U. S.
BRITISH
 
     6.   The general strategic policy will therefore be:-
 
               a.   To hold the Y~alay Barrier as the basic defensive position of the ABDA
Area, and to operate air and sea forces in as great depth as possible forward of the Barrier in
order to oppose the Japanese southward advance.
 
               b.   To hold Burma and Australia as essential supporting positions for the Area,
and Burma as essential to the support of China, and to the defense of India.
 
               c.   To re-establish communications through the Dutch East Indies with Luzon
and to support the Philippines' Garrison.
 
          d.   To maintain essential communications within the Area.
 
     7.        Duties, Responsibilities and Authority of the Supreme
               Commander. -
 
                    You will coordinate in the ABDA Area the strategic operations of all armed forces
of the ABDA Governments; assign them strategic missions and objectives; where desirable,
arrange for the formation of task forces, whether national or international, for the execution of
specific operations; and appoint any officer, irrespective of seniority or nationality, to command
such task forces.
 
          8.   While you will have no responsibilities in respect of the internal administration of
the respective forces under your command, you are authorized to direct and coordinate the
creation and development of administrative facilities and the broad allocation of war materials.
 
          9.   You will dispose reinforcements which fromtime to time may be dispatched to the
Area by the ABDA Govermments.
 
          10.  You are authorized to require from the Commanders of the armed forces under
your command such reports as you deem necessary in the discharge of your responsibilities as
Supreme Commander.
 
          11.  You are authorized to control the issue of all communiques concerning the forces
under your con, hand.
 
          12.  Through the channels specified in paragraph 18, you may submit recormnendations
to the ABDA Governments on any matters pertaining to the furtherance of your mission.
 
          13.       Limitations. -
          Your authority and control with respect to the various portions the ABDA Area
and to the forces assigned thereto will normally be exercised through the commanders duly
designated by their respective governments. Interference is to be avoided in the administrative
processes of the armed forces of any of the ABDA Governments including free communication
between them and their respective govermments. No alteration or revision is to be made in the
basic tactical organization of such forces, and each national component of a task force will
normally operate under its eyre commander and will not be subdivided into small units for
attachment to the other national components of the task force. In general, your
 
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