740.0011 Pacific War/1566
The Australian Minister (Casey) to the Under Secretary of State (Welles)
My Dear Under Secretary of State: Further to the communication that I had the honour to address to the President yesterday, on the instructions of the Australian Government, I have now received a further telegram from Australia containing telegraphic information from the Australian Government Representative at Singapore, the gist of which is as follows:— [Page 394]
I feel I must emphasise that deterioration of war position in Malayan defence is assuming landslide collapse of whole defence system.
Kuala Lumpur and Port Swettenham are now our advance landing grounds for air reconnaissance but difficult even to carry out air reconnaissance in face of Japanese superiority in machines. Greater part of our fighters now withdrawn to Singapore for defence of island and base. Nevertheless, Air Officer Commanding stated that to provide effective fighter escort for naval convoys approaching with sorely needed reinforcements, men and material, he would have to leave Singapore unguarded.
Reports read today indicate air situation deteriorating daily. Eight British fighters lost yesterday against three or four Japanese.
Expected arrival of modern fighter planes in boxes requiring weeks of assembly under danger of destruction by bombing cannot save the position.
The military reinforcements expected will be absorbed in relief of tired front line troops and will create little difference. British defence policy now concentrates greater part of fighter and anti-aircraft defence of Malaya on Singapore Island to protect naval base, starving forward troops of such defence.
Present measures for reinforcement of Malayan defences can from the practical viewpoint be little more than gestures. In my belief only thing that might save Singapore would be the immediate despatch from the Middle East by air of powerful reinforcements, large numbers of the latest fighter aircraft with ample operationally trained personnel. Reinforcements should be not in brigades but in divisions and to be of use they must arrive urgently. Anything that is not powerfully modern and immediate is futile. As things stand at present, fall of Singapore is to my mind only matter of weeks. If Singapore and Malaya are to be saved, there must be very radical and effective action immediately.
I believe that without immediate air reinforcement, Singapore must fall. Need for decision and action is matter of hours, not days.
In telegraphing the above to me, the Australian Minister for External Affairs states that the above picture is believed, by the Prime Minister of Australia and the Australian War Cabinet, to be the present state of affairs in Singapore and Malaya.
I have made the above available to Mr. Churchill and to the British Chiefs of Staff. The Australian Government would be grateful if it might be made known to the President.88
I am [etc.]
- In a communication dated December 30, Mr. Welles informed Mr. Casey that “the contents of your note were communicated to the President on December 24 last.”↩