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The Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs to the Prime Minister of New Zealand

With reference to your telegram of 19 February (No. 209), the Government of the United Kingdom, in deference to the views expressed by the New Zealand Government, agree that an announcement should be made in Australia and New Zealand that the Australian and New Zealand troops have arrived in the Middle East and that the New Zealand formation is now complete. The word ‘formation’ is used deliberately, as the reference ‘division’ might convey useful information to the enemy. It is also desirable that the announcement should not imply that all Australian and New Zealand troops have left the United Kingdom, and the actual date of arrival and the names of the ships should not be mentioned.

As soon as the telegram notifying arrival is received from the Dominions Office, the inter-governmental messages and the announcement of arrival may be published. Expectations are that it will not be possible to release the news of arrival before the beginning of next month.