January 2, 1941.
BY AGREEMENT AMONG THE GOVERNMENTS OF
AUSTRALIA, THE NETHERLANDS,THE UNITED
KINGDOM, AND THE UNITED STATS, HEREINAFTER
REFERRED TO AS THE ABDA GOVERNMENTS:
 
        1.       Area. -
 
               A strategic area has been constituted, to comprise
initially all land and sea areas included in the general region Burma -
Malaya Netherlands East Indies and tke Philippines; more precisely
defined in Annex 1. This area will be known as the ABDA Area.
 
 
2.  Forces. -
 
               You have been designated as the Supreme Commander of the
ABDA Area and of all armed forces, afloat, ashore, and in the air, of
the ABDA Governments which are or will be:-                       ~
 
Stationed in the Area;
 
Located in Australian territory when such forces have been allotted by
the respective governments for services in or in support of the ABDA
Area.
 
You are not authorized to transfer from the territory of any of the
ABDA Governments' land forces of that government without the consent of
the local comander or his government.
 
        3.    The Deputy Supreme Comander and, if required, a commander
of the combined naval forces and a commander of the combined air forces
will be jointly designated by the ABDA Governments.
 
        4. No government will materially reduce its armed forces
assigned to your Area nor any comitments made by it for reinforcing its
forces in your Area except after giving to the other governments, and
to you, timely information pertaining thereto.
 
        5.       Strategic Concept and Policy. -
 
                The basic strategic concept of the ABDA Goverments for
the conduct of the war in your Area is not only in the immediate future
to maintain as many key positions as possible, but to take the
offensive at the earliest opportunity and ultimately to conduct an
all-out offensive against Japan. The first essential is to gain general
air superiority at the earliest possible moment, through the employment
of concentrated air power. The piecemeal employment of air forces
should be minimized. Your operations should be so conducted as to
further preparations for the offensive.
 
-i-
        REGRADED UNCLASSIFIED
 
 
January 2, 1941.
 
U.S. Serial ABC-4/5 (Approved)
British Serial WW 6
Supersedes ABC-4/5, British WW 3 (Final)
BY AGREEMENT AM0NG THE GOVERNMENTS OF AUSTRALIA, THE NETHERLANDS, THE
UNITED KINGDOM, AND THE UNITED STATES, HEREINAFTER
 
       1.       Area. -
               A strategic area has been constituted, to comprise
initially all land and sea areas included in the general region Burma -
Malaya Netherlands East Indies and the Philippines; more precisely
defined in Annex 1. This area rill be known as the ABDA Area.
 
 
        2.       Forces. -
 
                 You have been designated as the Supreme Commander of
the
ABDA Area and of all armed forces, afloat, ashore, and in the air, of
the ABDA Governents which are or wi11 be:-
 
                          a.    Stationed in the Area;
 
                          b. Located in Australian territory when such
            -- forces have been allotted by the respective governments
for services in or in support of the ABDA Area.
You are not authorized to transfer from the territory of any of the
ABDA Governments land forces of that government without the consent of
the local comander or his government.
$.    The Deputy Supreme Commander and, if required, a commander
of the combined naval forces and a commander of the combined air forces
will be jointly designated by the ABDA Governments.
         4. No government will materially reduce its armed forces
assigned to your Area nor any commitments made by it for reinforcing
its forces in your Area except after giving to the other governments,
and to you, timely information pertaining thereto.
 
          5.       Strategic Concept and Policy. -
                 The basic strategic concept of the ABDA Governments
for the conduct of the war in your Area is not only in the immediate
future to maintain as many key positions as possible, but to take the
offensive at the earliest opportunity and ultimately to conduct an
all-out offensive against Japan. The first essential is to gain general
air superiority at the earliest possible moment, through the employment
of concentrated air power. The piecemeal employment of air forces
should be minimized. Your operations should be so conducted as to
further preparations for the offensive.
 
-i-
        REGRADED UNCLASSIFIED