1. Thank you for your JOHCU 82. [1]

We are now on our way to discuss the whole question of strategy
for the war against Japan with the President and United States
Chiefs of Staff.

2. Reference your paragraphs 3 and 4. The proposal that we put to
the United States Chiefs of Staff appears to have been completely
misunderstood. There has never been any suggestion of taking away
Australian troops from General MacArthur. On the contrary, we have
suggested sending to Australia a British Naval force which would
be combined with the Australian and New Zealand air forces already
on the spot into a British Dominion task force under General
MacArthur's direct command.

3. Reference your paragraph 5, you will remember that when you
were in England we told you and General Blamey how our minds were
working. In any event I cannot admit that even in this instance
there should have been any departure from the practice whereby
plans for British-American forces including Dominion and British
controlled forces are drawn up by the Combined Chiefs of Staff
without previous reference to the various Governments whose forces
are included in the plan. Any other system would lead to almost
innumerable people being brought into consultation before any plan
could be settled. The readiness of all Dominion Governments to
accept this system has been much appreciated. It has, I am sure
you will agree, given to higher direction of our affairs a
coherence which would otherwise have been lacking.

4. I will let you know the result of our combined discussions at
earliest. Every good wish.