CR 4364
 
      
 
 
FROM HARRIMAN; PERSONAL FOR THE PRESIDENT.
 
      
 
 
I HAVE BEEN PRESENT AT FURTHER DISCUSSIONS ON BURMA WITH THE 
      PRIME MINISTER AND WITH THE WAR OFFICE. AS EVERY ONE IS SO BEWILERED 
      BY THE TURN OF EVENTS IN SINGAPORE THEY ARE NO LONGER READY TO 
      EXPRESS OPTIMISM IN ANY OTHER THEATRE IN WHICH BRITISH FORCES 
      ARE INVOLCED. ON THE OTHER HAND IT IS QUITE CLEAR THE PRIME MINISTER 
      AND THE WAR OFFICE HAVE BEEN CONFIDENT THAT REINFORCEMENTS BEING 
      SENT WOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO WITHSTAND JAPANESE ATTACK IN BURMA 
      IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE. THIS OPTIMISM HAS BEEN BASED ON THEIR 
      ESTIMATE OF THE STRENGHT OF THE ATTACKING FORCES WHICH CAN BE 
 
      TRANSPORTED AND MAINTAINED. THE JAPANESE WITH THE LOCAL LABOR 
      ARE WORKING FAST TO IMPROVE ROADS BUT IT IS NOT BELIEVED THAT 
      THIS WORK CAN MAKE A MARKED CHANGE BEFORE THE RAINY SEASON BEGINS 
      IN JUNE WHICH IS EXPECTED TO FURTHER IMPEDE THE ADVANCE. ALTHOUGH 
      THE PUBLIC GENERALLY HAD LOOKED FOR BAD NEWS FROM SINGAPORE, 
      THE SPEED WITH WHICH THE JAPS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TAKE POSITIONS 
      AND GAIN GROUND ON THE ISLAND WAS NOT ANTICIPATED AND IT IS CAUSING 
      REAL DISMAY. YOU CAN WELL UNDERSTAND HOW KEENLY THE PRIME MINISTER 
      FEELS THIS, COMING AS IT DOES ON TOP OF THE-
 
      
 
 
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