Scope and Contents Telegram from Prime Minister of New Zealand [Peter Fraser] to WSC regarding fighter allocation for New Zealand: believes allocation of 18 fighters cannot be regarded as adequate; feels that there is an unsatisfactory disparity between numbers allocated to Australia and those to New Zealand; requires at least 4 fighter squadrons in addition to 36 fighter aircraft already requested; hopes that the whole question of the defence of New Zealand is receiving consideration, "the capacity of this...

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Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt]: states that the Air Ministry would like to announce Air Marshal Sir Richard Peirse as Commander- in-Chief of ABDA [Australian, British, Dutch and Australasian] Air Forces; informs that Air Marshal Arthur Harris is to be withdrawn from the Combined Staffs Committee and replaced by Air Marshal Douglas Evill; comments on the situation in Singapore.

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 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.

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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.

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 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 Harry Hopkins [Special adviser and assistant to the President of the United States] to WSC: opposes the idea of a Civil Air Transport Adjustment Board and gives reasons; comments on the production of transport planes for military purposes.

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...

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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.

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...

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...

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Telegram from the President of the United States, Franklin Roosevelt to WSC regarding his request for American assistance in transporting Spitfires to Malta [see CHAR 20/73/13-14] and commenting on the availability of the Furious.

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Telegram from Sir Stafford Cripps [Lord Privy Seal] (Karachi [India, later Pakistan]) to WSC regarding the defence situation in India, particularly the air and naval situation and commenting on the need for heavy bombers and reconnaissance aircraft.

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Telegram from WSC to the Lord Privy Seal [Sir Stafford Cripps] (Cairo [Egypt]) concerning the position of the Air Ministry with regard to supplying bombers to India.

Scope and Contents Telegram from WSC to the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] concerning "the grave situation" arising from the large Japanese naval presence in the Indian Ocean: suggests alternative plans for moving capital ships to the Indian Ocean; presses for American heavy bombers in India; comments on his meeting with the President's envoys and states that he is sending the 1st Sea Lord [Admiral of the Fleet Sir Dudley Pound] to see the President and Admiral Ernest King...

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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 the President of the United States [Franklin Roosevelt] to WSC informing him of a proposal to hold a conference in Ottawa [Canada] in May to discuss the Air Training Programme and the renewal of the Empire Training Plan on an overall basis for the United Nations.

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...

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 the President of the United States, Franklin Roosevelt, to WSC giving details of the movement of American aircraft to India.

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...