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The Prime Minister to the New Zealand Minister, Washington¹

Your telegram of 27 March.

We retain the views set out in my telegram [No. 172], which are concurred in by our Chiefs of Staff and were concurred in by the Australian Government when our delegation was there early this month. We have not yet heard the Australian Government's latest views or what comments they are making to Evatt.

If, as you say, the whole arrangement is now decided upon by the Americans, then once we have expressed our views, as outlined in telegram [No. 172], we think you are right in feeling that there is little to be gained by carrying the matter further, and we might well allow the situation to develop in the hope that the close contact with Australia which we desire may be achieved in due course. Will you please therefore record our opinions and then act as you suggest.