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Second World War (1939-1945)

 Subject
Subject Source: UK Archival Thesaurus

Found in 2737 Collections and/or Records:

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(Untitled), 14 Mar 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/71B/160-162
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 14 Mar 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 14 Mar 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/71B/163
Scope and Contents

Telegram from General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander- in-Chief, Middle East, to WSC: "This is splendid news and should help to ease situation considerably." [On retaining Australian and New Zealand troops in the Middle East and bringing in British reinforcements, see CHAR 20/71B/138].

Dates: 14 Mar 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 15 Mar 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/71B/164
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander-in-Chief, Middle East: comments on the implications of delaying an attack, particularly for Malta and North Africa and on comparative allied and enemy tank numbers; states that he is sending Sir Stafford Cripps [Lord Privy Seal] to India via Cairo [Egypt] to put across the views of the War Cabinet, accompanied by Lieutenant-General Archibald Nye [Vice-Chief of the Imperial General Staff].

Dates: 15 Mar 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 14 Mar 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/71B/165
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to Field Marshal Sir John Dill [Head of British Joint Staff Mission, Washington, United States] suggesting alterations to an Allied document on war strategy: suggests "essentials" should be an assumption of an offensive against Japan, an air offensive against Germany to relieve the Soviet Union, and British mastery of the Indian Ocean.

Dates: 14 Mar 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 15 Mar 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/71B/166
Scope and Contents

Telegram from the President of the United States, Franklin Roosevelt, to WSC regarding the concerns of Generalissimo Chiang-Kai-shek [Chinese nationalist leader] over the military command in Burma and Southern China: suggests that Lieutenant-General Joseph Stilwell [Commander of United States Forces in China, Burma (later Myanmar) and India] command the northern end, with the southern part coming under British command.

Dates: 15 Mar 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 15 Mar 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/71B/167
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to the Prime Minister of New Zealand [Peter Fraser] commenting on troop and naval reinforcements for the Far East and expressing doubts about the likelihood of a Japanese invasion of Australia or New Zealand.

Dates: 15 Mar 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 16 Mar 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/71B/171
Scope and Contents Telegram from Field Marshal Sir John Dill [Head of British Joint Staff Mission, Washington, United States] to WSC replying to comments by WSC [see CHAR 20/71B/165] on war strategy: comments on the security of Great Britain and the United States, the development of the American Pacific Fleet, the importance of the southern Soviet Union and Middle East theatres, the ineffectiveness of an air offensive against Germany from Britain and the impracticality of a land offensive in Europe; concludes...
Dates: 16 Mar 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 17 Mar 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/71B/175
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander-in-Chief, Middle East, stating that if he remains on the defensive until July, it will be necessary to consider the movement of 15 air squadrons from Libya to sustain the Soviet left wing in the Caucasus.

Dates: 17 Mar 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 17 Mar 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/71B/179
Scope and Contents

Telegram from the Prime Minister of New Zealand [Peter Fraser] to WSC disputing his view that a serious invasion of New Zealand or Australia is unlikely and renewing representations that their position be strengthened.

Dates: 17 Mar 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 17 Mar 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/71B/181-182
Scope and Contents

Telegram from the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] to WSC regarding naval matters: suggests that the United States reinforce the British Home Fleet and that British ships are used to replace the HYPO Force or to do the whole escorting job [to Diego Suarez, Madagascar, in operation "Ironclad"]; states that tanker sinkings are very disturbing; comments on the role of American destroyers and trawlers in the Atlantic; suggests measures for dealing with the submarine menace.

Dates: 17 Mar 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 17 Mar 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/71B/183-193
Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt]: states that he has not yet heard from Australia and New Zealand but that in principle there are great merits resulting from the United States controlling the Pacific sphere and Britain controlling the Indian sphere; comments on the need for the American and British navies to work to a common strategy; describes British naval force in the Central Indian Ocean; comments on the need to co-ordinate all naval commands...
Dates: 17 Mar 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 17 Mar 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/72/2
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to John Curtin [Prime Minister of Australia] regarding proposals by the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] for dividing the commands [into United States Pacific and British Indian spheres] and stating that this will not absolve Britain from a duty to aid Australia in the event of an invasion. Annotation indicates that the telegram was also sent to Peter Fraser [Prime Minister of New Zealand].

Dates: 17 Mar 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 17 Mar 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/72/3
Scope and Contents

Telegram from the President of the United States, Franklin Roosevelt, to WSC regarding the arrival of General Douglas MacArthur in Australia, his appointment as Supreme Commander in the [South West Pacific] area and the resulting press release.

Dates: 17 Mar 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 17 Mar 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/72/4
Scope and Contents

Telegram from John Curtin, Prime Minister of Australia, to WSC reciting text of a message to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] nominating General Douglas MacArthur as Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces "in this theatre" [South West Pacific], and asking to be informed of the timing and text of any announcement.

Dates: 17 Mar 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 17 Mar 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/72/9-11
Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] opposing the creation of a separate military command in Burma [later Myanmar] under Lieutenant-General Joseph Stilwell [Commander of United States forces in China, Burma and India]: encloses text of a telegram from General Harold Alexander [General Officer Commanding, Burma] regarding problems arising from Stilwell's arrival; suggests that Stilwell be under the general directions of Alexander in respect of troops...
Dates: 17 Mar 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 18 Mar 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/72/12
Scope and Contents

Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] commenting on a message from Admiral Ernest King [Chief of Naval Operations and Commander-in- Chief, United States Navy] promising to keep the Japanese occupied in the Pacific while Britain is building up strength in the Indian Ocean; also refusing Roosevelt's "generous offer" of two new battleships [to reinforce the British Home Fleet].

Dates: 18 Mar 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 18 Mar 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/72/13
Scope and Contents

Telegram from the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt to WSC describing damage inflicted by United States forces on the Japanese naval task force off New Guinea [later Papua New Guinea and part of Indonesia]: "It was by all means the best days work we have had.".

Dates: 18 Mar 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 18 Mar 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/72/15
Scope and Contents

Telegram from the President of the United States, Franklin Roosevelt, to WSC outlining details of the United States naval force assigned to report for temporary duty with the British Home Fleet; states that a similar detachment will be kept on "this side" to "head off enemy when he comes into open Atlantic.".

Dates: 18 Mar 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 19 Mar 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/72/18
Scope and Contents

Telegram from the Prime Minister of New Zealand [Peter Fraser] to WSC accepting proposals by WSC and the President of the United States, Franklin Roosevelt, for the establishment of unified control for the conduct of the war in the Pacific, Indian Ocean, and Atlantic, and welcoming the appointment of General Douglas MacArthur as [Commander-in-Chief of Allied forces, South West Pacific area]; hopes that the close collaboration between Australia and New Zealand will not be weakened.

Dates: 19 Mar 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 19 Mar 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/72/20-21
Scope and Contents Telegram from the Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin] regarding the aircraft position in Australia: comments on his representations to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] regarding the need for a United States - Australian Air Staff and Planning Staff, and the willingness of Australia to place its Air Force under the immediate control of Lieutenant-General George Brett [Commander of Allied Air Forces, Dutch East Indies, later Indonesia]; states that President...
Dates: 19 Mar 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 19 Mar 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/72/23-25
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...
Dates: 19 Mar 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 19 Mar 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/72/27
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...
Dates: 19 Mar 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 20 Mar 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/72/28-30
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 20 Mar 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 20 Mar 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/72/36-37
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...
Dates: 20 Mar 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open
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(Untitled), 20 Mar 1942

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Reference Code: GBR/0014/CHAR 20/72/39
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 20 Mar 1942
Conditions Governing Access: From the File: Open