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

On the urgent representations of Admiral Ghormley² as to the necessity of strengthening the defences of Fiji, His Majesty's Government in New Zealand are willing to leave their troops in Fiji in the meantime in addition to the American division shortly to arrive there. page 327 The New Zealand Government fully realise that this will add appreciably to the risks to be taken by this Dominion, which they regard already as great, but in the circumstances they feel that they must accept these risks. While their decision is quite unconditional, the situation has been explained to Admiral Ghormley who will, it is understood, represent the position to the American authorities with a view to obtaining American troops in substitution at the earliest moment circumstances will allow.