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

The substance of an appreciation by the Chiefs of Staff Committee on the recent operations in the Dodecanese, which it is thought will supply the answer to the points raised in the first paragraph of your telegram of 22 November, is contained in my immediately following telegram. It may be observed, with reference to the first paragraph of this appreciation, that risks somewhat similar to those accepted in the Dodecanese had been taken in the capture of Sardinia and Corsica with successful results. One further point which has not been covered by this appreciation, and to which attention should be called, is that if the Turkish Government had acceded to the request made to them by the Foreign Secretary¹ for the grant of air bases, the necessary air support would have been available for operations in the islands (see my telegrams of 6 and 7 November).² A further telegram regarding the points raised in later paragraphs of your telegram will be sent.