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The Minister of Defence to General Freyberg

Your letter of 7 December (No. 268). It is agreed by the Government that it is most desirable that the units of the Division should be kept concentrated as far as possible, and they are sure that General Headquarters, Middle East, will not order detachments therefrom unless such action is made imperative by the exigencies of the service. As regards non-divisional troops, the Government consider it unwise to attempt to restrict the action of General Headquarters, Middle East, in using its Army, Corps, or Line of Communication units to the very best advantage of the force as a whole. The Government feel that the assurance given you by the Director of Transportation, vide the third paragraph of your letter, should obviate further detachments other than those absolutely necessary, and that at this stage it would not be desirable to take the matter up further with the War Office. It is suggested that you point out the domestic administrative difficulties consequent upon detachments to the appropriate authorities at General Headquarters, Middle East. If at a later date you consider detachments to an unreasonable degree are being made, please advise me, and I will ask the Government to consider taking up the matter with the War Office.