Foreign Relations of the United States, The Conferences at Washington, 1941–1942, and Casablanca, 1943

Defense Files

United States Minutes

December 30, 1941, 3 p.m.

secret
JCCSs–6

1. Higher Direction of War in the ABDA Area

The Committee gave further consideration to their Memorandum on the Higher Direction of War in the ABDA Area,¹ which had been telegraphed to Ottawa, and had received the approval of the Prime Minister, together with a redraft of this paper, which had been forwarded by Mr. Hopkins for their attention, (Annex 1, Memorandum of Mr. Hopkins, December 30, 1941.)²

In the course of discussion, the following points were made:—

a. It did not appear desirable to set up a special body to deal with ABDA problems, as only the United States Chiefs of Staff and the British Chiefs of Staff, through their representatives in Washington, could weigh the needs of the ABDA Area in relation to those of other theatres.

b. As the Dutch Government was in London, and as the machinery for consultation with the Dominions Governments already existed there, it seemed proper that consultation with these Governments should take place in London, and that the British Government should be responsible for obtaining the views and agreements of these Governments, and for submitting them to the United States Chiefs of Staff and the representatives in Washington of the British Chiefs of Staff. While the representatives of the Dutch and Dominions Governments in Washington could, if thought desirable, be kept informed of developments, official consultation could only take place in London.

c. In order to avoid delay, communications from the Supreme Commander should be telegraphed to London and Washington simultaneously—the telegram for Washington being for action, and that to London to furnish a basis for immediate comment to Washington.

In view of the above considerations, it was felt that while some of the suggestions in the redraft forwarded by Mr. Hopkins could be accepted, the main principles contained in their original Memorandum should be retained. The Committee accordingly prepared a revised version of their Memorandum, in two parts. (See Annex 2).³

The United States and British Chiefs of Staff agreed that the revised Memorandum on the Higher Direction of War in the ABDA Area should be submitted to the President for his approval under a covering Memorandum setting out the reasons for the machinery proposed.³

2. Draft Directive to the Supreme Commander in the ABDA Area

The Committee had before them a Report by the Joint Planning Committee (U.S. ABC–4/5, British WW(J.P.C.)5).⁴

Discussion took place on the extent of the ABDA Area.

Admiral Stark reminded the Committee that a telegram had been sent to Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek,⁵ in which it had been suggested that Indo-China and Thailand should be included in the Chinese theatre, and his comments on this arrangement had been requested. He felt, therefore, that, for political reasons, it would be necessary to exclude Indo-China and Thailand from the ABDA Area.

Admiral Pound and Marshal Dill agreed with this view, and explained that they felt that Burma should be included in the ABDA Area as an essential supply route to China. Burma had recently been transferred from the Far Eastern Command to the Indian Command, as being an important outpost of the Indian defense, but the British Chiefs of Staff now agreed that it should be included in the ABDA Area.

The British Chiefs of Staff agreed to a proposal put forward by the United States Chiefs of Staff that a paragraph should be included to the effect that the Deputy Supreme Commander and, if required, a Commander of the combined Naval forces, should be jointly designated by the ABDA Governments.

The United States and British Chiefs of Staff accepted the Draft Directive to the Supreme Commander in the ABDA Area, as amended by the Committee, and including the Memorandum on the Higher Direction of War in the ABDA Area (Annex 2 to the Report), as an agreed report, for submission to the President and the Prime Minister. (See Annex 3, U.S. ABC–4/5, British WW 3, December 30, 1941).⁶

3. Next Meeting

The United States and British Chiefs of Staff agreed to meet at 2 p.m. the following day, Wednesday, December 31, 1941, to consider two reports by the Joint Planning Committee:—

a. Northwest Africa Project.

• (U.S. ABC–4/2; British WW(J.P.C.)2).⁷

b. Supporting Measures for the Southwestern Pacific.

• (U.S. ABC–4/3; British WW (J.P.C.)3).⁸

1. This is the memorandum of December 29 entitled “Proposed Method of Handling Matters Concerning the Southwest Pacific Theater”, post, p. 282.
2. Post, p. 286.
3. Annex 2 consisted of two parts: Part I was the memorandum from the United States Chiefs of Staff to the President (post, p. 287); Part II was the revised memorandum entitled “Higher Direction of War in the ABDA Area” (post, p. 288), which was to be sent as the attachment to the memorandum to the President.
3. Annex 2 consisted of two parts: Part I was the memorandum from the United States Chiefs of Staff to the President (post, p. 287); Part II was the revised memorandum entitled “Higher Direction of War in the ABDA Area” (post, p. 288), which was to be sent as the attachment to the memorandum to the President.
4. The report, as revised by the Chiefs of Staff, is ABC–4/5, WW–3, post, p. 289.
5. Ante, p. 140.
6. For report, and the two annexes thereto, see post, pp. 289–292.
7. Post, p. 240.
8. Post, p. 280.