Agendum 243/1940 31 October 1940

MOST SECRET

CO-ORDINATION OF FAR EASTERN DEFENCE-CREATION OF POST OF
COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, FAR EAST

Proposals of United Kingdom Government
1. In a cablegram dated 25th October, No. 351 (Annex 'A') [1] the
Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs [2] advises that, with a
view to securing fuller co-ordination in the defence of Malaya,
Burma and Hong Kong, a post of Commander-in-Chief, Far East is
being created.

2. The Commander-in-Chief will be responsible to the Chiefs of
Staff for the operational control and general direction of the
training of all British land and air forces in Malaya, Burma and
Hong Kong, and for the co-ordination of plans for the defence of
these territories. He is to deal primarily with matters of major
military policy and strategy and will not assume the
administrative responsibility at present exercised by the General
Officers Commanding Malaya, Burma and Hong Kong, and Air Officer
Commanding Far East, although these officers will be under his
command.

3. The Commander-in-Chief will consult and co-operate with
Commanders-in-Chief China, East Indies and India, and it is
intended that, subject to the concurrence of the Commonwealth and
New Zealand Governments, he should also be authorised to maintain
direct communication with the Defence Departments of the
Commonwealth and New Zealand on all matters of interest to them.

4. The United Kingdom Government hope that the above arrangements
will be welcomed by the Commonwealth and New Zealand Governments,
and that they will be acceptable to any Australian and New Zealand
personnel who may serve in the area concerned. The proposal for
direct communication by the Commander-in-Chief with the Defence
Departments in the Commonwealth is submitted for the concurrence
of the Commonwealth Government.

Report by Chiefs of Staff
5. The Chiefs of Staff, in the attached report (Annex 'B') [3]
welcome the proposal for the creation of a post of Commander-in-
Chief, Far East. They are in agreement with the suggestion that he
should be authorised to communicate direct with the Defence
Services in Australia on all matters of interest to them, but
consider that matters of major policy should be referred to the
Services through the Commonwealth Government.

Submission to War Cabinet
6. The above arrangements for the fuller co-ordination of defence
in the Far East and the reports of the Chiefs of Staff are
submitted for the information and concurrence of War Cabinet. [4]

R. G. MENZIES