u.s. ABC-4 C/S 3
BRITISH WW-9 (REVISED)
 
~anuary 10, 1942.
 
It is requested that special
care nmy be taken to insure
the secrecy of this document.
 
WASHINGTON WAR CONFERENCE
 
PROCEDURE FOR ASSUMPTION OF COMMAND BY GENERAL WAVELL
 
Memorandum by British Chiefs of Staff.
 
        1.    General Wayell was informed on 29th December, 1941, by
the Prime Minister that he was to be the Supreme Commander in the ABDA
Area. He was told that his directAve would be given t.o him shortly and
that any observations which he might wish to make on its terms would be
considered.
 
        2.    When the directire was finally approved by the President
and the Prime Minister, orders were sent to London (2nd January) that
it should be telegraphed to General Wayell immediately- copies were
also to be sent to General Pownall and all other British Commanders
concerned.
 
       3.    At the same time the terms of the directAve were
communicated to the Dutch, Australian, and New Zealand Governments.
 
        4. The Dutch Government has suggested certain amendments to
Annex (ii) to the directire, and these are still under discussion. It
is not known whether they have communicated the directire to the Dutch
Commanders in the ABDA Area.
 
        5.    The Australian Government has put forward views and
opinions about the whole arrangement, and have not yet notified their
agreement with the directAve. It is presumed that they have not yet
informed any of their Commanders.
 
        6.    The New Zealand Government is only indirectly concerned.
There
has been no comment on the directAve from them.
 
        7.    On 2nd January General Wayell was told that much
importance was attached to his taking over as soon as possible, and he
was asked to specify the earliest date on which he would be ready to
assume command. He is now at Singapore, but is expected to be in
Batavia today, loth January. No observations have yet been received
from him about his directAve, nor has he yet specified a date for
assuming command.
 
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