Following telegram has been received from Mr. Duff Cooper [1],
21St December, for you:-

Part 1. [2]

Conference of inter-Allied representatives took place Singapore on
December 18th. [3] All countries originally suggested were
represented with the exception of Chungking, from which no reply
to telegram of invitation was received. The Prime Minister of New
Zealand [4] authorised me to act as their representative with the
assistance of Commander St. Aubyn R.N. who has been working for a
long time in New Zealand.

2. General agreement was reached on the matter under discussion.

In the first place it was felt the importance of Singapore to the
war in the Far East and to the world war could not be exaggerated.

Its loss would clearly be followed by that of the Netherlands East
Indies and would confer on the enemy not only the isolation of
Australia and New Zealand from the west, to separate British Far
East fleet and American Asiatic fleet, but would also put at his
disposal vast oil supplies and practically all rubber supplies of
the world. Hardly less serious would be the loss of the
Netherlands East Indies which would isolate Singapore and deprive
the Allies of a naval base of vital importance. The Philippines
are also of first rate importance as an advanced and flanking base
for offensive action against the Japanese lines of communications.

3. Our immediate plan is to dispose our combined forces now
available in the Far East area so as (a) to keep the enemy as far
north in Malaya as possible and hold him in the Philippines (b) to
prevent the enemy acquiring territory and particularly aerodromes
which will threaten arrival of reinforcements.

4. Our dispositions to implement this are
(a) Land forces disposed to hold up the enemy advance to maximum
degree possible;

(b) air reconnaissance established as far north as practicable;

(c) naval surface forces: United States [Task] [5] forces in Apia-
Sourabaya area; Dutch West Java Sea; British Singapore-Sunda Ocean
[sic] and defence of South Malaya and Malacca Straits;

(d) United States and Dutch submarines operating offensively in
South China seas and off cast coast of Malaya;

(e) air striking forces operating from Luzon west of Borneo and
Eastern Archipelago.

5. Our urgent and immediate need is for reinforcement. We have
taken note of steps being taken to provide these, and are agreed
that they must be on a scale not only to meet the present scale of
attack but also those likely to be put in the field against us. We
are also agreed as to the necessity to concentrate our available
naval strength to ensure safe passage through the Far Eastern
area.

6. We are agreed that plans must include the unloading of convoys
at Netherlands East Indian ports should waters further north
become unusable, aircraft being flown to destination, troops and
stores ferried. It is also agreed that United States convoy at
present directed to Brisbane should proceed to Sourabaya for
aircraft to be assembled there and flown on to destination decided
upon.

7. It is necessary to keep open the following air lines of
communication:

(a) Australia-Java-Philippines
(b) Middle East-India-Burma-Sumatra-Philippines or Malaya
(c) Honolulu-(grp. undec.? New Zealand)-Netherlands East Indies-
Philippines-Malaya
and following sea lines of communication:

(a) South Africa (India)-Netherlands East Indies-Philippines-
Malaya, also Red Sea, Persian Gulf
(b) Australia, Netherlands East Indies, Philippines, Malaya, Sunda
or Malacca Straits
(d) [sic] Australia and New Zealand to North and South America.

8. It is most desirable that the Chinese should be asked to
maintain maximum pressure upon the Japanese first in order to
contain as many divisions as possible and subsequently to provide
bases for long distance bombing attacks on Japan.

9. Any effort of the same nature with objectives on the part of
Russia would also plainly prove of the highest value.

10. Finally it was the view of the conference that the situation
although serious need not to give rise to undue pessimism provided
necessary reinforcements are supplied in available time.

11. Time is the essential factor.

12. A sub-committee of the Conference has outlined immediate plans
and its recommendations following in part 2 of this message. [6]