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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].

Scope and Contents Telegram from General Sir Archibald Wavell [Supreme Commander, South West Pacific] to WSC regarding the military situation in the Far East: states that the defence of the ABDA [Australian, British, Dutch and Australasian] area has broken down and that the defence of Java [Dutch East Indies, later Indonesia] cannot now last long; comments on the situation in Burma [later Myanmar]; comments on the destination of the [7th] Australian Division; comments on the "little further usefulness" of ABDA...

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 WSC to the Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin] regarding the temporary diversion of the convoy carrying the [7th] Australian Division.

Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC to General Sir Archibald Wavell [Supreme Commander, South West Pacific] regarding the situation in the Far East: requires Wavell to proceed to India and resume his position as Commander-in-Chief; praises Wavell's "admirable conduct of ABDA [Australian, British, Dutch and Australasian] operations in the teeth of adverse fortune and over-whelming odds"; comments on the refusal of the Australian Government to allow their [7th] division to land at Rangoon [Burma, later...

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Telegram from Field Marshal Sir John Dill [Head of British Joint Staff Mission, Washington, United States] to WSC informing him that Harry Hopkins [Special adviser and assistant to the President of the United States, Franklin Roosevelt] has just told him that John Curtin [Prime Minister of Australia] has refused the appeal by President Roosevelt to let the [7th] Australian Division go to Burma [later Myanmar].

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Telegram from the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] to WSC regarding the situation in the Far East: does not consider it necessary to send any further message to General Sir Archibald Wavell [Supreme Commander, South West Pacific]; is not hopeful of sending naval reinforcements to the ABDA [Australian, British, Dutch and Australasian] area.

Scope and Contents Telegram from the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] to WSC regarding the situation in the Far East: comments on the refusal by John Curtin [Prime Minister of Australia] to divert the [7th] Australian division [to Burma, later Myanmar] and quotes the text of his message to Curtin urging the diversion of the second returning division; states that he is working on plans to make the ANZAC [Australian and New Zealand Army Corps] area more secure; states that he no longer intends...

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Telegram from John Curtin, Prime Minister of Australia, to WSC protesting about the diversion of the convoy [escorting the 7th Australian division] towards Rangoon [Burma, later Myanmar] and listing reasons for his continued opposition to the use of the Australian division in Burma.

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Telegram from General Sir Archibald Wavell [Supreme Commander, South West Pacific] to WSC: states that he is planning to leave Java [Dutch East Indies, later Indonesia] on 25 February and to fly to India via Rangoon [Burma, later Myanmar]; thanks WSC for entrusting him with command in India and suggests that General Sir Alan Hartley [Commander- in-Chief, India] should remain as his deputy; believes WSC is right to try and use [the 7th] Australian division in Burma.

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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...