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

The presence in the Eastern Mediterranean of HMS Ramillies, which is now engaged in escorting a convoy from New Zealand and Australia, is essential at the earliest possible moment.

Resulting from operations on the Norwegian coast and the consequent location of units of the German Fleet, the Admiralty are satisfied that there is no danger to the convoy from German warships and that the only possible danger would be from a merchant ship raider, for which the cruiser escort is adequate. The Admiralty are therefore issuing instructions to HMS Ramillies to cease acting as escort for the convoy and proceed ahead.