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The Prime Minister of New Zealand to the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs¹

Following from Prime Minister for Prime Minister:

Your telegrams of 17 March [Nos. 160 and 161]. We have noted with great interest your communications with President Roosevelt on the establishment of unified control for the conduct of the war in the

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Pacific, in the Indian Ocean, and in the Atlantic. We are entirely in accord with the proposals and also with the appointment of General MacArthur¹ as Supreme Commander of the Pacific area, of which we have learnt (though we have not been informed) from broadcast and press sources.

2. There are a number of matters of detail on which we are not as yet clear and on which it might be desirable or necessary to comment in due course. To enter into such matters at the present moment, however, would seem to us to be inappropriate, and at the moment it seems adequate to say that we are prepared to accept the scheme as outlined in general principle by yourself and President Roosevelt and, for our part, to do our utmost to ensure its efficient operation.

3. We trust, however, that the close collaboration between Australia and New Zealand which has recently been agreed upon between the Australian and New Zealand Governments will not be weakened, and that if the Supreme Commander should leave the Anzac area an effective co-ordinating staff will be retained.

4. Believe me also, we warmly appreciate and greatly value the assurance contained in the second paragraph of your telegram [No. 160].