Evening star., 1942-01-27
hurchIrs Report on War Situation to House of Common

out Judgments over this immense
area and to organize. before they
lose command of the seas, local
command Of the air, which will
render their expulsion q matter Of
considerable time and exertion.
Such an attack could not be met
by local defense. These con-
ditions will be reversed as the bal
ance Of sea and air power changes,
As 1t will surely change.
Very Heavy Punishment
Expected In Far East.
I cannot tell how long It will last.
AL I can tell the House is that 1t
viii be attended by very heavy pun
ishment which We shall have to en-
dure. 80 -
We should not allow ourselves to
become ratified when this or that
place has been captured because.
once the ultimate power of the
United Nations is brought into play,
1t will move forward remorselessly
provided We persevere and remain
! united.
would like, in the name Of the
House, to express my tribute to the
splendid courage and quality with
which the small American army
under Gen. Macarthur has resisted
so brilliantly for so long the hordes
Of Japanese hurled against 1t by
superior air and sea power. p.
Amid our own troubles We send
Gen. Macarthur, his soldiers and
the Filipino troops who are defend
ing their native soil with vigor and
courage our salute -.
A hard-fought battle is raging on
the approaches to Singapore in the
Malay Peninsula. I am not going
to make any forecast except to say
it will be fought to the last inch
by British, Australian and Indian
troops.
Redistribution Of Forces
Made on December IL.
On December II, at the moment
when the situation In the Pacific
and at Pearl Harbor disclosed itself,
1t was possible to make q swift re-
distribution Of our forces.
Gen. Auchinleck was making
headwAy in Cyrenaica: the Russian
front not only stood unbroken but
had begun to advance and We were
able to order q large number Of
measures which may be judged as
to their results as the next few
weeks and months unfold
The House would be very ill-ad-
vised to suppose that the seven
weeks which have passed since De-
cember have been weeks Of apathy
or indecision In the English-speak-
ing world. Quite a lot has been
going on. Now that We are working
In closest partnership with the
United States and have also to con-
slider the great alliance with Russia
and China as we'll as the bonds
which unite us with the rest Of the
26 United Nations and Dominions,
1t Is evident that our system must
be far more complex than hereto
fore. The physical and geograph-
ical dimculties Of finding q common
center for the leaders Of nations
and the great stafis Of nations
which cover the whole world are
insuperable.
Tells Workings Of Unified
Military Command.
I. however, have arranged with
President Roosevelt that the war
can be discussed from day to day
fully by air the Kidding eniiftary and
political authorities concerned, and
that there be body in Washington
called the combined ehiefs-of. STATS
committee consisting of three
United States chiefs Of Statesmen
OF the highest distinction-and three
omcers representing and acting un-
der general instructions Of the Brit
tsh Chiefs Of STATS Committee In
London.
This body will advise the Presi-
dent and, in event of . divergence
of views between the British and
American chiefs Of stan or three
representatives, the difference must
be adjusted by personal agreement
between President Roosevelt and
mysf, representing our respective
governments.
We must also concert to give the
closest possible association with
Premier Stain, General.simo Chi
ang Kai-Shek, as we'll as the rest
OF the allied associated powers.
In order to wage war effectively
against Japan, it was agreed that
We should propose to those con-
cerned the setting up of a Pacific
Council in London on q ministerial
plane, comprising Great Britain,
Australia, New Zealand and the
Netherlands East Indies assisted
by the British chiefs of STATS and
the great stan organizations be-
meath them.
Thus the united view Of the Brit
ish Commonwealth and the Dutch
would be transmitted . to the
combined Chiefs of Staff Committee
sitting in Washington.
Pacific Council Plans
Are Not Yet Ready.
The Dutch government sitting in
London may be willing to agree to
this arrangement. But the Aus
tralian government desire and the
New Zealand government prefer
that this council. Of the Pacific
should be in Washington, where it
would work alongside the Combined
Chiefs Of Staff Committee.
I have, therefore, transmitted the
views of these Dominions to the
President. I have not yet received
nor do expect for . few days his
reply.
I am not, therefore, in position
today to announce, as hoped,
final arrangements for the Pacific
Council.
The supreme commander (Gen.
WaveW has assumed control Of the
! fighting area in the Southwest
Pacific. We do not propose to din
the supreme commander with fire.
quent instructions. He has his gen.
eral orders.
Our duty, upon which we have