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Telegram from WSC to the Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin]: acknowledges receipt of Curtin's telegram regarding proposed arrangements for air co-operation between Australia and the United States [see CHAR 20/72/20-21]; comments on his telegram calling for a more offensive naval policy [see CHAR 20/72/23-25] and explains the objections to moving aircraft carriers from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific.

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Telegram from [Admiral Sir Geoffrey Layton], Commander- in-Chief, Ceylon [later Sri Lanka] to WSC explaining that his intention had been to give a definite ruling regarding evacuation and regretting that he had omitted to take precautions with censorship. [See CHAR 20/71B/141 for WSC's telegram].

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Telegram from WSC to Field Marshal Jan Smuts [Prime Minister of South Africa] informing him of the decision to storm and occupy Diego Suarez [Madagascar]: comments on the background to the operation [codenamed "Ironclad"] and asks for help should it become necessary to intercept French reinforcements from Dakar [Senegal] at the Cape.

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Telegram from the Prime Minister of New Zealand [Peter Fraser] to WSC accepting proposals for the direction of war in the Pacific, but commenting on some areas which may require further clarification. Received 23 March 1942 British Time.

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Telegram from Sir Stafford Cripps [Lord Privy Seal] (India) to WSC regarding the defence of North Eastern India: states that the next few weeks will be critical for morale; warns that the result may be disastrous if Calcutta is bombed without any effective defence; comments on the desperate need for up-to-date fighters and suggests alternative means of obtaining these from Britain or the Middle East or Ceylon [later Sri Lanka].

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...

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Telegram from Peter Fraser [Prime Minister of New Zealand] to WSC regarding the opposition of the New Zealand Government to plans by the United States to create separate command areas for Australia and New Zealand.

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Telegram from Lord Halifax [British Ambassador to the United States, earlier Edward Wood and Lord Irwin] to WSC reporting on his meeting with the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] and Harry Hopkins [Special adviser and assistant to Roosevelt] late last night regarding Australian representation in the Pacific area and the Australian division in the Middle East.

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Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] regarding the project to send supplies from the United States to French North Africa: comments on the value of contacts between the United States and Vichy France but asks that nothing should interfere with operation "IRONCLAD" [operation against Diego Suarez, Madagascar]; comments on the operation and proposes dropping leaflets suggesting the attack was Anglo-American.

Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC to General Sir Archibald Wavell, Commander-in-Chief, India, regarding aircraft provision for India: refers to a telegram he has sent to the Lord Privy Seal [Sir Stafford Cripps, on fighter cover for India, see CHAR 20/72/107-108]; states that the Chief of the Air Staff [Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Portal] has telegraphed Air Vice-Marshal Douglas Evill [Head of RAF Delegation to Washington, United States] for American reactions; comments on present fighter aircraft...

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Telegram from Sir Stafford Cripps [Lord Privy Seal] (India) regarding the mass of information circulating in India about the fall of Singapore and suggesting that the Viceroy [and Governor-General of India, 2nd Lord Linlithgow, earlier Lord Hopetoun] carry out a private enquiry.

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Telegram from the Lord Privy Seal [Sir Stafford Cripps] (India) to WSC regarding the critical issue of responsibility for the defence of India: comments that whilst Britain cannot give up any of the responsibility for defence there is a need to raise the keenness of Indians to defend their country, and encloses the text of a paragraph for approval before publication.

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Telegram from WSC to the Lord Privy Seal [Sir Stafford Cripps] (India) authorising proposed amendment to the clause [on responsibility for the defence of India, see CHAR 20/72/122] and suggesting minor changes to the wording; states that he is glad that Cripps has made it clear that his mission does not extend to Ceylon [later Sri Lanka]. Annotated that [? Gerard Clauson], India Office, is circulating to those it may concern, including the [? Minister of Information, Brendan Bracken].

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Telegram from the Lord Privy Seal [Sir Stafford Cripps] (India) to WSC reciting the full text of the amended paragraph regarding responsibility for the defence of India [see CHAR 20/72/122-4].

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Telegram from WSC to General Sir Archibald Wavell, Commander-in-Chief, India, asking for clarification of the orders given by Wavell to Lieutenant-General Arthur Percival [General Officer Commanding, Malaya, later Malaysia] before the fall of Singapore.

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Telegram from General Sir Archibald Wavell, Commander- in-Chief, India, to WSC informing him of the report of the success of a meeting between General Harold Alexander [General Officer Commanding, Burma] and Generalissimo [Chiang-Kai-shek, Chinese Nationalist leader]; states that he is flying to Maymyo [Burma, later Myanmar] tomorrow.

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Telegram from WSC to John Curtin [Prime Minister of Australia] informing him of the movement of a British armoured division around the Cape [South Africa] in late April or early May, and pledging to divert this force should Australia be invaded. [See also CHAR 20/73/12 for correction].

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Telegram from WSC to Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin] on reinforcements for Bombay; General Sir Archibald Wavell [Commander-in-Chief, India and Burma] to defend Burma [later Myanmar], Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Pownall to replace Air Chief Marshal Sir Robert Brooke-Popham [as Commander-in- Chief, Far East]; WSC to visit the United States [Washington].

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Telegram from General Sir Archibald Wavell [Commander- in-Chief, India and Burma] to WSC on difficulty of attacking Thailand [earlier Siam] through Burma [later Myanmar] and transporting reinforcements to Malaya [later Malaysia].

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Telegram from John Curtin [Prime Minister of Australia] to WSC blaming inadequate air support and preparations for success of enemy attacks on allied ships in Pacific.

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Telegram from [Alfred] Duff Cooper [Resident Cabinet Minister at Singapore for Far Eastern affairs, later 1st Lord Norwich] to WSC questioning the military judgement of Lieutenant-General Arthur Percival [General Officer Commanding, Malaya, later Malaysia]: loss of 11th Division defending Penang, and plans for defence of North Borneo [part of Malaysia].

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Telegram from John Curtin [Prime Minister of Australia] to WSC on report received from General Officer Commanding the Australian Imperial Force (Malaya) [later Malaysia], Lieutenant-General [Henry] Gordon Bennett, referring to inadequate air support for Australian troops and ill-prepared response to attack in the Far East.

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Telegram from WSC to the Commander-in-Chief and Governor of Hong Kong [Sir Mark Young] "We expect you to resist to the end. The honour of the empire is in your hands".

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Telegram from John Curtin [Prime Minister of Australia] to WSC promising Australian personnel to operate light tanks in Malaya [later Malaysia]; requires transport and adequate air support for additional force.