110
The Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs to the Governor-General of New Zealand

The point of view of His Majesty's Government in New Zealand, contained in your telegram of 1 April (No. 109), in desiring to ensure that the voyage in question will be made under conditions of maximum safety is appreciated by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. They agree that His Majesty's ship Leander will be employed more usefully on escort duty than in defence of New Zealand interests against the forms of attack visualised in their message to the New Zealand Naval Board of 28 March (No. 108), against which it is considered the presence of the Hector and Achilles, the latter at forty-eight hours' notice from the middle of May, will afford adequate security. In the circumstances, they welcome the additional security to the convoy which the presence of the Leander will afford. It is the intention that, on conclusion of the escort duty, the Leander should join the East Indies Station.