5. RELIEF OF THE BRITISH GARRISON IN NORTHERN IRELAND. - ADMIRAL KING said that it had been decided that for the present U. S. forces destined for the relief of the British garrison in Northern Ireland should be transported in the S. S. GEORGE WASHINGTON~ which would shortly be it for service this vessel being used on a continuous shuttle service to and from Northern Ireland. In a few weeks time when the general trend in the Atlantic theatre could be judged a decision could be taken as to whether the transport of these troops should be accelerated or not. THE CONFERENCE took note of this statement. 6. DRAFT HIRECTIVE TO THE SUPREME COMMANDER IN THE ABDA AREA. - The Conference gave further consideration to this directire (U S. ABC-4/5, British W. (J.P.C.)5). One minor verbal alteration was agreed to and it was also decided to bring the statement of the general strategic policy into lille with that telegraphed out to Commanders-in-Chief in the Far East by defining the Malay Barrier. (See Annex 2.) ADMIRAL KING said that he bad reason to believe that the directire would meet with the approval of the President, and this also applied to the statement on the higher direction of war in the ABDA Area contained in U S. ABC-4/5 British WW-3 (Final). (See Annex 3.) He had also received a request that the U.S. and British Chiefs of Staff should draft for consideration the public announcement setting up the unified command in the ABDA Area. He thought this should be completed on Friday. THE U.S. AND BRITISH CHIEFS OF STAFF gave final approval to the draft directive to the Supreme Commander of the ABDA Area as amended in the discussion (U S. ABC-4/.5, British WW-3 (Final), (See Annex 3), and took note of Admiral King's statement. 7. PROPOSED TASKS .FOR THE JOINT PLANNING COMMITTEE. - The Conference considered the statement of tasks proposed for the Joint Planning Committee in U.S. Serial ABC-4/4 British W (J.P.C.) 4, (See Annex 4.) At the suggestion of Admiral Stark it was decided that the following note should be added to the end of the paper. "Consideration of the Southwest Pacific theatre including the matter of unity of command therein was treated as a first priority and a decision reached prior to the acceptance of the foregoing document." The U.S. and British Chiefs of Staff accepted the statement (Annex 4 U.S. ABC-4/4 British WW (J.P C.)4) of the proposed tasks |