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Telegram from WSC to Prime Minister of New Zealand [Peter Fraser] regarding New Zealand's requests for war material: states that there is a large flow of reinforcements of all kinds into the ABDA [Australian, British, Dutch and Australasian] area; feels that "we are already heading dangerously near the point where the spreading of our resources must lead to a general weakness".

Scope and Contents Telegram from Prime Minister of New Zealand [Peter Fraser] to WSC regarding fighter allocation for New Zealand: believes allocation of 18 fighters cannot be regarded as adequate; feels that there is an unsatisfactory disparity between numbers allocated to Australia and those to New Zealand; requires at least 4 fighter squadrons in addition to 36 fighter aircraft already requested; hopes that the whole question of the defence of New Zealand is receiving consideration, "the capacity of this...

Scope and Contents Telegram from Prime Minister of New Zealand [Peter Fraser] regarding representation on the Far Eastern Council: believes a Far Eastern Council without the participation of the United States or China is inadequate, but will accept a Council in London; expresses concern that whole thought appears to be directed to ABDA [Australian, British, Dutch and Australasian] area, which does not include New Zealand, and suggests that the ABDA area should be re-named the Mid-Western Pacific to avoid...

Scope and Contents Telegram from the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] to WSC regarding personnel changes at ABDA [Australian, British, Dutch and Australasian] Command: states that Admiral Thomas Hart [United States Admiral in the Pacific] has asked to be relieved and suggests that "the Dutchman" [Vice-Admiral Conrad Helfrich, Commander-in-Chief, Netherlands Naval Forces in the East] replace him as Acting Commander in Chief of all naval forces; notes message about sinkings in Atlantic which...

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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].

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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.

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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: states he would far rather have naval commander from the United States and keep Air Marshal Sir Richard Peirse as air commander [Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Bomber Command].

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...

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Telegram from WSC to General Sir Archibald Wavell [Supreme Commander, South West Pacific] regarding changes in ABDA [Australian, British, Dutch and Australasian] Command: quotes telegram from the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt, see CHAR 20/69B/136-137]; states that "It is certain that the Americans will require to fill one of the places, sea or air, and that this point will arise whenever The Unknown [? General Douglas MacArthur] is free to become your Deputy".

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.