NOTE: This Text Version attempts to reflect the addition of handwritten comments or deletions of typewritten material. Such changes are noted in RED type. Some of the notations, however, are not legible as they appear in the printed book - and when such a word or words cannot be identified they are indicated in this document with "###" symbols.
March 5, 1942.
### 381 (Aust.) (3-4-42)
(3-1-42)
MEMORANDUM FOR THE ADJUTANT GENERAL:
Subject: Far Eastern Situation.
The Secretary of War directs that the following secret message be sent by the most expeditious means possible consistent with secrecy to Lieut. General Brett, CG, USAFIA, Melbourne, Australia:
PERSONAL FROM MARSHALL TO BRETT STOP THE PROPOSED ORGANIZATION IN YOUR CG DASH 520 CONFORMS CLOSELY TO [deleted: MY OWN] OUR CONCLUSIONS EXCEPT FOR CERTAIN DIFFERENCES IN SUGGESTED BOUNDARIES STOP I THINK IT [deleted: WOULD BE ONLY COURTEOUS AND PROPER] HIGHLY IMPORTANT AND ONLY DECENT TO INVITE THE DUTCH TO PARTICIPATE COMMA AT LEAST TO THE EXTENE OF BEING REPRESENTED ON THE COMMANDERS STAFF STOP [deleted: I FEEL WE CANNOT BE] WE MUST NOT BE PUT IN THE POSITION OF IGNORING A PEOPLE AND A GOVERNMENT WHO HAVE PUT UP SUCH A MAGNIFICENT [deleted: EVEN IF LOSING] FIGHT [deleted: IN THAT REGION] STOP THEIR G DASH 2 AND PARTICULARLY THEIR CODE PERSONNEL ARE UNDERSTOOD TO BE [deleted: PARTICULARLY] OUSTANDINGLY EFFICIENT AND MIGHT BE OF GREAT VALUE STOP MOREOVER COMMA AT LEAST A SMALL PORTION OF THE TERRITIORY THAT WILL NECESSARILY BE INCLUDED IN THE AREA OF THE NEW COMMAND WILL BE DUTCH COMMA ALTHOUGH OCCUPIED BY THE ENEMY STOP I HOPE YOU WILL PRSENT THIS INFORMALLY TO LOCAL AUTHORITIES AS YOUR PERSONAL VIEW AND CONVICTION AND CAN BY THIS METHOD ARRANGE FOR AN APPROPRIATE INVITATION TO THE DUTCH STOP PARA I SHOULD LIKE TO SEE THE QUESTION OF COMMAND SETTLED QUICKLY AND SPECIFICALLY ON THE LINES SUGGESTED IN YOUR CG DASH 217 AND CD DASH 305 COMMA BUT [deleted: YOU WILL UNDERSTAND MY REASONS FOR DESIRING THAT] THE DEFINITE PROPOSAL TO THAT EFFECT SHOULD BE MADE BY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS STOP SUCH A PROPOSAL MIGHT BE TRANSMITTED BY THEM TO LONDON AND WASHINGTON SIMULTANEOUSLY STOP IF THE SUGGESTION SHOULD REACH HERE OFFICIALLY I AM OF THE OPINION THAT THE WHOLE MATTER WOULD BE SETTLED EXPEDITIOUSLY BY THE COMBINED CHIEFS OF STAFF STOP BUT YOU MUST [deleted: IN NO WAY] BE MOST CAREFUL NOT TO GIVE THE IMPRESSION THAT YOU ARE ACTING UNDER INSTRUCTIONS FROM WAR DEPARTMENT STOP I AGREE WITH YOU THAT DELAY MAY BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE INTERESTS OF THE UNITED POWERS IN THAT AREA STOP ACKNOWLEDGE STOP
MARSHALL
DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER,
Brigadier General,
Assistant Chief of Staff
page created 12 December 2002