the civil affairs division's project, that of bringing together the various agencies involved in arriving at a joint decision, progressed satisfactorily. after four months in washington, colonel boekel was able to report that,"on 13 may 1944 j,c,s.. paper 819/2 was issued by the j.c.s. approving certain basic assumptions for civil affairs planning purposes for specific areas in the far east and pacific ocean. this paper is substantially responsive to the inquiries and policy recommendations made by the commanding general, usaf (united states army forces), china burma india theater in his letters to the war department dated respectively 26 august, 19 october, and 8 november, 1943. the paper as approved by the joint chiefs of staff embodies the composite views of the office of the assistant secretary of war, the state department, the civil affairs division (cad) and of the u.s. navy, and was 'sweated' through twenty-one drafts. general hilldring regards the paper as of primary importance in that it gives initial direction and impetus to civil affairs "planning." in addition to policy planning, the civil affairs division was concerned with plans for the procurement, training and organization of civil affairs officers for the far east. as early as january 1944, it was reported to general hilldring that, "the program is well under way for the training of 1500 officers for use in the operational and administrative functions." the navy was invited to participate in the army-training program as well as in the subsequent civil affairs administration of japan to the extent of twenty-five per-cent of the personnel required. this invitation was confirmed later in papers of 10 december and 22 december 1943."