Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC to Sir Stafford Cripps [Lord Privy Seal] (India) regarding fighters for the defence of India: comments on the numbers of Hurricanes in India; states that nothing sent from Britain could affect the situation for at least two months; comments on suggestions for diverting fighters from Ceylon [later Sri Lanka] or the Middle East; refers to remarks by General Sir Archibald Wavell [Commander-in-Chief, India] regarding the inability of the Eastern Fleet to respond to a sea-borne...

Scope and Contents Telegram from General Sir Archibald Wavell, Commander-in-Chief, India, to WSC regarding the need for air reinforcements in India: states that the Japanese are likely to seize Burma [later Myanmar] air bases and will then be able to attack Calcutta and industrial Bengal [parts of Bangladesh and India] and stresses the need for a bombing force capable of attacking a sea-borne expedition against India; comments on existing reinforcement flow and suggests that consideration be given to the...

Scope and Contents

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.

Scope and Contents

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...

Scope and Contents

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...

Scope and Contents

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

Scope and Contents

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.

Scope and Contents

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].

Scope and Contents

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.

Scope and Contents

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.

Scope and Contents

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.".

Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt]: thanks Roosevelt for his telegram about "Ironclad" [codename for operation against Diego Suarez, Madagascar] and for the use of USS Wasp; comments on the arrival of General Henri Giraud at Vichy [France]; comments on "desperate attacks" on the Tirpitz at Trondheim [Norway] and German retaliation against British towns near the coast; gives details of recent German aircraft losses over Norwich [Norfolk] and York;...

Scope and Contents

Telegram from the Viceroy [and Governor-General] of India, [2nd Lord Linlithgow, earlier Lord Hopetoun] to WSC regarding aerodrome construction in India.

Scope and Contents

Telegram from Admiral Geoffrey Layton [Commander-in- Chief, Ceylon] reporting on progress in Ceylon [later Sri Lanka] since 5 April 1942: outlines reinforcements and withdrawals; describes defensive works and reports on the RDF [Radio Direction Finder] situation; comments on aerodrome facilities and the likely zone of the main enemy landing; reports present airforce and army dispositions.

Scope and Contents

Telegram from John Curtin [Prime Minister of Australia] to WSC marked "most secret" commenting on the report he has received from Herbert Evatt [Australian Minister for External Affairs and Attorney General] on the results of his mission to London: thanks WSC for his assurances of support and practical assistance, including provision of three Spitfire squadrons and an RAF squadron, and proposes to express his Government's appreciation in the Australian parliament.

Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to the Minister of State in the Middle East [Richard Casey] marked "most secret" outlining reasons why more heavy bombers cannot be sent to support the Malta convoy in June.

Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief Middle East] and Air Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder [Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Mediterranean] marked "most secret" stressing the vital importance of the convoys to Malta and asking them to take all steps to enable air escorts to be operated from landing grounds as far west as possible including Martubah [Libya].

Scope and Contents Telegram from the Minister of State in the Middle East [Richard Casey] to WSC marked "most secret" regarding the provision of bombers to protect the Malta convoys: notes the impossibility of sending required air forces; believes that the Liberators intended for India can be used for a limited time in Egypt and proposes to authorise holding these aircraft; states that the American Liberator squadron sent to operate against Ploesti [Romania] has begun to arrive and asks WSC to ask the...

Scope and Contents

Telegram from Field Marshal Jan Smuts [Prime Minister of South Africa] to WSC expressing his grave concerns about the weakness of the air forces in South Africa and Madagascar: stresses the importance of defending the Cape and calls for more equipment and aircraft without further delay.

Scope and Contents Telegram from Field Marshal Jan Smuts [Prime Minister of South Africa] to WSC marked "most secret and personal" commenting on the situation in Madagascar: regrets the delay in the occupation of other ports in Madagascar and hopes that this will be possible by the end of July or beginning of August; expresses misgivings about leaving Major-General Robert Sturges in sole command of operations and suggests that Lieutenant- General Sir William Platt [General Officer Commanding- in-Chief East...

Scope and Contents

Telegram from General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander- in-Chief Middle East] and Air Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder [Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Mediterranean] marked "most secret" confirming that they appreciate the value of operating aircraft to support the Malta convoy from bases as far west as possible and that the necessary measures are being taken.