U.S. ABC-4/3
BRITISH WW (J.P.C. ) 3
 
                                                                                                                      December 31, 1941
 
        The United States andBritish Chiefs of  staff  approved the Joint Planning Committee report
of December 29, 1941, on "Supporting Measures for the Southwest Pacific" as appropriate action
to be taken in the interim prior to the establishment of the unified command of the forces in that
region.
 
         The United States and British Chiefs of Staff agreed to send, immediately to the United
States and British Commanders-.in-Chief in the Far East Area the following telegram:
 
        "The general strategic policy for operations in the Far Eastern theatre which'has been agreed
upon by the United States and British Chiefs of Staff  is as follows:-
 
       a. To hold the Malay Barrier, defined as the line Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, and North
Australia, as the basic defensive position in that theatre and to operate sea, land, and air 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 theatre, and Burma
as essential to the support of  China, and to the defense of India.
 
        c. To reestablish communications through the Dutch East Indies with Luzon and to support
the Philippines' Garrison.
 
         d. To maintain essential communications within the theatre.
 
         Indisposing of the reinforcements arriving in that theatre, you 'should be guided by the
above policy and consider the needs of the theatre as a whole. To this end,.close co-operation
among the British, Dutch and United States Commanders is essential, and you should continue to
concert measures accordingly.
 
               The.British.Commander-.in-Chief, Far East, will inform the Dutch and request their
.cooperation."
 
                                                                TETEGRAM