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The Prime Minister to General Freyberg

Mr. Nash has been instructed to go to London next week to discuss with Mr. Churchill New Zealand's manpower difficulties and to seek his advice regarding the disposition of our overseas forces.

We cannot, as you know, reinforce either Division except by withdrawing one for this purpose. The Government must decide its policy in this regard before Parliament meets on 22 February, and Mr. Nash is therefore consulting both the President and Mr. Churchill as to the theatre in which New Zealand forces can most usefully serve, and to what extent manpower should be diverted from military purposes to those of food production. I will keep you informed on the progress of these discussions.