Telegram from the Prime Minister of Australia, John Curtin, to WSC rejecting the decision by the Chiefs of Staff to have separate Indian and Pacific fleets to face the superior Japanese fleet.

Telegrams from General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander- in-Chief, Middle East, to WSC on subjects including: enemy movement around Agedabia [Ajdabiyah, Libya]; prisoner- of-war figures and a damage report following surrender of Bardia; success at Bardia due to tanks and South African infantry, the RAF and the Australian and Free French air forces.

Telegram from WSC to the Minister of State, Middle East [Oliver Lyttelton, later 1st Lord Chandos] on his proposals for Allied landings on Atlantic coast [? of North Africa], depending on the progress of General Sir Claude Auchinleck [Commander-in-Chief, Middle East] and the transatlantic development of operation "Gymnast" [codename for the plans for the British occupation of North West Africa].

Telegram from WSC to the Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin], with information sent from William Bullitt [special representative to Franklin Roosevelt, President of the United States, in the Near East] to Roosevelt on the need to secure Egypt as a base for operations in Libya, Tunisia, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria and Turkey, and for transit to India and the Far East; also on the need to stop Italian aviation fuel convoys to Tripoli [Libya].

Telegram from General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander- in-Chief, Middle East, to WSC on subjects including infantry and tanks in the Western desert against Germans and Italians, prisoner-of-war figures and South African divisions.

Telegram from WSC to the Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin] on subjects including: defining the command area of General Sir Archibald Wavell [Commander-in-Chief, India and Supreme Commander, South West Pacific] as not including Australia or New Zealand, or their communications with the United States; the responsibilities of the United States Navy; the spread of resources between the Middle East and Malaya [later Malaysia].

Telegram from WSC to the Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin] relaying note by the 1st Sea Lord [Admiral of the Fleet Sir Dudley Pound] on the inadvisability of Allied combined fleet engaging Japanese Fleet in Pacific, in aftermath of Pearl Harbor [United States] attack, where Japan has air superiority.

Telegram from WSC to General Sir Archibald Wavell, Commander-in-Chief, India, refusing to remove General Sir Claude Auchinleck from command in the Middle East.

Telegram from the Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin] to WSC rejecting the definition by the Chiefs of Staff of the Australian area as Australia, New Guinea [parts of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea], Bismarck Archipelago, Solomon Islands, New Hebrides [Vanuatu] and Fiji, and the view that this area should be excluded from the protection of the United States fleet; favours the Pacific area instead.

Telegram from General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander- in-Chief, Middle East, to WSC reporting on engagements around Agedabia [Ajdabiyah, Libya], casualty figures of 22 Armoured Brigade, prisoner-of-war figures and weather damage in Syria and Palestine.

Telegram from WSC to General Sir Archibald Wavell, Commander- in-Chief, India [and Supreme Commander, South West Pacific], advising he should set up his headquarters in Java [Dutch East Indies, later Indonesia] as also advised by the United States.

Telegram from General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander- in-Chief, Middle East, to WSC reporting on increased enemy fighting around Agedabia [Ajdabiyah, Libya], and Agheila, prisoner-of-war figures from Bardia, the bombing of Halfaya and Benghazi being nearly ready as a supply base.

Telegram from WSC to [Alfred] Duff Cooper, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster [and Resident Cabinet Minister at Singapore for Far Eastern affairs, later 1st Lord Norwich] recalling him to Britain, via Java [Dutch East Indies, later Indonesia] to liaise with General Sir Archibald Wavell, Supreme Commander, South West Pacific.

Telegram from General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander-in- Chief, Middle East, to WSC on subjects including: no change at Agedabia [Ajdabiyah, Libya]; prisoner-of-war figures from Bardia, including the Germans; enemy aircraft driven away from Benghazi.

Telegram from the Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin] to the Dominions Office outlining requirements for Australian representation on councils formulating Pacific strategy.

Telegram from General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander- in-Chief, Middle East, to WSC: Agedabia [Ajdabiyah, Libya] clear of enemy and Halfaya under attack from air, sea and land.

Telegram from WSC to the Prime Minister of New Zealand [Peter Fraser] on United States naval responsibility for south-western Pacific; regrets not consulting Fraser more fully; also includes covering note by John Peck [Assistant Private Secretary to WSC].

Telegram from General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander- in-Chief, Middle East, to WSC on fighting around Agedabia [Ajdabiyah, Libya]; forward patrols slowed by mines and bad weather affecting sea operations at Benghazi.

Telegram from WSC to General Sir Archibald Wavell, Supreme Commander, South West Pacific, on combat in Malayan Peninsula [later Malaysia]; approves of general conduct but suggests submarines be used to frustrate Japanese penetration movements up rivers. [See CHAR 20/68A/55 for reply].

Telegram from Oliver Lyttelton, Minister of State, Middle East [later 1st Lord Chandos] to WSC requesting the lifting of the blockade on Greece as thousands are starving to death, and loyalty is wavering.

Telegram from General Sir Claude Auchinleck, Commander- in-Chief, Middle East, to WSC on forward troops around Agheila, Agedabia [Ajdabiyah] and Wadi-el-Faregh [Libya], action involving Polish and Indian troops and the strength of Italian and German forces.

Telegram from WSC to the Prime Minister of Australia [John Curtin] on the co-ordination of defence between Britain, the United States, Australia and New Zealand, including the need to incorporate the United States contribution into the south western Pacific, and the defence of Australia itself; Australian, New Zealander and Dutch representatives will report via London to Washington until a Supreme Commander has been appointed.