DIRECTIVE FOR THE SUPREME COMMANDER OF THE ABDA  AREA - ATTITUDE OF
THE DUTCH.-
 
ADMIRAL STARK recalled that certain amendments to Annex 2 of the draft directiwe for
General Wayell had been proposed by the British in order to meet certain points raised by the
Dutch. These had not yet been accepted by the Dutch, but had been approved by the President
and the PrimeMinister. He confirmed that these proposed amendments were acceptable to the
United States Chiefs of Staff.
 
            GENERAL MARSHALL said that the Dutchrepresentative in Washington
had come into the War Department a good deal over the question of the Dutch position. It
appeared that the populationof the Netherlands East Indies were feeling rather hurt at not having
been consulted over the question of supreme command. They did not consider that the Dutch
Government in London was fully representative of them Some trouble had also been caused
through the omission from General Wavell's directire of any instruction to set up his Headquarters
in Java. In the original communication to the Dutch Government, which proposed the setting up
of a Supreme Conunander, a passage to this effect had been included.
 
                 Every endeavor had been made by BRIGADIER GENERAL GEROW to smooth
down the feelings of the Dutch representative in Washington and to induce him to fall in with the
agreed views of the United States and British Chiefs of Staff, but in view of the fact that
negotiations with the Dutch Government were being conducted by the British, the position was
somewhat embarrassing.
 
                 ADMIRAL POUND expressed the appreciation of the British Chiefs of Staff for the
way in which the United States Staffs were dealing with this matter. A telegram had been sent to
General Wayell ins truG ting him to set up his Headquarters in Java, and in fact, he was
establishing himself at Batavia on January 10.
 
                  THE CHIEFS OF STAFF took cognizance of the prior approval of ABC4/5 WW 6
with Annex 2 amended, and also of the fact that further amendments would possibly be made
upon reply from the Dutch and Australian Governments.
(See Annex 1)
 
          3.PROCEDURE FOR THE ASSUMPTION OF COMMAND BY GENERAL WAVELL.-
 
THE CONFERENCE had before it an amendment by the British Chiefs of Staff on the procedure
for the assumption of command of General Wayell (US-ABC-4/CS-3, British WW-9). Various
minor amendments were agreed to.
 
                 ADMIRAL KING suggested that it would be advisable to insert in the draft telegram
to General Wayell a sentence to indicate that instructions were being sent to Admiral Hart and
General Brett tellingthem to report to
 
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