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

234 — The Prime Minister to General Freyberg

234
The Prime Minister to General Freyberg

17 May 1943

I am deeply appreciative of the terms of your telegram of 13 May (No. 230) and assure you that we feel that the glorious record of the New Zealand Division is beyond praise. At its opening session page 207 Parliament will take the opportunity of expressing in a resolution the heartfelt gratitude and pride of the people of New Zealand in the achievements of their men.

The problem with which the Government and Parliament are now faced is indeed most difficult, and until after the discussion this week no decisions affecting the 2nd NZEF can be made. These decisions will include, of course, the War Office proposals for reliefs1 and those put forward by Mr. Jones.2

As to your own position, I would like to offer you my most sincere congratulations on your appointment as Corps Commander, and in this connection I would be most grateful if you could advise me on the following points:

Firstly, is your appointment, upon which we have not received any official information other than from yourself and Mr. Jones, to be regarded as permanent or temporary?

Secondly, if I were to ask you to pay a flying visit to New Zealand for discussions on the matters referred to in your messages and mine, would you possibly be in a position to accept?

2 See Nos. 225, 228, and 256.