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General Freyberg to the Prime Minister

Further to my telegram of 16 April. The Commander-in-Chief has seen my appreciation and comments as follows:

I agree generally but have the following comments. I should not describe Turkey as over-confident. I doubt if Germany's plans in the Middle East will be influenced by the desire to assist Japan directly. Your estimate of the middle of September is presumably based on the assumption that the enemy must first capture Stalingrad before forces for Turkey can be released. The War Office think that with Turkey acquiescent the Germans may be on the Syrian border by mid-July.