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Australia

 Subject
Subject Source: Local sources

Found in 626 Collections and/or Records:

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(Untitled), 17 Nov 1939

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/15/10
Scope and Contents

Memorandum by WSC, First Lord of the Admiralty, for the War Cabinet entitled "Australian Naval Defence (Winter 1939)"; suggests that Japan will reserve its strength for controlling China and not attempt to attack Singapore or Australia, therefore the Australian army can be dispatched wherever necessary. [expanded to produce CHAR 20/15/11].

Dates: 17 Nov 1939
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: The Churchill Papers are made available to researchers using Churchill Archives Centre and worldwide in digital format. The digital edition of the Churchill Papers is published by Bloomsbury Academic and is available online to subscribing institutions at churchillarchive.com. The Churchill archive is freely available in our reading rooms and onsite at Churchill College (via the Churchill College wireless network). Researchers can download images of documents directly from churchillarchive.com and so are encouraged to consider bringing a laptop or other device for this purpose. For conservation reasons, the fragile originals are no longer issued to researchers. This digital edition is open to researchers unless otherwise marked in the catalogue. Some material has been closed by the Cabinet Office or by Churchill Archives Centre in accordance with data protection legislation.
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(Untitled), 21 Nov 1939

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/15/11
Scope and Contents

Memorandum by WSC, First Lord of the Admiralty, for the War Cabinet entitled "Australian and New Zealand Naval Defence (Winter 1939)". [expands on content of CHAR 20/15/10].

Dates: 21 Nov 1939
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: The Churchill Papers are made available to researchers using Churchill Archives Centre and worldwide in digital format. The digital edition of the Churchill Papers is published by Bloomsbury Academic and is available online to subscribing institutions at churchillarchive.com. The Churchill archive is freely available in our reading rooms and onsite at Churchill College (via the Churchill College wireless network). Researchers can download images of documents directly from churchillarchive.com and so are encouraged to consider bringing a laptop or other device for this purpose. For conservation reasons, the fragile originals are no longer issued to researchers. This digital edition is open to researchers unless otherwise marked in the catalogue. Some material has been closed by the Cabinet Office or by Churchill Archives Centre in accordance with data protection legislation.
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(Untitled), 29 Jan 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/69A/59
Scope and Contents

Telegram from Field-Marshal Sir John Dill [Head of British Joint Staff Mission to Washington, United States] to WSC, informing him that the Combined Chiefs of Staff have considered the telegram of 23 January from John Curtin [Prime Minister of Australia] to WSC and are to draft a telegram to General Sir Archibald Wavell [Supreme Commander, South West Pacific] regarding the importance of air power in Australia.

Dates: 29 Jan 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 31 Jan 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/69B/79-80
Scope and Contents Telegram from the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] to WSC: looks forward to receiving message from General Sir Archibald Wavell [Supreme Commander, South West Pacific] regarding "our man" [Admiral Thomas Hart, United States Admiral in the Pacific], and suggests the "Dutch man" [Vice-Admiral Conrad Helfrich, Commander-in- Chief, Netherlands Naval Forces in the East] as a replacement to command ABDA [Australian, British, Dutch and Australasian] naval forces; suggests...
Dates: 31 Jan 1942
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 01 Feb 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/69B/87-88
Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt]: is enclosing message from General Sir Archibald Wavell [Supreme Commander, South West Pacific] of 29 [January]; comments on likely ABDA [Australian, British, Dutch and Australasian] command structure; comments on Roosevelt's telegram [see CHAR 20/69B/79-80]; thanks Roosevelt for his kindness, "I cannot tell you how sorry I was to leave the White House". Annotated: "not to be repeated to Lord Halifax" [British...
Dates: 01 Feb 1942
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 02 Feb 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/69B/94-95
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to the Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin]: quotes a telegram from the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] regarding the political and military representation of Australia, New Zealand and Dutch East Indies [later Indonesia] [see CHAR 20/69B/79-80], and asks for comments.

Dates: 02 Feb 1942
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 03 Feb 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/69B/99-105
Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] regarding personnel changes at ABDA [Australian, British, Dutch and Australasian] command and organisation of Pacific Council: suggests future ABDA command structure, and advocates temporarily leaving Admiral Thomas Hart [United States Admiral in the Pacific] where he is or substituting him with a younger American Admiral; believes it necessary to have a Far East Council in London, which would make recommendations...
Dates: 03 Feb 1942
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 06 Feb 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/69B/138
Scope and Contents

Telegram from the Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin] to WSC thanking him for his promise of equipment and informing him of the decision to provide General Sir Archibald Wavell [Supreme Commander, South West Pacific] with another Australian Imperial Force battalion for the defence of Koepang [Kupang, Dutch East Indies, later Indonesia].

Dates: 06 Feb 1942
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 07 Feb 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/69B/140-141
Scope and Contents

Telegram from the Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin] to WSC regarding Australian representation in the British Cabinet and the creation of a Pacific War Council: prefers the Council to be in Washington [United States] but agrees to it being established in London, and cites several experiences to illustrate the need for a body with responsibility for the whole war in the Pacific and not only the ABDA [Australian, British, Dutch and Australasian] area. Received 6 Feb British Time.

Dates: 07 Feb 1942
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 07 Feb 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/69B/146
Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC to the Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin] calling the first meeting of the Pacific Council in London on Tuesday: states that the Council will deal with the whole problem of the war against Japan; informs that the United States is being asked to organise the ANZAC [Australian and New Zealand Army Corps] area on the same lines as the ABDA [Australian, British, Dutch and Australasian] machine of General Sir Archibald Wavell [Supreme Commander, South West Pacific], and...
Dates: 07 Feb 1942
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 08 Feb 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/69B/150
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to Prime Minister of New Zealand [Peter Fraser] regarding the creation of a separate command organisation for the ANZAC [Australian and New Zealand Army Corps] area: proposes the setting up in Eastern Australia of a combined staff under the American Naval Commander in Chief, to comprise representatives of New Zealand, Australia, the United States and Great Britain.

Dates: 08 Feb 1942
Conditions Governing Access: Open
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(Untitled), 15 Feb 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/70/42
Scope and Contents

Telegram from General Sir Archibald Wavell [Supreme Commander, South West Pacific] to WSC regarding use of the Australian Corps in the defence of Java [Dutch East Indies, later Indonesia]: reports conversation with the Governor-General [of Australia, 1st Lord Gowrie, earlier Alexander Hore-Ruthven] regarding the likely view of the Australian Government.

Dates: 15 Feb 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 15 Feb 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/70/43-45
Scope and Contents Telegram from the Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin] to WSC regarding use of the Australian Army: reports on his communication with Sir Earle Page [Special Australian Envoy to War Cabinet] regarding the war in the Far East; recommends that the Australian Expeditionary Force should be concentrated in the Pacific theatre; concludes that Australia is the main base for operations against Japan and must be made secure; recommends that some of the Australian Imperial Forces should not...
Dates: 15 Feb 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 16 Feb 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/70/46
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to the Government of Australia promising full support for the Australian procurement of machine tools, and clarifying procedures for obtaining war supplies. [See CHAR 20/69B/144-5 for Australian Government's telegram].

Dates: 16 Feb 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 15 Feb 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/70/47-49
Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC to the Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin] and the Prime Minister of New Zealand [Peter Fraser] reciting a telegram sent by General Sir Archibald Wavell [Supreme Commander, South West Pacific] to the Chiefs of Staff in London and Washington [United States]: believes that the enemy advance on Southern Sumatra [Dutch East Indies, later Indonesia] necessitates a review of plans for the defence of the Dutch East Indies; comments on implications for Australian troops and...
Dates: 15 Feb 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 16 Feb 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/70/59-60
Scope and Contents Telegram from General Sir Archibald Wavell [Supreme Commander, South West Pacific] to WSC regarding strategy and policy in the Far East: comments on the geography of Java [Dutch East Indies, later Indonesia], the likely enemy attack, and strengths of allied naval, land and air forces; comments on the difficulties of landing the Australian Corps; concludes that priority should be given to the defence of Burma [later Myanmar] and Australia; recommends diversion of Australian troops and...
Dates: 16 Feb 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 17 Feb 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/70/61-65
Scope and Contents

Telegram from the Government of New Zealand to WSC agreeing to ask the United States for fighter squadrons, and commenting on the strategic importance of New Zealand: suggests that the loss of the ABDA [Australian, British, Dutch and Australasian] area leads to a need for new bases and to a possible Japanese threat to Australia and New Zealand; believes that New Zealand must become a main base area and requests it be equipped and defended as such.

Dates: 17 Feb 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 17 Feb 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/70/66
Scope and Contents

Telegram from the Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin] to WSC conveying the opinion of the Australian Chiefs of Staff: as Java [Dutch East Indies, later Indonesia] is likely to fall, recommends diversion and recall of Australian troops to Australia.

Dates: 17 Feb 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 20 Feb 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/70/93-94
Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC to the Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin] requesting permission to divert [the 7th] Australian division to Rangoon [Burma, later Myanmar]: supports the principle of Australian troops returning home but states that it is the only force that can reach Rangoon in time; refers to the earlier role of the Australian Government in urging the reinforcement of Singapore rather than Burma; stresses the importance of maintaining good relations with the United States; requires...
Dates: 20 Feb 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), [20 Feb 1942]

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/70/95-96
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] regarding the necessity of diverting the 7th Australian division to Rangoon [Burma, later Myanmar] and the refusal of the Australian Government to allow this: urges Roosevelt to press for the diversion and asks for a message that he can convey to the Australian Government.

Dates: [20 Feb 1942]
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 21 Feb 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/70/97
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to the Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin] reciting the text of a telegram from the President of the United States, Franklin Roosevelt, to WSC regarding the diversion of [the 7th] Australian division to Burma [later Myanmar]. [See also CHAR 20/70/98].

Dates: 21 Feb 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 21 Feb 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/70/98
Scope and Contents

Telegram from the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] to WSC regarding the importance of the temporary diversion of [the 7th] Australian division to Burma [later Myanmar]: asks WSC to inform the Australian Government of the dispatch of additional American troops and planes to Australia.

Dates: 21 Feb 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 21 Feb 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/70/99
Scope and Contents

Telegram from Field Marshal Sir John Dill [Head of British Joint Staff Mission, Washington, United States] to WSC informing him of the intention of the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] to send a telegram to John Curtin [Prime Minister of Australia] appealing for the diversion of [the 7th] Australian division to Burma [later Myanmar].

Dates: 21 Feb 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 22 Feb 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/70/101-102
Scope and Contents

Telegram from the Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin] to WSC explaining the refusal of the Australian Government to allow the diversion of [the 7th] Australian division to Burma [later Myanmar]: comments on the role already played by Australian forces in the defence of the ABDA [Australian, British, Dutch and Australasian] area and lists objections to landing troops in Burma. Received 21 February British Time.

Dates: 22 Feb 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 21 Feb 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/70/104-105
Scope and Contents

Telegram from the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] to WSC reciting the text of his message to John Curtin [Prime Minister of Australia]: promises American troops and naval protection for Australia; emphasises the strategic importance of Burma and appeals for the diversion of [the 7th] Australian division to Burma [later Myanmar].

Dates: 21 Feb 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open