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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 Field Marshal Sir John Dill [Head of British Joint Staff Mission, Washington, United States] to WSC, reciting the text of the message from the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] to John Curtin [Prime Minister of Australia] following Curtin's refusal to divert the 7th Australian Division to Burma [later Myanmar].

Scope and Contents Telegram from General Sir Archibald Wavell [Supreme Commander, South West Pacific] to WSC regarding the latest situation in the Far East: states that he is leaving ABDA [Australian, British, Dutch and Australasian] Command tonight with Air Marshal Sir Richard Peirse [Commander-in-Chief, ABDA Air Forces] and will fly to Rangoon [Burma, later Myanmar] or Delhi [India] via Colombo [Ceylon, later Sri Lanka]; states that he is without news of the latest situation in Burma; comments on the...

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Telegram from WSC to the Governor of Burma [Sir Reginald Dorman-Smith] [on the Australian Government's refusal to send a division to Burma, later Myanmar]: "We have made every appeal reinforced by President [Franklin Roosevelt, President of the United States] but Australian Government absolutely refuses. Fight on.".

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Telegram from WSC to the Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin] reciting texts of telegrams from the Governor of Burma [later Myanmar, Sir Reginald Dorman-Smith] to WSC on 24 - 25 February enquiring about the arrival of an Australian division.

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Telegram from WSC to Air Vice-Marshal Paul Maltby [Air Officer Commanding, RAF, in Java, Dutch East Indies, later Indonesia] conveying best wishes to all ranks of British forces remaining in Java: "Every day gained is precious, and I know that you will do everything humanly possible to prolong the battle.".

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Telegram from WSC to Premier Stalin regarding the effect of the war in the Far East on the Levant-Caspian front: details troop withdrawals and diversions; comments on the problems caused by shipping scarcity; refers to maintenance of supplies for the Soviet Union and the improved naval situation in the Atlantic. Crossed through in red and marked: "cancelled".

Scope and Contents Telegram from [Peter Fraser, Prime Minister of New Zealand] to WSC expressing alarm at a report of the Joint Planning Commission's estimate for the possible scale of the Japanese attack on New Zealand: encloses text of telegram from the Chief of the New Zealand General Staff [Major-General Edward Puttick] to the New Zealand Liaison Officer in London [Brigadier Park] containing observations on the likely scale of the Japanese attack. Annotated by Francis Brown [Assistant Private Secretary to...

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Telegram from General Sir Archibald Wavell, Commander- in-Chief, India, to WSC: comments on the question of appointing a Military Governor in Ceylon [later Sri Lanka] and suggests Admiral Sir Geoffrey Layton [Commander- in-Chief, China]; refers to the confused situation in Burma [later Myanmar] and proposes going there; hopes that General Sir Alan Hartley will be left in India as his Deputy.

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Telegram from the Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin] to WSC offering two Brigade groups of the Australian 6th Division for the defence of Ceylon [later Sri Lanka]. Received 2 March 1942 British Time.

Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC to the Prime Minister of New Zealand [Peter Fraser] replying to the concerns of the New Zealand Government over plans for the defence of New Zealand: reassures him that the estimate [of the scale of a Japanese attack] cited in Fraser's telegram [see CHAR 20/71A/5-8] does not represent the views of the Chiefs of Staff; outlines proposed measures for increasing the security of New Zealand; comments on likely developments in the situation; states that he is doing everything in...

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Telegram from WSC to General Sir Archibald Wavell, Commander-in-Chief, India, informing him of the Australian offer of two Brigade groups as a temporary reinforcement for the garrison of Ceylon [later Sri Lanka].

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 Field Marshal Sir John Dill [Head of British Joint Staff Mission, Washington, United States] welcoming the Australian offer of holding two Brigade groups at Ceylon [later Sri Lanka], and the possibility of the Australian 9th Division remaining in the Middle East whilst the United States reinforces Australia.

Scope and Contents Telegram from the Prime Minister of New Zealand [Peter Fraser] to WSC regarding the outcome of consultation with Australia regarding mutual defence: supports a proposal for an ANZAC [Australian and New Zealand Army Corps] council in Washington [United States]; supports the proposal by the Australian Government that Lieutenant-General George Brett [Commander of Allied air forces, Dutch East Indies, later Indonesia] be appointed Supreme Commander of the ANZAC area. Received 5 March 1942...

Scope and Contents Telegram from the Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin] to WSC regarding the outcome of consultation with the New Zealand Government and Chiefs of Staff: summarizes the present military situation; defines the ANZAC [Australian and New Zealand Army Corps] area; discusses the machinery needed for the higher direction of policy and operations in the ANZAC area; recommends formation of an ANZAC Council in Washington [United States] and the appointment of Lieutenant-General George Brett...

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Telegram from General Sir Archibald Wavell, Commander- in-Chief, India, to WSC advising against the appointment of a Military Governor in Ceylon [later Sri Lanka].

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Telegram from General Sir Archibald Wavell, Commander- in-Chief, India, to WSC stating that the defence of Ceylon [later Sri Lanka] is mainly an air and naval problem: "we should not lock up in island large number of troops which can be better employed elsewhere".

Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC to the Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin]: states that the Chiefs of Staff are considering the ANZAC [Australian and New Zealand Army Corps] plan and are also to report on the defence of Australia against invasion; promises a further telegram on the recovery of British and United States sea power; recites text of a telegram from the Joint Staff Mission, Washington [United States] to WSC regarding the likely effect of the appointment of an ANZAC Supreme Commander on...

Scope and Contents Telegram from the Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin] to WSC: comments on the shortage of war equipment which has left Australia "practically defenceless against destructive bombing attacks"; describes arrangements to maximise space on ships from the United States for war equipment; comments on American production quotas and asks WSC to use his influence to secure the maximum possible releases of equipment to Australia from the British quota of American production in March and April....

Scope and Contents Telegram from General Sir Archibald Wavell [Supreme Commander, South West Pacific] to WSC regarding personnel changes at ABDA [Australian, British, Dutch and Australasian] command: believes that Air Marshal Sir Richard Peirse should remain in his present position [Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Bomber Command]; that Lieutenant-General George Brett's position as Wavell's deputy and Intendant General is not fully understood by the United States; is prepared to accept Vice- Admiral Conrad...

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...

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Telegram from General Sir Archibald Wavell [Supreme Commander, South West Pacific] to WSC explaining his decision to withdraw fighter planes from Singapore to Sumatra [Dutch East Indies, later Indonesia]: argues that withdrawal of troops into Singapore had exposed 3 out of 4 aerodromes to artillery fire, and that to leave fighters on exposed aerodromes would be to invite their destruction; considers that there is "every intention and hope of holding" Singapore.

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

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Telegram from WSC to General Sir Archibald Wavell [Supreme Commander, South West Pacific] regarding the fighter defence of Singapore: feels it is a disadvantage that the fighter force should have to waste time flying between Sumatra [Dutch East Indies, later Indonesia] and Singapore; hopes to send 90 more Hurricanes before the end of February.