estimated that the Japanes would consolidate the Burma-Malaya-
 
Netherlands East Indies-Mandates barrier before undertaking further offensive oprations.
Subsequent comment will be made with referrence to hypothetical Japanese consolidation of the
B-M-N-M barrisr, as outlined in J.I.C. 1.
 
         4.          From the barrier, without undertaking a major offensive operation, Japan could
deny the use of Torres Strait by neutralizing or occupying key points on the north coast of
Australia. This coast is so inaccessible by land from the settled area of Australia and so accessible
by sea from the Netherlands East Indies that it is, strategically, an integral part of the barrier
rather than of Australia. From the barrier the Japanese could also raid the ports of Australia and
New Zealand, as envisaged in paragraph 1 of the Enclosure. Operations to i. nterrupt or harass
supply rout~s from the United States should also be anticipated. It, is not necessary to occupy
Samoa, Fiji, or New Caledonia for that purpose.
 
         5.         Australia and New Zealand are sparsely inhabited white communities isolated from
other whites by the 6,000 miles of ocean ~hieh separate them from the United States and from
South Africa. Both are dependent on overseas communications for essential supplies. Their
individual characteristics are asfollows:
 
             (a) Australia. In an area of 3,000,000 square miles there are only 7,000,000 Australians,
nearly half of them in the five cities of Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth. The
vital area is the southeastern co~ne~ of the continent, bounded by the line Brisbane-Adelaide.
There are found, the bulk of the population, industry, agriculture, conmnuni cat ions facilities, and
other utilities. Perth is the center of an isolated commur, ity on the west coast. The rest of the
country is largely uninhabited desert.