347
The High Commissioner for New Zealand (London) to the Prime Minister

Your telegram of 2 November (No. 345).

The Commander-in-Chief, Middle East, states in reply to an enquiry by War Office as to the earliest possible date on which the New Zealand Squadron could be released, that the Squadron is at present employed in operations in the Aegean and cannot be immediately replaced owing to the cessation of New Zealand reinforcements. The present policy is to replace detachments of the Squadron which have become non-operational on account of casualties by complete page 312 United Kingdom sub-units raised for the purpose. The Commander-in-Chief estimates that the time required to replace the Squadron in this way would be about three months. I gather this policy has been agreed to by Freyberg, who has explained the procedure to you, but it is not clear whether his report had been considered by you when you telegraphed me. I shall be glad to learn whether this procedure will meet your wishes. If so, War Office will issue the necessary instructions.