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ANNEX.
DRAFT DIRECTIVE TO THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, FAR EAST.
218
1.
2.
You are appointed Commander-in-Chief, Far East.
You will be responsible to the Chiefs of Staff for the operational control and general direction of training of all British land and air forces in Malaya, Burma and Hong Kong and for the co-ordination of plans for the defence of these territories.
3
For these purposes, the following will be under your
command:-
General Officer Commanding, Malaya General Officer Comanding, Burma General Officer Commanding, Hong Kong
Air Officer Commanding, Far East.
4.
In carrying out your task, it is intended that you should deal primarily with matters of high policy. It is not the intention that you should assume administrative or financial responsibilities or the normal day to day functions at present exercised by the General Officers Commanding and Air Officer Commanding.
You will ensure that these officers continue to correspond as at present with the War Office, Air Ministry, Colonial office and Burma Office, on all matters on which they have hitherto dealt with these departments, to the fullest extent possible consistent with the exercise of your command; keeping you informed as and when you wish.
5.
Your staff will consist of the following only, and no expansion of this staff is contemplated:-
A Chief of Staff (an army officer of the rank of
Major-General)
A senior Royal Air Force Staff officer
A Naval Liaison Officer
An army officer of the rank of General Staff Officer
1st Grade
An officer from each Service of the equivalent rank of
General Staff Officer 2nd Grade
together with the necessary clerical and cypher staff.
* Including the Straits Settlements, the Federated
and unfederated Malay States, Brunei, Sarawak and North Borneo,
-3-
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