U S. SERIAL ABC-4/3
BRITISH SERIAL WW(J.P.C ) 3.
 
                                                                                                                    December 28, 1941    
                        
                                                                                          
                                          JOINT   PLANNING COMMITTEE    REPORT
                                                                          TO
                                                           CHIEFS OF STAFF
 
                                SUPPORTING MEASURES FOR THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC
 
                                       (THE FAR EAST AREA AND ADJACENT BEGIONS)
 
 DIRECTIVE
 
          1.        CHIEFS OF STAFF DIRECTIVE TO THE JOINT PLANNING COMMITTEE.
 
                  Until such timeas the wider problem of the unified control of all available forces in the
Southwest Pacific Area is solved the aim must be to reinforce the Philippine Islands Malaya, and
the Netherlands East Indies to the maximum extent, and to make the best possible arrangements
for ensuring the safe arrival and the most effective intervention of these reinforcements.
 
Having regard to the existing situation in the Far East and the Southwest Pacific, the Joint
Planning Committee is asked to make recommendations as to the disposition of the
reinforcements particularly air forces, expected to be available in the Southwest Pacific Area on:-
 
                    a. 15th January. 1942.
 
                    b. Ist February.  1942.
 
 on the following alternative assumptions:-
 
                 (1) The Philippines and Singapore both hold.
 
                (2)  Singapore and the Netherlands East Indies hold, but the Philippines do not.
 
                (3) Neither Singapore nor the Philippines holds.
 
CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS
 
        2.    Our basic strategic concept is to maintain initially the strategic defensive in the
Southwest Pacific Theatre. The present strength
 
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