u.s. ABC-4 C/S 3 BRITISH WW-9 (REVISED) ~anuary 10, 1942. It is requested that special care nmy be taken to insure the secrecy of this document. WASHINGTON WAR CONFERENCE PROCEDURE FOR ASSUMPTION OF COMMAND BY GENERAL WAVELL Memorandum by British Chiefs of Staff. 1. General Wayell was informed on 29th December, 1941, by the Prime Minister that he was to be the Supreme Commander in the ABDA Area. He was told that his directAve would be given t.o him shortly and that any observations which he might wish to make on its terms would be considered. 2. When the directire was finally approved by the President and the Prime Minister, orders were sent to London (2nd January) that it should be telegraphed to General Wayell immediately- copies were also to be sent to General Pownall and all other British Commanders concerned. 3. At the same time the terms of the directAve were communicated to the Dutch, Australian, and New Zealand Governments. 4. The Dutch Government has suggested certain amendments to Annex (ii) to the directire, and these are still under discussion. It is not known whether they have communicated the directire to the Dutch Commanders in the ABDA Area. 5. The Australian Government has put forward views and opinions about the whole arrangement, and have not yet notified their agreement with the directAve. It is presumed that they have not yet informed any of their Commanders. 6. The New Zealand Government is only indirectly concerned. There has been no comment on the directAve from them. 7. On 2nd January General Wayell was told that much importance was attached to his taking over as soon as possible, and he was asked to specify the earliest date on which he would be ready to assume command. He is now at Singapore, but is expected to be in Batavia today, loth January. No observations have yet been received from him about his directAve, nor has he yet specified a date for assuming command. -- 1 -- |