Scope and Contents Letter from General Sir Ian Hamilton, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Mediterranean, to WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty] on naval aviation in the Mediterranean, supporting WSC's proposal to establish air stations at Malta and Gibraltar. Hamilton comments on the possibility of the Navy assuming full responsibility for the defence of places like Malta and Gibraltar, and also mentions his current visit to Australia, reporting a discussion with Senator Millen, the Defence Minister, on...

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Minute by WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty] to the Secretary of the Admiralty [Sir (William) Graham Greene], 4th Sea Lord [Captain Cecil Lambert] and others, on the Naval Air Service, stating that the social precedence of flying officers should be regulated by their substantive naval rank. WSC also states that flying officers should wear executive naval uniforms, but that they would be excluded from executive command outside the Air Service. [Carbon copy].

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Minute from WSC [First Lord of the Admiralty], to the Secretary of the Admiralty [Sir (William) Graham Greene], and the 1st Sea Lord [Prince Louis of Battenberg, later 1st Lord Milford Haven] and 4th Sea Lord [Captain Cecil Lambert], on the Naval Air Service, particularly the rank and status of Squadron Commanders, the question of uniform and the call-up of reservists. [Typescript copy].

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Telegram from the Government of New Zealand to WSC regarding the provision of fighter aircraft for New Zealand: asks WSC to help arrange the diversion of two United States pursuit squadrons; comments on the need for fighter aircraft.

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Telegram from the Government of New Zealand to WSC listing specific resources required by air force, army and navy in order to defend New Zealand against a Japanese invasion force.

Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] conveying the decisions of the Pacific War Council, including: hopes that the flow of American heavy bombers to Java [Dutch East Indies, later Indonesia] can be resumed until the Supreme Commander [South West Pacific, General Sir Archibald Wavell] decides that it is useless; evacuation policy; the successful naval action off Bali [Dutch East Indies, later Indonesia], reinforcing the request for naval...

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Telegram from Harry Hopkins [Special adviser and assistant to the President of the United States] to WSC regarding the continued flight of American heavy bombers across Africa to the Far East.

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Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] commenting on the heavy enemy air attack against Malta and British difficulties in providing adequate Spitfire reinforcements; asks that the United States aircraft carrier Wasp be used to take Spitfires from the Clyde [Scotland] to Malta and suggests the third week of April.

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Telegram from the President of the United States, Franklin Roosevelt to WSC regarding his request for American assistance in transporting Spitfires to Malta [see CHAR 20/73/13-14] and commenting on the availability of the Furious.

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Telegram from Sir Stafford Cripps [Lord Privy Seal] (Karachi [India, later Pakistan]) to WSC regarding the defence situation in India, particularly the air and naval situation and commenting on the need for heavy bombers and reconnaissance aircraft.

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Telegram from WSC to the Lord Privy Seal [Sir Stafford Cripps] (Cairo [Egypt]) concerning the position of the Air Ministry with regard to supplying bombers to India.

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...

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Telegram from the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] to WSC regarding immediate British war needs: comments on United States Air Force suggestions for getting planes to India; questions the viability of a naval concentration in the Ceylon [later Sri Lanka] area using mixed forces and suggests that consideration be given to the temporary American replacement of British Home Fleet units.

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Telegram from the President of the United States, Franklin Roosevelt, to Harry Hopkins [Special adviser and assistant to President Roosevelt] for WSC containing several observations on the proposal to send American planes to India.

Scope and Contents Typescript copy of letter from Vi Wellington Koo [Chinese Ambassador to Britain] to WSC containing the text of a telegram from Generalissimo Chiang-Kai-shek [Chinese Nationalist leader] to WSC commenting on his recent visit to Burma [later Myanmar]: comments on the scene of "desolation and disorder" in Mandalay; comments on the superiority of the enemy in the air; comments on the dangers of defeat in Burma and appeals for reinforcements of air power. [See CHAR 20/74/39-40 for WSC's...

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Telegram from the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] to WSC informing him of a proposal to hold a conference in Ottawa [Canada] in May to discuss the Air Training Programme and the renewal of the Empire Training Plan on an overall basis for the United Nations.

Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC to General Sir Archibald Wavell, Commander-in-Chief, India: comments on fighter and bomber strengths in India and Ceylon [later Sri Lanka] and details reinforcements; comments on plans to build up a powerful naval force in the Indian Ocean under Admiral Sir James Somerville [Commander-in-Chief, Eastern Fleet]; comments on the strategic importance of holding Colombo [Ceylon] and preserving the link with China; states that he is sending Wavell extracts of a telegram from...

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 Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] reciting 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]: agrees with proposals to bring United States bombardment squadrons in India up to full strength and to transfer 34 heavy and medium bomber aircraft from British allocations; comments on the need to retain Kittyhawk aircraft for use in...

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Telegram from the President of the United States, Franklin Roosevelt, to WSC giving details of the movement of American aircraft to India.

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Telegram from the Governor of Malta [Lieutenant- General Sir William Dobbie] regarding the need for "most drastic action" to gain and maintain air superiority if Malta is to be held; comments on recent Spitfire losses and the urgent need for supplies.

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Telegram from WSC to Generalissimo Chiang-Kai-shek [Chinese Nationalist Leader] thanking him for his telegram about the state of affairs in Burma [later Myanmar] and commenting on the difficulties in providing air support. [See CHAR 20/73/120-123 for Chiang-Kai-shek's telegram].

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Telegram from WSC to the Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin] regarding the naval position in the Far East: describes ship movements and losses between 4 April and 9 April resulting from Japanese raids on Colombo [Ceylon, later Sri Lanka] and Trincomalee [Ceylon]; comments on the relative strengths of Britain, the United States and Japan in aircraft carriers, aircraft and personnel; comments on future policy on the Eastern Fleet.

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Telegram from WSC to the Viceroy [and Governor- General] of India [2nd Lord Linlithgow, earlier Lord Hopetoun] expressing concern over poor progress in the construction of aerodromes in India and asking the Viceroy to look into the civil aspects of the question.

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Telegram from General Sir Archibald Wavell [Commander- in-Chief, India] to WSC outlining the situation in India, Ceylon [later Sri Lanka] and Burma [later Myanmar]: comments on air strength; comments on the naval situation; comments on the defence of Ceylon; comments on difficulties in Burma and implications with regard to China; "Our tails are well up but not wagging very much as yet.".