138
The Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs to the Prime Minister of New Zealand

Following for Prime Minister from my Prime Minister:

Your telegram of 6 February [No. 135].

1. I am very glad to receive your assent to the proposed Far Eastern Council in London. I am sure you will get far better service here than in Washington, with whom we are in close touch.

2. There has been no overlooking of the Anzac area, but distances are so great that it is necessary to establish a separate organisation from that of the ABDA area. We are proposing to Washington the setting-up in eastern Australia of a Combined Staff under the American Naval Commander-in-Chief which will comprise representatives of New Zealand, Australia, the United States and Great Britain.

3. The whole affairs of the Anzac area will be dealt with from this combined command, and their relations with the ABDA area will, so far as they affect or overlap one another, be dealt with either directly between the two commands or, when necessary, by the London and Washington organisations. We have cabled to you, Australia, and the United States on this matter and do not anticipate any serious difficulties.