16.      STAEF 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 possible assumption of command. Your
additional staff requirements will be communicated as soon as possible
to the ABDA GOvernments through channels of communication described in
Paragraph 18.
 
      17.    You will report when you are in a position effectively to
carry out the essential functions of Supreme Command, so that your
assumption of command may be promulgated to all concerned.
 
       18.      SUPERIOR AUTHORITY. -
 
               As Supreme Commander of the ABDA Area you will be
directly responsible to the ABDA Governments through the agency defined
in Annex 2.
 
Signed
 
(By Power furnishing
                                             Supreme Commande r)
 
Countersigned'
 
        Other ABDA Representatives.