Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt]: agrees with suggestions regarding personnel changes at ABDA [Australian, British, Dutch and Australasian] Command [see CHAR 20/69B/136-137]; comments on the agreement of Australia and New Zealand to a Pacific Council in London; comments on the role of Chinese forces in Burma [later Myanmar]; comments on relations between United States and Vichy France, and the importance of maintaining American observers in...

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Telegram from General Sir Archibald Wavell [Supreme Commander, South West Pacific] to WSC requiring clarification of the message from the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] regarding personnel changes at ABDA [Australian, British, Dutch and Australasian] Command: states that Vice-Admiral Conrad Helfrich [Commander-in-Chief, Netherlands Naval Forces in the East] at present only commands the Dutch force.

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Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] quoting a telegram from General Sir Archibald Wavell [Supreme Commander, South West Pacific] regarding clarification of the position of Vice-Admiral Conrad Helfrich [Commander-in-Chief, Netherlands Naval Forces in the East, see CHAR 20/69B/153], and asking whether WSC or Washington should inform Wavell that Helfrich is to be Acting Commander-in-Chief of all naval forces.

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Telegram from WSC to General Sir Archibald Wavell [Supreme Commander, South West Pacific) regarding the defence of Singapore: comments on relative Allied and Japanese troop strengths; states that "The battle must be fought to the bitter end at all costs".

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Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt]: states that the Air Ministry would like to announce Air Marshal Sir Richard Peirse as Commander- in-Chief of ABDA [Australian, British, Dutch and Australasian] Air Forces; informs that Air Marshal Arthur Harris is to be withdrawn from the Combined Staffs Committee and replaced by Air Marshal Douglas Evill; comments on the situation in Singapore.

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Telegram from General Sir Archibald Wavell [Supreme Commander, South West Pacific] to WSC regarding the latest situation in Singapore: states that the battle is not going well and lists difficulties; informs that he has "given the most categorical orders that there is to be no thought of surrender"; explains that he has broken two small bones in his back.

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Telegram from Field Marshal Sir John Dill [Head of British Joint Staff Mission, Washington, United States] with texts of suggested messages of support to be sent to Generalissimo Chiang-Kai-shek [Chinese Nationalist Leader] from WSC and the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt].

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Telegram from WSC to the Prime Minister of Canada [William Mackenzie King] clarifying the scope and functions of the Pacific War Council, and agreeing that it is not essential for Canada to be represented on the Council at this stage.

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Telegram from General Sir Archibald Wavell [Supreme Commander, South West Pacific] to WSC stating that he has received telegram from Lieutenant-General Arthur Percival [General Officer Commanding, Malaya, later Malaysia] that the enemy are close to town [Singapore]; fears that resistance is not likely to be very prolonged.

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Telegram from General Sir Archibald Wavell [Supreme Commander, South West Pacific] to WSC regarding personnel changes at ABDA [Australian, British, Dutch and Australasian] Command: comments on the possible appointment of an Admiral from the United States as deputy to Vice-Admiral Conrad Helfrich [Commander-in-Chief, Allied Naval Forces in the Dutch East Indies, later Indonesia].

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Telegram from WSC to General Sir Archibald Wavell, Supreme Commander, South West Pacific, advising him to instruct Lieutenant-General Arthur Percival [General Officer Commanding, Malaya, later Malaysia] accordingly when no further result can be gained at Singapore.

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Telegram from the Viceroy [and Governor-General] of India [2nd Lord Linlithgow, earlier Lord Hopetoun] to WSC commenting on plan [on Indian affairs]: advises against "doing anything hasty or unsound" and states that the "soundness" of the Indian army is more important than opinion in the United States and of British minorities; believes that the Defence Council should not have the function of constitution-making; offers to provide constructive alternatives.

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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.

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...

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...

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Telegram from General Sir Archibald Wavell [Supreme Commander, South West Pacific] to WSC informing him of the latest situation in Singapore, and reciting his telegram sent to Lieutenant-General Arthur Percival [General Officer Commanding, Malaya, later Malaysia] giving him discretion to cease resistance.

Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt]: comments on personnel changes at ABDA [Australian, British, Dutch and Australasian] Command; comments on implications of the new situation created by the fall of Singapore and Japanese landings in Sumatra [Dutch East Indies, later Indonesia]; states that a battle is impending in Libya; comments on the retreat of the German naval forces from Brest [France], and the damage inflicted on the [German battleships], the...

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Telegram from WSC to the Governor of Burma [Sir Reginald Dorman-Smith] expressing admiration for his "firm, robust attitude", and commenting on reinforcements for Burma [later Myanmar]: "I regard Burma and contact with China as the most important feature in the whole theatre of war.".

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...

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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.

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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.

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Telegram from the Viceroy [and Governor-General] of India [2nd Lord Linlithgow, earlier Lord Hopetoun] to WSC suggesting that troops in Burma [later Myanmar] are not fighting with "proper relish" due to lack of inspiration from Lieutenant-General Thomas Hutton [General Officer Commanding, Burma] and urging him to act without delay.

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Telegram from WSC to General Sir Archibald Wavell [Supreme Commander, South West Pacific] reciting the text of a telegram from the Viceroy [and Governor-General] of India [2nd Lord Linlithgow, earlier Lord Hopetoun] [see CHAR 20/70/67-68] on the uninspiring leadership of Lieutenant-General Thomas Hutton [General Officer Commanding, Burma, later Myanmar] and asking for his thoughts.

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Telegram from the Governor of Burma [Sir Reginald Dorman- Smith] to WSC: comments on the role of Burma [later Myanmar] as a base for offensive action against Japan; suggests that control of Burma should revert to India; hopes that WSC will squash proposals to reduce pay of British officers and men.

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...