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.