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Documents Relating to New Zealand's Participation in the Second World War 1939–45: Volume III

ANNEX 1

page 199

ANNEX 1

Dividing Line arranging Indian Theatre and Pacific Theatre

‘From Cape Kamiguin, Lui-chow Peninsula, around coast of Tonkin [Tong-king] Gulf, Indo-China, Thailand and Malaya to Singapore: from Singapore south to the north coast of Sumatra, thence round the east coast of Sumatra (leaving the Sunda Strait to eastward of line) to a point on the coast of Sumatra at longitude 104 degrees east, thence south to latitude 08 degrees south, thence south-easterly toward Australia, and on reaching longitude 110 degrees east, due south along that meridian. The Pacific theatre extends eastward of this dividing line to the continents of North and South America.

Definition of South-West Pacific Area

‘The westerly boundary of the South-West Pacific area is the westerly boundary of the Pacific theatre, the area including necessary naval and air operational areas off the west coast of Australia. The north and east boundaries of the South-West Pacific area run as follows: from Cape Kamiguin (Lui-chow Peninsula) south to latitude 20 degrees north; thence east to longitude 130 degrees east; thence south to Equator; thence east to longitude 165 degrees east; south to latitude 10 degrees south; south-westerly to latitude 17 degrees south, longitude 160 degrees east; thence south.

Definition of South-East Pacific Area

‘From Mexican–Guatemala western boundary, south-westerly to latitude 11 degrees north, longitude 110 degrees west; thence south.

Definition of Pacific Ocean Area

‘The Pacific Ocean area includes all the Pacific theatre not included in the South-West and South-East Pacific areas, and is subdivided into the: North Pacific area, north of latitude 42 degrees north; Central Pacific area, between the Equator and latitude 42 degrees north; South Pacific area, south of the Equator.

Directive to the Supreme Commander in the South-West Pacific Area

‘By agreement amongst the Governments of Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and the United States.

‘(1) The South-West Pacific area has been constituted as defined in Annex 1. Definitions of other areas of the Pacific theatre are as shown therein.

‘(2) You are designated as Supreme Commander of the South-West Pacific area, and of all armed forces which the Governments concerned have assigned, or may assign, to this area.

‘(3) As Supreme Commander you are not eligible to command directly any national force.

page 200

‘(4) In consonance with the basic strategic policy of the Governments concerned, your operations will be designed to accomplish the following:

(a)

Hold the key military regions of Australia as bases for future offensive action against Japan, and in order to check the Japanese conquest of the South-West Pacific area.

(b)

Check the enemy advance toward Australia and its essential lines of communication by the destruction of enemy combatant troop and supply ships, aircraft, and bases in Eastern Malaysia and the New Guinea–Bismarck–Solomon Islands region.

(c)

Exert economic pressure on the enemy by destroying vessels transporting raw materials from the recently conquered territories to Japan.

(d)

Maintain our position in the Philippine Islands.

(e)

Protect land, sea and air communications within the South-West Pacific area and its close approaches.

(f)

Route shipping in the South-West Pacific area.

(g)

Support the operations of friendly forces in the Pacific Ocean area and in the Indian theatre.

(h)

Prepare to take the offensive.

‘(5) You will not be responsible for the internal administration of the respective forces under your command, but you are authorised to direct and co-ordinate the creation and development of administrative facilities and the broad allocation of war materials.

‘(6) You are authorised to control the issue of all communiqués concerning the forces under your command.

‘(7) When task forces of your command operate outside the South-West Pacific area, co-ordination with forces assigned to the areas in which operating will be effected by the Joint Chiefs of Staff or Combined Chiefs of Staff, as appropriate.

‘(8) Commanders of all armed forces within your area will be immediately informed by their respective Governments that, from a date to be notified,1 all orders and instructions issued by you in conformity with this directive will be considered by such commanders as emanating from their respective Governments.

‘(9) Your Staff will include officers assigned by the respective Governments concerned, based upon requests made directly to the national commanders of the various forces in your area.

‘(10) The Governments concerned will exercise direction of operations in the South-West Pacific area as follows:

(a)

The Combined Chiefs of Staff will exercise general jurisdiction over grand strategic policy and over such related factors as page 201 are necessary for proper implementation, including the allocation of forces and war materials.

(b)

The Joint United States Chiefs of Staff will exercise jurisdiction over all matters pertaining to operational strategy. The Chief of Staff of the United States Army will act as the executive agency for the Joint United States Chiefs of Staff. All instructions to you will be issued by or through him.’

1 This directive became effective at midnight, Greenwich civil time, 7–8 May 1942.