DM                       New Delhi
This telegram must be 
closely paraphrased be-       Dated April 6, 1942
fore being communicated 
to anyone. (SC)               Rec'd 8:55 a.m., 7th
 
 
Secretary of State, 
 
     Washington.
 
     
     RUSH
 
     155, April 6, 5 p.m. (SECTION TWO)
 
     "PERSONAL SECRET
 
     When we met on Saturday, you asked me my most
 
immediate need and I replied  aircraft.'
     
     The Japanese attacks now in progress against
 
Colombo and our shipping and India generally emphasize
 
the vital urgency of this requirement. It is not 
 
too much to say that our whole position in India 
 
during the next few months depends on whether we 
 
can receive an adequate supply of aircraft.
 
        The figures I give you below do not in any way 
 
represent our ultimate requirements but are the 
 
numbers of aircraft for which I estimate that we 
 
can find crews if we can receive them during or before 
 
June, the earlier the better of course: Fighters:
 
120 P-40's., Bombers 120 B-25's; General Reconnaissance: 
 
 
80 Hudsons; Bomber Transport: 40 DC-3's.
 
     If you could do anything to obtain us these
 
                         aircraft