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

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

431
The Prime Minister of New Zealand to the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs

29 September 1944

Your telegram of 26 September.1

The New Zealand Government desire that arrangements should be made for the New Zealand forces in the Mediterranean theatre to be repatriated as early as possible after the defeat of Germany, or earlier if this should be decided upon. Although it is recognised that the repatriation timetable will depend upon the prevailing circumstances with regard to shipping, &c., it is not desired that New Zealand forces should be used in occupation or internal security measures, either in Europe or the Middle East, during any such interval before repatriation.

1 Not published. In this telegram to the Dominion Governments the Dominions Secretary advised that arrangements for the occupation of certain areas in the Mediterranean theatre in the event of German disintegration or withdrawal had been considered by the British and United States Chiefs of Staff. ‘We are proceeding on the assumption that you will wish arrangements to be made for your forces in this theatre to be repatriated as early as possible after the defeat of Germany,’ the telegram ran. ‘You will, however, appreciate that the repatriation timetable will depend on prevailing circumstances with regard to shipping, &c., which may involve some inevitable delay between the cessation of hostilities with Germany and the date of embarkation. We should be glad to know if you would permit Dominion forces to be used during any such interval in occupation duties in Austria, Greece, or the Dodecanese, or for internal security duties in the Middle East should this be considered desirable.’