11. You are authorized to control the issue of all communiques concerning the forces under your command. 12. Through the channels specified in Paragraph 18, you may submit recommendations to the ABDA Governments on any matters pertaining to the furtherance of your mission. 13. LIMITATIONS. - Your authority and control with respect to the various portions of the ABDA Area and to the forces assigned thereto will normally be exercised through the commanders duly appointed by theirrespective governments. Interference is to be avoided in the administrative processes of the armed forces of any of the ABDA Governments, including free communication between them and their respective governments. No alteration or revision is to be made in the basic tactical organization of such forces, and each national component of a task force will normally operate under its own commander and will not be subdivided into small units for attachment to the other national components of the task force, except in the case of urgent necessity. In general, your instructions and orders will be limited to those necessary for effective coordination of forces in the execution of your mission. 14. RELATIONS WITH ABDA GOVERNMENTS.- The ABDA Governments will jointly and severally support you in the execution of the duties and responsibilities as herein defined, and in the exercise of the authority herein delegated and limited. Commanders of all sea, land, and air forces within your Area will be immediately informed by their respective governments that, from a date to be notified, all orders and instructions issued by you in conformity with the provisions of this directire will be considered by such commanders as emanating from their respective governments 15. In the unlikely event that any of your immediate subordinates, after making due .representations to you, still considers that obedience to your orders would Jeopardize the national interests of his country to an extent unJustified by the general situation in the ABDA Area, he has the right~ subject to your being immediately notified of such int~ention, to appeal direct to his own government before carrying out the orders. Such appeals will be made by the most expeditious method, and a copy of the appeal will be communicated simultaneously to you. 16. STAFF AND ASSUMPTION OF COMMAND.- Your staff will include officers of each of the ABDA powers. 'You are empowered to communicate immediately with the national commanders in the Area with a view to obtaining staff officers essential to your earliest - 3 - |