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The Prime Minister of New Zealand to the Governor of Fiji

Your telegram No. 72 of 15 May.³

We have just received advice from His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom that they concur in the proposed transfer to the United States of responsibility for the defence of Fiji and Tonga and have ourselves advised the United States authorities of our own concurrence. The comments that you have made as to the strength required in Fiji are fully appreciated and, for our part, we have done our utmost not only to stress the case for greater strength but also to ensure that there will be no weakening of the defences during the changeover. We understand that, as now proposed, the changeover, which should commence next month, will lead to an immediate increase of over 4000 in the troops available in Fiji, which will be maintained throughout, and there is every prospect of increased forces when they can be made available.