In Masters and Commanders, Andrew Roberts writes that newly appointed Chief of the Imperial General Staff Alan Brooke disliked the fact that Churchill didn't bring him along for the ARCADIA conference with the Americans. What if John Dill get's ill (or maybe even die?) and Brooke goes along anyway? How would the conference play out and what would be other long-term consequences?
Possibilities:
1. Brooke was very much against the formation of ABDACOM but by the time he was part of the decision-making progress, that decision had practically been made as Marshall convinced Roosevelt and the two of them convinced Churchill. If Brooke is at ARCADIA he might be able to convince Churchill to stand strong on this. Maybe this results in a smaller version of ABDACOM or no ABDACOM at all?
2. In the same vein: Brooke also opposed the establishment of the Combined Chiefs of Staff in Washington. What if that is never instated?
3. Roberts asserts that Dill attending allowed him to establish close and friendly relations with Marshall. The two trusted eachother so much that they would share classified cables from their bosses, Churchill and Roosevelt. If Dill isn't at ARCADIA, does he become Chief of the British Joint Staff Mission and later on, Senior British Representative on the Combined Chiefs of Staff? Probably yes, though the relationship with Marshall will start building later than OTL. Does that have consequences? What if John Dill dies? Who becomes the British representative in that case? And how does that affect Anglo-American relations?
Possibilities:
1. Brooke was very much against the formation of ABDACOM but by the time he was part of the decision-making progress, that decision had practically been made as Marshall convinced Roosevelt and the two of them convinced Churchill. If Brooke is at ARCADIA he might be able to convince Churchill to stand strong on this. Maybe this results in a smaller version of ABDACOM or no ABDACOM at all?
2. In the same vein: Brooke also opposed the establishment of the Combined Chiefs of Staff in Washington. What if that is never instated?
3. Roberts asserts that Dill attending allowed him to establish close and friendly relations with Marshall. The two trusted eachother so much that they would share classified cables from their bosses, Churchill and Roosevelt. If Dill isn't at ARCADIA, does he become Chief of the British Joint Staff Mission and later on, Senior British Representative on the Combined Chiefs of Staff? Probably yes, though the relationship with Marshall will start building later than OTL. Does that have consequences? What if John Dill dies? Who becomes the British representative in that case? And how does that affect Anglo-American relations?