Your telegram 23rd December [2], received through Mr. Casey.

1. On Japan coming into the war we diverted the 18th British
Division which was rounding the Cape in American transports with
the President's permission to Bombay and Ceylon and Mr. Roosevelt
has now agreed that the leading Brigade in United States transport
MOUNT VERNON should proceed direct to Singapore. We cancelled
movement of the 17th Indian Division from India to Persia and this
Division is now going to Malaya. A week ago I wirelessed from the
ship to London to suggest that you recall one Australian Division
from Palestine, either into India to replace other troops sent
forward or to go direct if it can be arranged to Singapore. We
have impressed on the military authorities the importance of not
using up forces needed for the defence of Singapore and Johore
approaches in attempting to defend the northern part of the Malay
Peninsula. They will fall back slowly fighting delaying action and
destroying communications.

2. The heavy Naval losses which the United States and we have both
sustained give the Japanese power of landing large reinforcements,
but we do not share the view expressed in your telegram to Mr.

Casey No. 1106, of 24th December [3], that there is danger of
reduction of Singapore fortress which we are determined to defend
with the utmost tenacity.

3. You have been told of the air support which is already on the
way. It would not be wise to loosen our grip on Rommel [4] and
Libya by taking away forces from General Auchinleck [5] against
his judgment just when victory is within our grasp. We have
instructed the Commanders in Chief in the Middle East [6] to
concert a plan for sending fighters and tanks to Singapore
immediately the situation in Libya permits. I and the Chiefs of
Staff are in close consultation with the President and his
Advisers and we have made encouraging progress. Not only are they
impressed with the importance of maintaining Singapore but they
are anxious to move a continuous flow of troops and aircraft
through Australia for relief of the Philippine Islands if that be
possible. Should the Philippine Islands fall, the President is
agreeable to troops and aircraft being diverted to Singapore. He
is also quite willing to send substantial United States forces to
Australia where the Americans are anxious to establish important
bases for the war against Japan. General Wavell has been placed in
command of Burma as well as India, and instructed to feed
reinforcements arriving in India to Malaya and Burma fronts. He,
like everyone else, recognises the paramount importance of
Singapore. General Pownall [7] has now arrived. He is a highly
competent army officer.

5. You may count on me doing everything possible to strengthen the
whole front from Rangoon to Port Darwin. I am finding co-operation
from our American allies. I shall wire more definitely in a day or
two.

6. Your telegram 819. [8] Russia.

It was not possible to reach any agreement on post war territorial
arrangements with Stalin, but Mr. Eden's [9] conferences ended in
goodwill. I do not think it useful or even prudent to press the
Russians to get into the war with Japan when they have so much
need of their Siberian forces to beat the German army, and when
defeats of that army are the dominant military factor in the world
war at this moment.

However, as soon as he feels strong enough, I have very little
doubt that Stalin will take a stronger line with Japan. I hope
that you realise that it would be quite impossible for His
Majesty's Government to make a bargain with Stalin involving
forcible transferring of large populations against their will into
communist spheres.

Articles 2 and 3 of the Atlantic Charter clearly forbid any such
acts on our part and by attempting it we should only vitiate the
fundamental principles of freedom which are the main impulse of
our cause.

From my informal tentative soundings of the President, I am sure
that his views would be as strong as mine.