– 242 –

337
The Prime Minister of New Zealand to the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs

Having given urgent consideration to the request contained in your telegram dated 25 February (No. 336), His Majesty's Government in New Zealand concur with the course proposed on the understanding that the Division will be fully equipped before leaving and that it will be accompanied by an armoured brigade. That the 2nd NZEF should now be ready to play the full operational role for which it was formed is a matter of great satisfaction to His Majesty's Government in New Zealand, as is the fact that once again Australian and New Zealand forces should be chosen to stand together in a common theatre of war.