Arising out of staff talks at Washington, it is proposed to
convene a conference at Singapore to prepare plans for conducting
military operations in the Far East on the basis of Anglo-United
States, Dutch co-operation in conformity with the report of the
Washington conversations but without political commitment. H.M.

Governments in the Commonwealth of Australia and New Zealand are
invited to send representatives to this conference.

2. Commander in Chief Far East [1] will be Chairman of the
conference and the following are being invited to attend or to be
represented in addition to Australian, New Zealand and the United
States representatives: Commander in Chief China [2], Commander in
Chief East Indies [3], Netherlands East Indies Defence
Authorities.

3. The proposed date for assembling the conference is 18th April.

The United States Government has already agreed to this date which
we hope is also agreeable to the Commonwealth [and] New Zealand
Governments.

4. The Commander in Chief Far East has been instructed to proceed
with arrangements for the conference forthwith and it has been
suggested that he should arrange details direct with the
Commonwealth and New Zealand authorities and with the Netherlands
East Indies Defence authorities.

5. A copy of the final report of staff talks in Washington is due
to leave Los Angeles by air 6th April addressed to your Chief of
Naval Staff. [4] It is therefore possible that your
representatives at the Singapore conference will be in possession
of the Washington report before departure.

6. On conclusion of the main conference it is proposed that
opportunity be taken to complete plans on the basis of United
States neutrality and clear up any outstanding points arising out
of the Anglo-Dutch Australian conversations held at Singapore in
February 1941.

7. Further information regarding the April conference will follow.

8. The above arrangements should meet the request in paragraph 5
of the Commonwealth Government's telegram 187 of 27th March [5]
repeated to Prime Minister of New Zealand 98. Suggestions of the
Commonwealth Government with regard to points for discussion as
given in Commonwealth Government's telegram 206 2nd April [6]
repeated to Prime Minister of New Zealand III will receive full
consideration in drawing up the terms of reference for the talks
proposed in paragraph 6 above. [7]