U S. 'SERIAL ABC'4/5                                                 December 31, 1941 BRITISH 'SERIAL WW,-3 (FINAL)
 
                       DRAFT DIRECTIVE TO THE
SUPREME COMMANDER
 
BY AGREEMENT AMONG THE GOVERNMENTS OF AUSTRALIA, THE 'NETHERLANDS,
THE UNITED KINGDOM, AND THE UNITED STATES, 'HEREINAFTER
 
REFERREDTO AS THE ABDA GOVERNKENTS.
 
1. AREA. -
 
A.strategic area 'has been .constituted, to .compr. ise .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'
 
_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 .no.t 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 any commitments made by it for'reinforcing its forces in your
Area except after giv. ing to the other governments, and to you, timely .information pertaining thereto.
 
        .5.     'STRATEGIC CONCEPT ~ND POLICY. -
                                                                   .
 
The basic strategic concept of the ABDA GOvernments for the conduct
 
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