Scope and Contents Telegram from the Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin] to WSC transmitting observations of the Australian Chiefs of Staff on the appreciation of the situation in the Far East prepared by the British Chiefs of Staff: comments on the need for more offensive policy; suggests action against Rabaul [New Britain] and the strengthening of forces at Port Darwin [Australia]; comments on the need for a more offensive naval policy involving the formation of joint British and United States naval...

Scope and Contents Telegram from General Sir Archibald Wavell, Commander- in-Chief, India, to WSC regarding the latest situation in Burma [later Myanmar] and north-east India: believes that Upper Burma cannot be held for long against determined Japanese attack and lists reasons; suggests it may become necessary to withdraw into China as it is important to keep in touch with Chinese at all costs; states that he is putting everything possible into the defence of north-east India and comments on the vital...

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Telegram from the President of the United States, Franklin Roosevelt to WSC regarding command in Burma [later Myanmar] and the relationship between General Harold Alexander [General Officer Commanding, Burma] and Lieutenant-General Joseph Stilwell [Commander of United States forces, China, Burma and India]; believes that Alexander and Stilwell can work together, and emphasises the suitability of Stilwell for the command of Chinese forces in Burma.

Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt]: accepts Roosevelt's proposals [on British and American commands in Burma, see CHAR 20/72/28-30] and has sent instructions to General Sir Archibald Wavell [Commander-in-Chief, India] and General Harold Alexander [General Officer Commanding, Burma, later Myanmar]; comments on plans for bombing U-boat construction yards, which has been held back by the weather; refers to the possibility of attack by long range...

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Telegram from the Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin] to WSC: states that WSC will be advised as soon as possible about the [Australian] 9th Division; thanks WSC for assurances of support in the event of invasion; comments on the aircraft position in Australia.

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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 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 Sir Stafford Cripps [Lord Privy Seal] (Cairo [Egypt]) to WSC reciting the text of a telegram from Cripps to Maulana Abdul Kalem Azad [President of the Congress Party] dated 7 April 1942 outlining proposals for a division of responsibilities regarding the defence of India and listing those responsibilities that could be assumed by an Indian representative.

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Telegram from the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] to WSC regarding immediate British war needs: comments on United States Air Force suggestions for getting planes to India; questions the viability of a naval concentration in the Ceylon [later Sri Lanka] area using mixed forces and suggests that consideration be given to the temporary American replacement of British Home Fleet units.

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Telegram from the President of the United States, Franklin Roosevelt, to Harry Hopkins [Special adviser and assistant to President Roosevelt] for WSC containing several observations on the proposal to send American planes to India.

Scope and Contents Typescript copy of letter from Vi Wellington Koo [Chinese Ambassador to Britain] to WSC containing the text of a telegram from Generalissimo Chiang-Kai-shek [Chinese Nationalist leader] to WSC commenting on his recent visit to Burma [later Myanmar]: comments on the scene of "desolation and disorder" in Mandalay; comments on the superiority of the enemy in the air; comments on the dangers of defeat in Burma and appeals for reinforcements of air power. [See CHAR 20/74/39-40 for WSC's...

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Telegram from John Curtin, Prime Minister of Australia, expressing uneasiness on the sinkings of HMS Dorsetshire, HMS Cornwall and HMS Hermes and asking for more information on the naval situation in the Far East.

Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC to General Sir Archibald Wavell, Commander-in-Chief, India: comments on fighter and bomber strengths in India and Ceylon [later Sri Lanka] and details reinforcements; comments on plans to build up a powerful naval force in the Indian Ocean under Admiral Sir James Somerville [Commander-in-Chief, Eastern Fleet]; comments on the strategic importance of holding Colombo [Ceylon] and preserving the link with China; states that he is sending Wavell extracts of a telegram from...

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Telegram from WSC to General Sir Archibald Wavell, Commander-in-Chief, India, containing extracts of a telegram [on the situation in Burma, later Myanmar] from Generalissimo Chiang-Kai-shek [Chinese Nationalist leader] to WSC. [See CHAR 20/73/120-123].

Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt]: comments on a plan to strengthen the British fleet in the Indian Ocean by using United States ships to reinforce the British Navy at Scapa [Scotland]; states that he is sending a note drafted by Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Portal [Chief of the Air Staff] regarding air reinforcements for Burma [later Myanmar], India and Ceylon [later Sri Lanka] but welcomes the proposal to use the United States aircraft carrier...

Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] reciting a note drafted by Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Portal [Chief of the Air Staff] regarding air reinforcements for Burma [later Myanmar], India and Ceylon [later Sri Lanka]: agrees with proposals to bring United States bombardment squadrons in India up to full strength and to transfer 34 heavy and medium bomber aircraft from British allocations; comments on the need to retain Kittyhawk aircraft for use in...

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Telegram from Field Marshal Jan Smuts [Prime Minister of South Africa] to WSC commenting on operation "Ironclad" [occupation of Diego Suarez, Madagascar]: suggests that the towns of Tamatave and Majunga should also be occupied rendering the surrender of the whole island inevitable; offers to despatch a bomber squadron from Lindi [Tanzania] as soon as Diego aerodrome has been secured; comments on the need to rupture relations with Vichy France.

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Telegram from General Sir Archibald Wavell [Commander-in-Chief, India] reporting from Colombo on his visit to Ceylon [later Sri Lanka].

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Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] regarding immediate plans: comments on Malta, operation "Ironclad" [codename for operation against Diego Suarez, Madagascar], the Home Fleet, the Eastern Fleet, and the possibility of Admiral Sir James Somerville [Commander-in-Chief, Eastern Fleet] escorting a major convoy to Malta.

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Telegram from WSC to Field Marshal Jan Smuts [Prime Minister of South Africa] regarding plans to attack Madagascar (operation "Ironclad"): suggests the possibility of amphibious operations against Tamatave and Majunga once established at Diego Suarez; expresses gratitude for Smuts's offer of a bomber squadron and states that he will cable again on the question of the subsequent garrison of "Ironclad".

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Telegram from WSC to Generalissimo Chiang-Kai-shek [Chinese Nationalist Leader] thanking him for his telegram about the state of affairs in Burma [later Myanmar] and commenting on the difficulties in providing air support. [See CHAR 20/73/120-123 for Chiang-Kai-shek's telegram].

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Telegram from WSC to the Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin] regarding the naval position in the Far East: describes ship movements and losses between 4 April and 9 April resulting from Japanese raids on Colombo [Ceylon, later Sri Lanka] and Trincomalee [Ceylon]; comments on the relative strengths of Britain, the United States and Japan in aircraft carriers, aircraft and personnel; comments on future policy on the Eastern Fleet.