Scope and Contents Telegram from the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] to WSC: offers support following the fall of Singapore; comments on the escape of the German ships [the Scharnhorst, the Gneisenau and the Prinz Eugen] from the English Channel; comments on the situation in the Far East, and suggests that the United States should reinforce Australia and New Zealand whilst Britain reinforces India and Burma [later Myanmar]; states that the United States will continue to move supplies into...

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Telegram from the Government of New Zealand to WSC regarding the provision of fighter aircraft for New Zealand: asks WSC to help arrange the diversion of two United States pursuit squadrons; comments on the need for fighter aircraft.

Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC to General Sir Archibald Wavell [Supreme Commander, South West Pacific] regarding the military situation in the Far East: comments on the implications of rapid enemy advance in the ABDA [Australian, British, Dutch and Australasian] area; surmises that General Douglas MacArthur [Commander-in-Chief, United States Army in Philippines] "will look after the Australian side"; asks Wavell where he would like his headquarters and suggests his return to India; comments on decision...

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Telegram from the Government of New Zealand to WSC listing specific resources required by air force, army and navy in order to defend New Zealand against a Japanese invasion force.

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Telegram from Harry Hopkins [Special adviser and assistant to the President of the United States, Franklin Roosevelt] to WSC, reciting President Roosevelt's amended text of instructions [to General Archibald Sir Wavell, Supreme Commander, South West Pacific, regarding the situation in Java, Dutch East Indies, later Indonesia]. [See also CHAR 20/70/100].

Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC to the Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin] requesting permission to divert [the 7th] Australian division to Rangoon [Burma, later Myanmar]: supports the principle of Australian troops returning home but states that it is the only force that can reach Rangoon in time; refers to the earlier role of the Australian Government in urging the reinforcement of Singapore rather than Burma; stresses the importance of maintaining good relations with the United States; requires...

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Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] regarding the necessity of diverting the 7th Australian division to Rangoon [Burma, later Myanmar] and the refusal of the Australian Government to allow this: urges Roosevelt to press for the diversion and asks for a message that he can convey to the Australian Government.

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Telegram from WSC to the Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin] reciting the text of a telegram from the President of the United States, Franklin Roosevelt, to WSC regarding the diversion of [the 7th] Australian division to Burma [later Myanmar]. [See also CHAR 20/70/98].

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Telegram from the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] to WSC regarding the importance of the temporary diversion of [the 7th] Australian division to Burma [later Myanmar]: asks WSC to inform the Australian Government of the dispatch of additional American troops and planes to Australia.

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Telegram from Field Marshal Sir John Dill [Head of British Joint Staff Mission, Washington, United States] to WSC informing him of the intention of the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] to send a telegram to John Curtin [Prime Minister of Australia] appealing for the diversion of [the 7th] Australian division to Burma [later Myanmar].

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Telegram from Harry Hopkins [Special adviser and assistant to the President of the United States, Franklin Roosevelt] to WSC reciting Roosevelt's amended text of instructions to General Sir Archibald Wavell [Supreme Commander, South West Pacific] regarding the defence of Java [Dutch East Indies, later Indonesia].

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Telegram from the Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin] to WSC explaining the refusal of the Australian Government to allow the diversion of [the 7th] Australian division to Burma [later Myanmar]: comments on the role already played by Australian forces in the defence of the ABDA [Australian, British, Dutch and Australasian] area and lists objections to landing troops in Burma. Received 21 February British Time.

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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...