U.S.
BR I T I SH 
 
C.P.S. lO
 
FEBRUARY 13 , 1942.
 
                                                                                                              ccs 385 (2-13-42)
 
                                                                                                                          COPY NO.
 
                                      COMBINED STAFF PLANNERS
 
                              POSSIBLE JAPANESE ACTION AGAINST
        
                                     AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
 
                                               Note by the Secretaries
 
The enclosure, prepared by the Joint Intelligence Committee, is circulated for consideration by the
Combined Staff Planners.
 
                                                                                             (Signed) E. L. SIBERT,
 
                                                                                                     P. O. A. DAVISON,
 
                                                                                                        Combined Secretariat.
 
ENCLOSURE
 
DECLASSIFIED  
. J. C.S. Regrading Memo 31-71 
By  Date        MAR 27 1973
 
z
 
           1.    The reference directs that the Joint Intelligence Committee furnish the Combined Staff
Planners with its comments on an appreciation of the subject enclosed in the reference.
 
           2.    The Committee agrees in substance with the conclusions of the Enclosure (paragraphs
2 and ll). Specifically, it believes that at this stage Japan would be content to deny the use of
Torres Straits and to isolate Australia and New Zealand, without embarking on a major invasion
of either country.
 
           3.    The Committee is in substantial agreemrnt with the Enclosure's statement of
conditions precedent to a major Japanese attack on Australia or New Zealand (paragraphs 3 and
4). In paragraph 4, however, the Enclosure hypothecates Japanese consolidation of a position
including the Netherlands East Indies and islands eastward as far as New Caledonia, Fiji, and
Samoa as prerequisite to further offensive operations.  In J.I.C. Special "Japanese Logistic
Capabilities, Study No. 1, "this Committee