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126
The Prime Minister of New Zealand to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

Your telegram of 9 February (No. 124) is most helpful to us, as indeed are all your messages, and I am most grateful to you for it, Freyberg now informs me that the Commander-in-Chief, Middle East, is now making other arrangements which will involve the use for a limited time of one brigade only of the New Zealand Division, and I am asking him to inform General Auchinleck of our appreciation of this decision, which is a great relief to us.

With the information you have given us, we will, I think, be able to deal adequately with any criticism concerning the retention of British troops in the United Kingdom. I took the opportunity during the secret session this afternoon of reading from your telegram the appropriate references to this matter, and the result is contained in my immediately following telegram which is being published here.

Public opinion in New Zealand is sound and is reacting healthily to bad news. As you say, ‘Hard times are the test’, and you may rely upon us. But equipment is badly needed here and we look to you to do the best you properly can for us.