January 10, 1942.
 
U. S. SERIAL ABC-4/8 (APPROVED) BRITISH SERIAL WW-6
 
SUPERSEDES ABC-4/5, BRITISH WW-3 (FINAL)
 
DIRECTIVE TO THE SUPREME COMMANDER IN THE ABDA AREA
 
BY AGREEMENT AMONG THE GOVERNMENTS OF
 
AUSTRALIA, THE NETHERLANDS, THE UNITED KINGDOM, AND THE UNITED STATES, HEREINAFTER
 
REFERRED TO AS THE ABDA GOVERNMENTS:
 
          1.        AREA.-
 
                 A strategic area has been constituted, to comprise initially all land and sea areas included in the general region Burma - Malaya - Netherlands East Indies and the Philippines; more precisely defined in Annex 1. This area will be known as the ABDA Area.
 
          2.        FORCES. -
 
                 You have been designated as the Supreme Commander of the ABDA Area and of all armed forces, afloat, ashore, and in the air, of the ABDA Governments which are or will be'-
 
                    _a.    Stationed in the Area;
 
            b.    Located in Australian territory when such forces have been allotted by the respective governments for services in or in support of the ABDA Area
 
You are not authorized to transfer from the territory of any of the ABDA Governments land forces of that government without the consent of the local commander or his government.
 
         3.    The Deputy Supreme Commander and, if required, a commander of the combined naval forces and a commander of the combined air forces will be jointly designated by the ABDA Governments.
 
         4.    No government will materially reduce its armed forces assigned to your Area nor anycommitments made by it for reinforcing its forces in your Area except after giving to the other governments, and to you, timely information pertaining thereto.
 
- 1 -