U S. SERIAL ABC-4/3
BRITISH  SERIAL WW(J.P.C.) 3.
                                                                                                                       December 28, 1941
 
 
                JOINT PLANNING COMMITTEE REPORT
                                
                               TO
                                
                        CHIEFS OF STAFF
                                
         SUPPORTING MEASURES FOR  THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC
                                
           (THE FAR EAST AREA  AND ADJACENT REGIONS)
 
 
DIRECTIVE
 
      1. CHIEFS OF STAFF DIRECTIVE TO THE JOINT PLANNING COMMITTEE.
 
                 Until such time as the wider problem of the unified control of all available forces in the
Southwest Pacific Area is solved, the aim must be to reinforce the Philippine Islands, Malaya, and
the Netherlands, East Indies, to the maximum extent, and to make the best possible arrangements
for ensuring the safe arrival and the most effective intervention of these reinforcements.
 
                 Having regard to the existing situation in the Far East and the Southwest Pacific, the
Joint Planning Committee is asked to make recommendations.as to the disposition of the
reinforcements, particularly air forces, expected to be available in the Southwest Pacific Area on:-
 
        a. 15th January, 1942.
 
        b. 1st February, 1942.
 
 
on the following alternative assumptions:-
 
       (1) The. Philippines and Singapore both hold.
 
       (2) Singapore and the Netherlands East Indies hold, but the Philippines do not.
 
       (3) Neither Singapore nor the Philippines holds.
 
CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS
 
        2.     Our basic strategic concept is to maintain initially the strategic defensive in the
Southwest  Pacific Theatre. The present strength
 
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