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

322 — The Rt. Hon. P. Fraser (London) to the acting Prime Minister

322
The Rt. Hon. P. Fraser (London) to the acting Prime Minister

2 May 1944

Your telegram of 28 April.

I delayed answering your telegram until I had had an opportunity of discussing the Italian war situation, which I have now done in the Prime Ministers' conference with the Chief of the Imperial General Staff and General Maitland Wilson. The present position, future plans, and the objectives of the campaign were today examined in detail. The military authorities regard the prospects of success page 293 as reasonably good, and the British War Cabinet and Chiefs of Staff are satisfied that there is no alternative but to re-engage the Germans to prevent their withdrawing any of their divisions from Italy for the purpose of combating the Second Front in the west or sending them perhaps to the Eastern front.1 The fighting will undoubtedly be difficult in the initial stages, during which, however, Freyberg says our troops will not take part. He would, I feel sure, advise us, as he always does, if in his opinion the situation called for special tepresentations from the New Zealand Government.

At this most critical period in the war it is clear that our Division must continue to play the important role assigned to it.

1 The Second Front was not opened till a month later (6 Jun).