Documents Relating to New Zealand's Participation in the Second World War 1939–45: Volume III
386 — The Hon. W. Perry to the Prime Minister3
386
The Hon. W. Perry to the Prime Minister3
While I did not make any definite statement to Halsey that no reinforcements would be sent to the 3rd Division, I emphasised the fact that our manpower position was acute. I pointed out that if, as page 403 suggested, we were to provide supplies for 500,000 men, which you will remember was proposed, we could only do this by possibly withdrawing the force altogether. Halsey had no knowledge of this demand for supplies but did agree that the force should go into action. I had understood that you had explained our reinforcement capacity to Wilkinson, but in order to remove any possible doubt I now propose asking Salmon on his return to Noumea from here to make the position perfectly clear to Halsey.