U.S. 
BRITISH
 
U. S. Serial ABC-4/3                              Washington, D.C.
British Serial W.W. (J.P. C. ) 3                  December 28, 1941
 
                JOINT PLANNING COMMITTEE REPORT
 
                               TO
                                
                        CHIEFS OF STAFF
 
          SUPPORTING MEASURES FOR THE SOUTHEAST PACIFIC
 
             (THE FAR EAST AREA AND ADJACENT REGIONS
 
Directive.
 
1.   Chiefs of Staff Directive to the Joint Planning Committee.
 
     Until such time as the wider problem of the unified control of all available forces in the
South West Pacific Area is solved, the aim must be to reinforce the Philippine Islands, Malaya,
and the Netherlands East Indies, to the maximum extent, and to make the best possible
arrangements for ensuring the safe arrival and the most effective intervention of these
reinforcements.
     Having regard to the existing situation in the Far East and the South West Pacific, the
Joint Planning Committee is asked to make recommendations as to the disposition of the
reinforcements, particularly air forces, expected to be available in the South West Pacific Area
on:-
     (a) 15th January, 1942.
     (b) 1st February, 1942.
on the following alternative assumptions--
     (1) The Philippines and Singapore both hold.
     (2) Singapore and the Netherlands East Indies hold, but the Philippines do not.
     (3) Neither Singapore nor the Philippines hold.
Concept of Operations.
2.   Our basic strategic concept is to maintain initially the strategic defensive in the South West
Pacific Theater. The present
 
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