The following message from the Prime Minister [1] is forwarded to
you for personal transmission to the President. [2]

1. The gravity of the Japanese threat to Australia has led to
prolonged and anxious consideration by the War Cabinet and
Advisory War Council, in collaboration with our Service advisers,
of measures that might be taken to meet the immediate situation.

[3]

2. We are greatly concerned with the aircraft position and we feel
it of the greatest urgency and importance that steps be taken to
ensure that every aircraft in Australia is disposed to the best
possible advantage. It is our view and the view of our Service
advisers that this can only effectively be done by setting up in
Australia machinery for the unified control of air operations and
a joint United States-Australian Air Staff and Planning Committee.

Our Chiefs of Staff are anxious that a meeting be arranged between
themselves and the Chiefs of the American Naval and Air Forces in
Australia to discuss and finalise the following matters:-

(i) The number of service aircraft by types available in Australia
for immediate operations and the localities to which they should
be allotted.

(ii) Number of types in transit and earmarked for this country in
the near future; where they should be allotted and plans for their
arrival.

(iii) The number and types of early warning sets available, where
situated and the priority of allotment of sets not sighted and
available in the near future.

(iv) The recording of all aircraft movements daily to enable both
Air Services to know where aircraft are located and to warn all
concerned-Air Stations, Anti-aircraft Stations, Observation
positions.

(v) The setting up immediately of a Combined United States-
Australian Air Staff and Planning Staff to co-ordinate air
operations.

3. It is not intended that the arrangements suggested above should
affect completion of future plans relating to the appointment and
functions of the Supreme Commander of the Anzac Area. They are put
forward as measures to secure immediate and necessary co-
ordination of air operations and co-operation with the United
States Services, with the object of ensuring that the best
possible use is made of all available aircraft in Australia, in
view of the imminence of the Japanese threat.

4. Australia is willing to place its air force under the control
of General Brett [4] at once, for the purpose of achieving
immediately the objectives outlined in paragraph 2.

5. I feel it of the utmost importance that these problems be
resolved at the earliest possible moment and I should be very
grateful if you would authorise the Chiefs of the American Naval
and Air Forces in Australia to examine and finalise these matters
in collaboration with the Australian Chiefs of Staff. The Northern
parts of Australia and New Guinea are being subjected to almost
daily bombing attacks. Our Chiefs of Staff consider that the
Japanese will be in a position to make attacks in strength on New
Guinea in the middle of this month, on Darwin and New Caledonia in
April and upon the East coast of Australia in May. I cannot
emphasise too strongly the urgency of taking measures to enable us
to marshall the available air resources in Australia to meet the
immediate threat.

EVATT [5]