363
The Prime Minister of New Zealand to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

I am most grateful to you for your thoughtfulness in laying before us at the earliest possible moment the position as you see it. My colleagues and I quite appreciate the situation as it has developed and we regard it as in no way affecting the correctness of the lustre decision both on strategical and moral grounds. We are content to accept the position as outlined in your message (No. 362), but assume that should the worst come to the worst all possible preparations are being put in hand to facilitate evacuation. We assume also that adequate reinforcements will be despatched to Greece as and when circumstances in Africa allow. You should know also that late on 12 April a message was received from Major-General Freyberg suggesting that it would be helpful if we were to offer General Wavell liberty of action to use those of our troops still remaining in Egypt (amounting to an infantry brigade group) if the present emergency so requires, and that the same evening we replied approving his proposals and instructing him to inform General Wavell.