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...

Scope and Contents Telegram from the Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin] to WSC: comments on the shortage of war equipment which has left Australia "practically defenceless against destructive bombing attacks"; describes arrangements to maximise space on ships from the United States for war equipment; comments on American production quotas and asks WSC to use his influence to secure the maximum possible releases of equipment to Australia from the British quota of American production in March and April....

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Telegram from General Sir Archibald Wavell, Commander- in-Chief, India, to WSC stating that the situation in Burma [later Myanmar] is still dangerous and asking WSC to back his suggestion that Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Pownall be appointed as force commander in Ceylon [later Sri Lanka].

Scope and Contents Telegram from John Curtin [Prime Minister of Australia] to WSC relaying observations of Robert Menzies [former Prime Minister of Australia] on administrative arrangements needed for the ANZAC [Australian and New Zealand Army Corps] Area: recommends that Australia and New Zealand be represented on the Chiefs of Staff Committee in Washington [United States]; recommends the creation of an inter- governmental council in Washington; comments on the roles of these bodies and on considerations...

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Telegram from General Sir Archibald Wavell, Commander- in-Chief, India, to WSC regarding the situation in Burma [later Myanmar]: comments on lack of communication with General Harold Alexander [General Officer Commanding, Burma], and on the decision to abandon Rangoon.

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Telegram from WSC to Mackenzie King [Prime Minister of Canada] regarding India: believes that the timing of a declaration will be affected by Allied defeats in the Far East and the imminent fall of Rangoon [Burma, later Myanmar]; comments on the ignorance of Generalissimo Chiang-Kai-shek [Chinese Nationalist Leader] about Indian affairs; believes that the Indian Congress will reject the proposals.

Scope and Contents Telegram from the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] to WSC regarding military arrangements by the United States: comments on problems facing United States; comments on naval deployment in the ANZAC [Australian and New Zealand Army Corps] region; comments on the strong Japanese position in the Pacific and its implications; describes plans to send American reinforcements to Australia, New Zealand and the South West Pacific; details arrangements to supply shipping to move two...

Scope and Contents Telegram from the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] to WSC containing proposals for the simplification of operational Command: suggests that the United States assume all operational responsibility for the Pacific area and comments on implications for decision making; suggests that Britain assume all operational responsibility for the area extending from Singapore to India, the Indian Ocean, the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea, Libya and the Mediterranean; suggests that Britain...

Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC to the Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin]: recites telegram from the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] to WSC regarding American reinforcements for Australia, New Zealand and the South West Pacific [see CHAR 20/71B/101-104]; comments on plans to ship British divisions to the Middle East or India; states his belief that the presence of United States forces in ANZAC [Australian and New Zealand Army Corps] area will lead to United States naval...

Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC to the Prime Minister of New Zealand [Peter Fraser]: recites telegram from the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] to WSC regarding American reinforcements for Australia, New Zealand and the South West Pacific [see CHAR 20/71B/101-104]; comments on plans to ship British divisions to the Middle East or India; states that presence of United States forces in ANZAC [Australian and New Zealand Army Corps] area will lead to United States naval protection and...

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Telegram from Field Marshal Jan Smuts [Prime Minister of South Africa] to WSC regarding the need for a definite strategical plan for the British and United States navies in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

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Telegram from the Prime Minister of New Zealand [Peter Fraser] to WSC regarding reinforcements for New Zealand: comments on dates for the despatch and arrival of United States troops; comments on the difficulties in leaving a New Zealand division in the Middle East; comments on the strength of proposed reinforcements for the Far East from the United States and Britain.

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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.