Documents Relating to New Zealand's Participation in the Second World War 1939–45: Volume III

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

84
The Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs to the Prime Minister of New Zealand

5 December 1941

My telegrams of 4 and 5 December [ Nos. 80 and 82].

The position is that we have now received an assurance of armed support from the United States:

( a) If we find it necessary either to forestall a Japanese landing in the Kra Isthmus or to occupy part of the Isthmus as a counter to Japanese violation of any other part of Thailand;
( b) if the Japanese attack the Netherlands East Indies and we go at once to the support of the latter;
( c) if the Japanese attack us.

2. We have accordingly instructed the Commander-in-Chief Far East that he should take action as he has suggested (see paragraph 2 of my telegram of 30 November [No. 73]) without reference to us if either:

( a) He has good information that a Japanese expedition is advancing with the apparent intention of landing on the Kra Isthmus, or,
( b) The Japanese violate any other part of Thailand.

3. The Commander-in-Chief Far East has also been authorised, in the event of a Japanese attack on the Netherlands East Indies, to put into operation without further reference to us the plan already agreed with the Netherlands authorities.