Defense Files
The President’s Special Assistant
(
Hopkins
) to the Chief of
Naval Operations (
Stark
)1
secret
Washington
, December 30,
1941.
Dear Betty:2 Here is the redraft which the
President did last night and which he would like to have the
Joint Staffs chew over.
Cordially yours,
[Enclosure]
Memorandum Revised by President
Roosevelt
Proposed Method of Handling Matters
Concerning the Southwest Pacific Theatre
- 1.
- It is assumed that the chief matters on which
decisions would have to be given would be:
-
a.
- The provision of reinforcements.
-
b.
- A major change in policy.
-
c.
- Departure from the Supreme Commander’s
directive.
- 2.
- It is suggested that a special body be set up for this
purpose in Washington.
-
a.
- Three Americans and three British.
-
b.
- One Australian, one New Zealander and one
Dutch, for consultation and advisory
purposes.
- 3.
- It is proposed, therefore, that the above machinery
should be used in the following manner:
-
a.
- The Supreme Commander would telegraph to the
above Committee in Washington his proposal,
whatever it might be.
-
b.
- The Committee in Washington would immediately
telegraph to London to ask for any recommendations
or opinions.
-
c.
- On receipt of these opinions, the Washington
Committee would submit their recommendations to
the President, and by telegraph to the Prime
Minister. The Prime Minister would then inform the
President whether he was in agreement with their
recommendations. He could of course consult with
Australia, New Zealand, and The Netherlands if
advisable.
- 4.
- Agreement having been reached between the Prime
Minister and the President, the orders to the Supreme
Commander would then be dispatched from Washington in
the name of both of them.
