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The Hon. W. Nash (Noumea) to the Prime Minister

Arrived yesterday but Halsey is away. Have seen Admirals Shafroth,¹ Wilkinson, Carney and a representative of the planning staff. Wilkinson strongly represented his impression from his conference in New Zealand that New Zealand would maintain two Pacific brigades, so sending regular reinforcements in future. I made it quite clear that our manpower position makes it impossible to supply further troops for reinforcements or replacements and that the New Zealand Government understood that the two thousand now in the Pacific should suffice to cover requirements until March 1944. Wilkinson anticipates the use of one brigade in the operation planned but not yet finally approved,² and considers the present reserve of two thousand will cover replacements for that operation; also the proposals will be discussed with Barrowclough, with whom you will confer before final action is determined. I am planning to leave today for Suva and to meet General Price³ at a place to be arranged by Shafroth.