43-11-22 Cairo Conference

1943-11-22 Cairo Conference begins: WW2: Britain, USA, China discuss Japan - HiPo > .

On 22 November 1943 the Cairo Conference began when the leaders of the United Kingdom, the USA and China met to discuss the Allied position regarding Japan during the Second World War.

By late 1943, the tide of World War II was beginning to turn in favour of the Allies. The Axis forces were retreating on multiple fronts, and the Allies were beginning to plan for the post-war world order. The Cairo Conference was therefore just one of a series of major wartime conferences that would shape the future of the world.

The conference was held at a residence of Alexander Comstock Kirk, the American ambassador to Egypt, close to the Giza pyramids complex in Cairo. Alongside senior military leaders, the meeting brought together President Franklin D. Roosevelt of the United States, Prime Minister Winston Churchill of the United Kingdom, and Chairman of the Chinese National Government Chiang Kai-shek of China. Their presence signified the unity of the Allied Powers.

At the heart of the discussions was the military strategy to defeat Japan, one of the Axis Powers. The leaders agreed on a plan for the unconditional surrender of Japan and to push for Japan's withdrawal from occupied territories. Beyond military strategy, the Cairo Conference also addressed the post-war fate of Japan and its occupied territories, including the necessity of disarmament, occupation, and the pursuit of war criminals.

The conference concluded with the Cairo Declaration that formally recorded the agreements reached. Nevertheless the plan of action was repeatedly postponed and changed, making the strategic agreements of limited significance. However, the Conference was still important for establishing a collaborative framework for the four powers of the USA, Britain, China, and the USSR that was to continue with the later Tehran and Yalta Conferences that demonstrated the commitment of the wartime Allied leaders to work together to achieve victory and plan for the post-war era.