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

Your telegram of 15 April (No. 363).

You will have received a message regarding the probability of the withdrawal of our forces from Greece and the decision to hold Crete to the utmost. You have my assurance that all possible steps are in hand to secure that in this event the gallant New Zealand troops are evacuated successfully with as much of their equipment as can be carried away. [Officers?] to arrange for embarkation have been sent to a selected area.¹

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I should also like to say that General Freyberg's consideration for our difficulties elsewhere and New Zealand's prompt and generous invitation to General Wavell to use in Africa the New Zealand troops which remained behind in Egypt have deeply touched all of us here, including, of course, our military advisers. At this time the offer may well be as welcome as it is typical of the wholehearted co-operation of your Dominion.