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Documents Relating to New Zealand's Participation in the Second World War 1939–45: Volume III

167 — The New Zealand Minister, Washington, to the Prime Minister

167
The New Zealand Minister, Washington, to the Prime Minister

24 March 1942

Admiral King advised me yesterday that the area of MacArthur's command had not yet been settled. King was of the opinion that the best result in the Pacific area would be obtained by dividing it into four separate commands under a Commander-in-Chief. Three of these commands he thought would be naval, covering roughly the South Pacific—including New Zealand and the Islands, operating from Auckland and Tongatabu; the mid-Pacific, operating from Honolulu; and the North Pacific. The fourth command would be Australia and the South-West Pacific, up to the Philippines, under the same page 187 Commander-in-Chief. This Commander-in-Chief would operate after consultation with the United States Chiefs of Staff with advisers from the other countries affected—Australia, New Zealand, Dutch, etc. These views, entirely unofficial, were King's own, and I presumed that he would clarify them after he had seen the President, with whom he had an appointment within an hour or so of my leaving him.

Subsequently, I saw Evatt for a short time and discussed the agreement reached between yourself and the Commonwealth Government for an Anzac Council.

I am seeing the President at 12.30 p.m. today and will discuss the position with him, but will endeavour mainly to stress our urgent need of men and equipment, particularly aircraft. I personally think that we would be best served by a Pacific War Council operating in Washington, with liaison mainly from a naval point of view with the British War Cabinet.

If you have any special instructions in connection with my visit to the President please cable immediately….1

1 A personal reference has been omitted.