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

80 — General Freyberg to the Minister of Defence

80
General Freyberg to the Minister of Defence

13 June 1940

Further to my telegram of 26 May (No. 79), the situation here is really unchanged by Italy's declaration of war. The round-up of Fascist leaders by the police went off smoothly and the danger of the fifth column is now greatly reduced. In the existing circumstances the garrison of Egypt appears to be more than adequate. The possibility of active operations for the New Zealand Expeditionary Force is remote. Due to shortage of equipment no further headway with the training of the First Echelon can be made. I submit that I should now proceed to the United Kingdom with the training staff to train the Second Echelon. Will you cable if you approve my going? Air passages to the United Kingdom are now more difficult. It would help me administratively to have a forecast from Cabinet as to their ultimate plans.