Roger Keyes might sail with the fleet before establishing a headquarters in Manila, placing the supreme command on American territory. Important staff posts could then go to US officers, sharing practical authority even if a British admiral holds the top title. The suggestion that Douglas MacArthur command the ground forces for a hypothetical invasion of Japan is deliberately comic because the coalition hopes never to execute such a plan. The joke rests on a real problem: appointments and headquarters locations must satisfy national prestige without dictating an operationally undesirable amphibious campaign.
Notable Point · 22:51-24:26
Balancing American prestige in coalition command
Basing headquarters in American territory, assigning American staff officers, and giving MacArthur an invasion-planning role offer ways to balance coalition command politics.