I thank you for your message CX.10599 of 28th August [1],
embodying copy of General Headquarters General Orders No. 41, from
which it is noted that, as from 1200 hours, 2nd September, 1945,
the Southwest Pacific Command will be dissolved, and the portion
of the Southwest Pacific Area defined in the Order will be
transferred to British and Australian Command.

2. The Government has approved that the control of the combat
sections of the Australian Defence Forces, which was assigned to
you as Commander-in-Chief, Southwest Pacific Area, on 18th April,
1942, shall revert, as from 2nd September, to the authorities in
whom it was vested before that date, namely:-

Royal Australian Navy - Naval Board.

Australian Military Forces - Commander-in-Chief,
Australian Military Forces.

Royal Australian Air Force - Air Board.

3. It is noted from paragraph 1 (a) of General Orders No. 41 that
Admiralty Islands, which are part of the Australian Mandate,
remain outside the area to be transferred to British Commonwealth
Control and will be under United States control. You will be aware
from my letters of 14th June [2] and 27th July [3], communicating
the Government's views on the Australian war effort and the future
set-up in the Southwest Pacific Area, that it is the desire of the
Government that control of Australian Mandated Territories should
revert to it upon the dissolution of the Southwest Pacific [Area].

The Commonwealth Government assumes that this arrangement is for
purely military purposes, will be strictly limited in duration,
and is without prejudice to our ultimate arrangements for the
establishment of civil control. [4]