Scope and Contents Correspondents include: William Deakin (9); [George Gordon] Allen (16); Sir John Slessor on information on the Coastal Command in 1943; Thomas Allen, publisher, on Canadian editions of the memoirs (5); 1st Lord Altrincham [earlier Sir Edward Grigg] on Sir Edward Spears reviewing "Their Finest Hour" (volume 2); "Max", 1st Lord Beaverbrook [earlier Sir Max Aitken]; Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Pownall (2); Ernest Passant, Director of Research, Librarian and Keeper of the Papers, Foreign Office...

Scope and Contents Printed directives by the Prime Minister, WSC, on subjects including: the future conduct of the war; the Pacific and the Japanese fleet; the entry of the United States into the war; the Atlantic Front; the Indian Ocean; the function of the Minister of State in the Middle East [Richard Casey]; Vichy France's co-operation with Germany; the function of the Minister Resident in West Africa [1st Lord Swinton, earlier Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister, earlier Sir Philip Lloyd-Greame]; Fleet Air Arm...

Scope and Contents Speech notes for WSC's speech (29 January) winding up a debate on the war situation and responding to parliamentary questions on subjects including: the vote of confidence in the government; general policy in the Far East; the defence of Singapore and Malaya [later Malaysia]; the scorched earth policy at Penang; the conduct of the war; and troops and supplies in India. Also includes correspondence from Oliver Locker-Lampson; Percy Harris; Sir Arnold Gridley; Colin Thornley [Principal Private...

Scope and Contents Speech notes for WSC's statement (2 August) on the war situation including: successes against Germany and Japan world-wide including the Far East; decisions made at the Quebec [Canada] conference; the Normandy landings; RAF losses; the tanks supplied by the United States and praise for the Sherman and Churchill tanks; the progress of General Sir Harold Alexander [Commander in Chief of the Allied Armies in Italy]; his hopes of victory; flying bombs and the evacuation of London; improved...

Scope and Contents Speech notes for WSC's speech (28 September) on the war situation including: successes in France, the liberation of Paris, and landings in the South of France; fighting in Italy; a tribute to the achievements of the British and United States armies; casualty figures; the campaign in Burma [later Myanmar] and progress against Japan; the use of DDT; setbacks in China; the modernisation of the British fleet; the position of Eastern European countries; and the presidential elections in the...

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Telegram from Field Marshal Jan Smuts [Prime Minister of South Africa] to WSC regarding the need for a definite strategical plan for the British and United States navies in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt]: states that he has not yet heard from Australia and New Zealand but that in principle there are great merits resulting from the United States controlling the Pacific sphere and Britain controlling the Indian sphere; comments on the need for the American and British navies to work to a common strategy; describes British naval force in the Central Indian Ocean; comments on the need to co-ordinate all naval commands...

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Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] commenting on a message from Admiral Ernest King [Chief of Naval Operations and Commander-in- Chief, United States Navy] promising to keep the Japanese occupied in the Pacific while Britain is building up strength in the Indian Ocean; also refusing Roosevelt's "generous offer" of two new battleships [to reinforce the British Home Fleet].

Scope and Contents Telegram from the Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin] to WSC transmitting observations of the Australian Chiefs of Staff on the appreciation of the situation in the Far East prepared by the British Chiefs of Staff: comments on the need for more offensive policy; suggests action against Rabaul [New Britain] and the strengthening of forces at Port Darwin [Australia]; comments on the need for a more offensive naval policy involving the formation of joint British and United States naval...

Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt]: reflects on the deterioration of British affairs since December 7 1941; comments on British naval plans for the Indian Ocean and North Atlantic; requests a statement of the dispositions and plans of the United States Air Force; comments on the diversion of an Allied army from the Levant-Caspian front to Australia and India, and on the need for the United States to reinforce Australia and New Zealand; comments on...

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Telegram from WSC to the Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin] reciting detailed comments by the Chiefs of Staff on offensive naval action in the Far East: states that it is necessary to remain strategically on the defensive in both the Indian and Pacific Oceans and outlines reasons; comments on the implementation of a future strategic offensive and interim offensive action; comments on the relative strengths of the fleets of the United States and Japan.

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Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] commenting on the presence of a large Japanese naval force in the Indian Ocean; wonders whether these movements are a prelude to an invasion of Ceylon [later Sri Lanka] and suggests that the United States Pacific Fleet might be used to compel the Japanese naval forces back to the Pacific.

Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] concerning "the grave situation" arising from the large Japanese naval presence in the Indian Ocean: suggests alternative plans for moving capital ships to the Indian Ocean; presses for American heavy bombers in India; comments on his meeting with the President's envoys and states that he is sending the 1st Sea Lord [Admiral of the Fleet Sir Dudley Pound] to see the President and Admiral Ernest King...

Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt]: comments on a plan to strengthen the British fleet in the Indian Ocean by using United States ships to reinforce the British Navy at Scapa [Scotland]; states that he is sending a note drafted by Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Portal [Chief of the Air Staff] regarding air reinforcements for Burma [later Myanmar], India and Ceylon [later Sri Lanka] but welcomes the proposal to use the United States aircraft carrier...

Scope and Contents Prime Minister's printed personal minutes, October 1943.Includes texts of minutes from WSC (annotated with additional printed information) to: Lord Louis Mountbatten [Supreme Allied Commander South East Asia]; General Sir Hastings Ismay [Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defence]; Colonel Ian Jacob and Major-General Leslie Hollis [Military Assistant Secretaries to the War Cabinet]; members of the Cabinet and other government ministers; the Chiefs of Staff; senior civil servants, including...

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Telegram [from WSC] to [Sir Stafford Cripps, British Ambassador to the Soviet Union] (Moscow) with a message for Yosuke Matsuoka [Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs] of "sincerity and goodwill": warning him of the possible consequences if Japan and the combined British and American "naval superiority" should come into conflict.

Scope and Contents Letter from WSC to [Franklin Roosevelt] President of the United States, detailing secret military plans, reorganisation of command, and projected course of the war: Major-General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East] to attack Cyrenaica [Libya], then advance on Tripoli; invasion of Norway has been planned as a cover; reports of German preparation for invasion of Britain over North Sea; seeks introduction of American troops to Northern Ireland; command. structure between the...

Scope and Contents Prime Minister's printed personal minutes, July and August 1942. Some written by WSC when in the Middle East.Includes texts of minutes from WSC (annotated with additional printed information) to: members of the Cabinet and other government ministers; the Chiefs of Staff; General Sir Hastings Ismay [Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defence]; Major-General Leslie Hollis [Military Assistant Secretary to the War Cabinet]; Sir Edward Bridges [Secretary to the War Cabinet].Subjects covered by the...

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Telegram from WSC to the Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin] relaying note by the 1st Sea Lord [Admiral of the Fleet Sir Dudley Pound] on the inadvisability of Allied combined fleet engaging Japanese Fleet in Pacific, in aftermath of Pearl Harbor [United States] attack, where Japan has air superiority.

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Telegram from WSC to the Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin] on subjects including: denying personal responsibility for lack of preparation for war; relating the threat in the Middle East to European and Japanese campaigns; the development of military strategy; details of ships lost and the future build-up of naval power in the Indian Ocean and Pacific.

Scope and Contents Letter from WSC to President [Franklin Roosevelt] outlining various plans and proposals concerning: attacking the German and Italian armies in Libya; French North Africa; Norway; British contributions to the Soviet war effort; defending Great Britain from a possible German invasion; placing United States forces in Northern Ireland [Ulster]; the command structure in the Middle East and the roles of the Air Force and Navy; the effect of victory in Libya on Italy and Turkey; landing tanks; the...

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Letter from King George VI (Windsor Castle [Berkshire]) to WSC on the loss of the Repulse and the Prince of Wales, and the news about the American battleships. [signed manuscript].