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

149 — The Prime Minister of Australia to the Prime Minister of New Zealand

149
The Prime Minister of Australia to the Prime Minister of New Zealand

1 March 1942

After consultations which have taken place between members of the Advisory War Council, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates1 and the Hon. D. G. Sullivan,2 together with the Chiefs of Staff of Australia and New Zealand,3 to whom were added Generals Brett and Hurley4 of the United States Army, general conclusions were reached relating to the extension of the Anzac area and machinery for its control.

2. A drafting committee comprised of the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, the Rt. Hon. R. G. Menzies, the Minister for External Affairs, and myself today completed the draft of a cable, which is set out in my immediately following telegram,5 and which we ask your Government to forward with us as a joint submission to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and the President of the United States, at a date and hour to be fixed by you if you approve of its terms.

3. I may add that those concerned in the formulation of the text regard the matter as one of overriding urgency.

1 Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, PC, MC; member of the New Zealand War Cabinet, Jul 1940 - death, 27 May 1943.

2 Hon. D. G. Sullivan; Minister of Industries and Commerce, 1935 - death, 8 Apr 1947.

3 New Zealand was represented by Commodore W. E. Parry, Chief of the Naval Staff, and Air Commodore R. V. Goddard, Chief of the Air Staff.

4 Maj-Gen Patrick J. Hurley; personal representative of United States Chief of Staff in Far East, Jan - Mar 1942; US Minister in NZ, 1942; special representative of President Roosevelt in the USSR, Nov - Dec 1942.

5 Neither the draft cable sent to New Zealand on 1 March or the New Zealand Government's reply of 3 March is published. The final version is contained in No. 151, dated 4 March.