publisher=U.S. Army Center of Military History}}</ref>  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.

In parallel with the military discussions, U.S. Secretary of State [[Cordell Hull]] held a private meeting with British Foreign Secretary [[Anthony Eden]], where both expressed opposition to the forcible dismemberment of Germany, favoring a more restrained postwar settlement.<ref name="hullmemoirs">{{cite book |last=Hull |first=Cordell |title=The Memoirs of Cordell Hull |publisher=Macmillan |year=1948 |volume=II |pages=1593–1594}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher= Office, U.S. Secretary, Office of the Combined Chiefs of Staff |title = Quadrant conference, August 1943: Papers and Minutes of Meetings (Digitised 2001)| date = 1943|url = https://www.jcs.mil/Portals/36/Documents/History/WWII/Quadrant3.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128221129/http://cgsc.cdmhost.com/cdm/ref/collection/p4013coll8/id/3694 |archive-date=28 January 2016 |url-status=live |access-date = 16 August 2023|via = Combined Arms Research Library Digital Library |location=Washington, DC }}</ref>

Following the conference, Churchill was on holiday at a fishing camp<ref>{{cite news |date=1943-08-30 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JvouAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8dsFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4060%2C5066505 |access-date=2013-01-23 |newspaper=Ottawa Citizen |title=Mr. King Leaves Today for Quebec to Meet Churchill}}</ref> and then, on August 31, 1943, delivered a radio address<ref>{{cite news |date=1943-08-31 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JvouAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8dsFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3918%2C5496828 |access-date=2013-01-23 |newspaper=Ottawa Citizen |agency=CP |title=Text of Premier Churchill's Address}}</ref> before travelling by a special train that was going to Washington, D.C., to resume talks with Roosevelt.<ref>{{cite news |date=1943-09-01 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-bpSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EH0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5446%2C6588624 |access-date=2013-01-23 |agency=UP |newspaper=St. Petersburg Times |title=Churchill Urges Parley of Three Allied Nations}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title = Winston Churchill and Mackenzie King: So Similar, So Different|last = Reardon|first = Terry|publisher = Dundurn Press|year = 2012|isbn = 978-1-4597-5090-6|location = Toronto|pages = 254}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
File:Quebec Conference leaders.svg|On August 18, 1943 at the first Quebec Conference. (Seated: King, Roosevelt, Churchill)<!--caption too long Behind: General [[Henry H. Arnold|"Hap" Arnold]] (commander USAAF), Air Chief Marshal [[Charles Portal, 1st Viscount Portal of Hungerford|Charles Portal]] (Chief of the Air Staff), General Sir [[Alan Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke|Alan Brooke]] (Chief of the Imperial General Staff), Admiral [[Ernest King]] (Chief of Naval Operations), Field Marshal Sir [[John Dill]] (Senior British Representative), General [[George C. Marshall]] (Chief of Staff US Army), Admiral Sir [[Dudley Pound]] (First Sea Lord), and Admiral [[William D. Leahy]] (Chief of Staff to Roosevelt)-->
File:FDR and Anthony Eden at the Quebec Conference.jpg|President Roosevelt, seated next to [[Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone|Princess Alice]] and Prime Minister King of Canada, greeting British Foreign Secretary [[Anthony Eden]].
File:Churchill and Anthony Eden at Quebec Conference.jpg|British Prime Minister [[Winston Churchill]] and Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden
File:Women at War 1939 - 1945 TR1277.jpg|[[Women's Royal Naval Service]] officers sightseeing after the conference</gallery>

==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.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/young-quebec-soldier-walked-away-with-d-day-plans-1943-1.5257652 | title=How a young Quebec soldier found confidential D-Day invasion plans — and kept it a secret | access-date=August 25, 2019}}</ref> Couture found a leather portfolio with a gold inscription "Churchill-Roosevelt, Quebec Conference, 1943." on the exterior and kept it as a souvenir not realizing that it contained nearly complete plans for [[Operation Overlord]]. That evening Couture discovered the contents of the portfolio and, realizing the extremely sensitive nature of those documents, hid the portfolio under his mattress until he could return the portfolio in the morning. Couture was investigated by [[Scotland Yard]] and the [[FBI]] to ensure none of the information had been leaked. At the [[Second Quebec Conference]] Couture was awarded the [[British Empire Medal]] for his silence though it was attributed for "services rendered". Couture was interviewed on Radio-Canada's radio program ''Appelez-moi Lise'' by Lise Payette in 1972 about this issue. Additional magazine interviews with Couture are on display at the permanent exhibit for both Quebec Conferences in the Quebec Citadelle<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.lacitadelle.qc.ca/en/exhibitions/permanent-exhibit.html | access-date=August 25, 2019 | title=Permanent Exhibit}}</ref> after September&nbsp;2019.

==See also==
*[[Second Quebec Conference]]
*[[List of Allied World War II conferences]]
*[[Manhattan Project]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{Cite journal |last=Bernier |first=Serge |date=2008 |title=Mapping Victory |journal=Beaver |volume=88 |issue=1 |pages=69–72}} 
* {{cite book |last=Ehrman |first=John |year=1956 |title=Grand Strategy Volume V: August 1943–September 1944 |location=London |publisher=H.M. Stationery Office |page=15f}} British official history.

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{Citation | url = http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/FRUS.FRUS1943 | title = The first Quebec Conference and related conversations at Hyde Park and Washington | publisher = WISC}}.
* {{Citation | publisher = The Churchill Centre | url = http://www.winstonchurchill.org/learn/in-the-media/newsreels/churchill-at-the-first-quebec-conference-1943 | title = Churchill at the first Quebec Conference, 1943 | format = archival news footage | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090629044732/http://www.winstonchurchill.org/learn/in-the-media/newsreels/churchill-at-the-first-quebec-conference-1943 | archive-date = 2009-06-29 }}.
* [http://ms.radio-canada.ca/archives_new/2008/en/wma/quebec_400_19430831.wma full audio recording of address delivered by Winston Churchill, August 31, 1943] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305005639/http://ms.radio-canada.ca/archives_new/2008/en/wma/quebec_400_19430831.wma |date=March 5, 2016 }}

{{Diplomatic history of World War II}}

[[Category:World War II conferences]]
[[Category:History of Quebec City]]
[[Category:Diplomatic conferences in Canada]]
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[[Category:1943 in international relations]]
[[Category:Canada–United States relations]]
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