CANBERRA, 18 March 1942

WAR CABINET AGENDUM No. 118/1942-SUPPLEMENT 4-FUTURE POLICY AND
STRATEGY FOR THE CONDUCT OF THE WAR [1]

(Previous Reference-Minute No. (823)). [2]

Consideration was given to President Roosevelt's proposals
regarding the general conduct of the war communicated in Sir Earle
Page's cablegrams; P. 66 [3] and P. 70 [4] and to the report of
the Chiefs of Staff thereon. [5]

2. The relation of the new proposals to the joint Australian-New
Zealand plan for higher control in the Anzac Area (Minute 802) [6]
was discussed. The Prime Minister [7] informed the Council of the
message conveyed through General Brett [8] on 17th March that the
President was in general agreement with the proposals regarding
organisation and command of the Australian Area except as to some
details concerning relationship to the Combined Chiefs of Staff
and as to boundaries.

3. The Prime Minister also informed the Council of the changed
views of the High Commissioner, London [9], who now favoured the
Pacific Council being in Washington (Cablegrams 41 and 42 of 9th
March [10]).

4. The Council recommended-
(a) That the Commonwealth Government should adhere to its view on
the necessity for the Council in Washington as proposed,
particularly in view of the opinion put forward by Mr. Bruce,
regarding the working of a Pacific Council in London.

(b) That in view of the early arrival of the Minister for External
Affairs [11] in Washington, he should be requested to discuss the
matter as early as possible with the President.

(c) That Sir Earle Page should be informed accordingly, in view of
the fact that the matter will arise at the meeting of the Pacific
War Council in London on Friday.

Note: (i) The recommendations of the Council were taken as the
decision of War Cabinet (Minute No. (2023) [12]).

(ii) Subsequent to the meeting of the Council, Dominions Office
cablegrams 318 [13]3 and 319 [14] and cablegram 48 [15] from the
High Commissioner, London, were received.

The Prime Minister directed that action on the Council's
recommendations should be taken in the light of the additional
information contained in these cablegrams, and that the matter be
submitted for confirmation by the Council, at the next meeting.