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The Prime Minister of New Zealand to the Prime Minister of Australia

In view of the new proposals for unified American command of the whole Pacific area and of the appointment of General MacArthur (of which we have as yet no official intimation) it seems to us essential to complete the recent conversations between representatives of the Australian and New Zealand Governments in the light of the new situation, and also, of course, to make contact with General MacArthur.

I know how preoccupied you must be with urgent questions of defence, but I do hope that you and your service advisers can find it possible to meet a Minister and service representatives from New Zealand with a view to a rapid clarification of the situation as it exists at present. If this is acceptable to you I would propose that a Minister, accompanied by the Chief of the Naval Staff, the Chief of the General Staff, and the Chief of the Air Staff, should leave for Australia by the flying boat due to depart next Friday.

I should be grateful for a reply tomorrow.