page 90

119
The Minister of Defence to General Freyberg

Your telegram of 24 January. We should much prefer it if, when an operation of the kind referred to by the Commander-in-Chief is contemplated, we could be advised beforehand and thus given an opportunity of forming and expressing our views. But should such prior consultation be found impossible in the circumstances as they arise, we would not insist on it and would be prepared to leave the matter to your judgment, always, however, on the condition that you are personally and fully satisfied both as to the feasibility of the proposed operation and the adequacy of the support—land, sea, and air—that is to be afforded.