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General Freyberg to the Minister of Defence

On the grounds of the urgency of the situation here, I have experienced opposition to my leaving the United Kingdom. I feel certain, however, that the Egyptian situation is the more difficult and I am leaving by bomber on the 22nd, via Malta, arriving in the early morning of the 24th. I feel that with the situation developing in Egypt, and with our small army in the Middle East, I should go there. Stewart accompanies me, and Falla and Miles will come as soon as passages can be arranged for them.