December 3!, 1941
 
ANNEX 2
 
'HIGHER DIRECTION OF WAR IN THE ABDA AREA
 
         1.    On all important military matters, not within the
jurisdiction of the Supreme Commander of the ABDA Area, the U.S. Chiefs
of Staff and the representat~ves in Washington of the British Chiefs of
Staff w. ill constitute the agency for developing and submitting
recommendations for decision by the Pre, sident of the United States
and by the British Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Among the
chief matters on which decisions will be required are'
 
_a. The provision of reinforcements.
        h. A major change in policy.
        _c. Departure from the Supreme Commander's directive.
 
          2.       This agency will function as follows~
 
            _a. Any proposal coming either from the Supreme Commander
or from any of the ABDA governments will be transmitted to the Chiefs
of Staff Committee both inWashington and in London.
 
            b_. The Chiefs of Staff Committee in London will
immediately teleg:,aph to their representatives in Washington to say
whether or not they will be telegraphing any opinions,
 
                    _c. On receipt of these opinions, the U.S. Chiefs
of Staff and
          the representatives in Washington of the British Chiefs of
Staff will
        d~velop and submit their recommendations to the President, and
by telegraph to the Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, The Prime
Minis-
t~r w. il]. then inform the. President whether he is in agreement w.
ith
these recommendations.
 
         3. Since London has the machinery for consulting the Dominion
GOvernments, and since the Dutch Gdvernment is in London, the British
Government w J. ll be responsible for obtaining their 'views and
agreement, and for including these in the Final telegram to Washington
 
         4. Agreement h~ving been reached between the President and the
Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, the orders to the Supreme
Commander will be dispatched from Washington in the name of both of
them.