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

133 — The Prime Minister to General Freyberg — [Extract]

17 March 1942

War Cabinet have noted with interest and agree in principle with your telegram of 3 March on which we have the following detailed comments to make:

(a)	We would be most reluctant at this distance to endeavour to interfere with the concentration of troops considered necessary by the Commander-in-Chief to meet any possible threat in the Western Desert, but if you consider it proper and necessary that we should make representations for the return of the 5th Brigade, which of course we would desire at as early a date as possible, you will no doubt advise us.
(b)	The question of the location of the Base we must leave to your discretion and we see no objection to the proposals that you make.
(c)	The possibility of malaria is disturbing and we rely on you and your medical officers to take every possible step by way of precaution….¹