I have just received the British Government's memorandum on
appreciation of the Japanese position and will cable you a full
summary of it tomorrow. [1] At first sight it reads very
satisfactorily from the point of view of our security in the Far
East. I hope to get a statement on Singapore at an early date [2]
and I have arranged for a discussion on Monday afternoon with the
Service Ministers and the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
and Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs to elucidate any
points necessary. [3] The New Zealand Minister, Fraser [4], on
reading the Japanese appreciation, stated to me that he believes
it will fully satisfy his Government. Northcott [5] tells me that
the War Office has just been informed by cable that the New
Zealand Government has sanctioned the despatch of the first
echelon of the New Zealand division to Egypt during the last week
of January. This must have been sent by the New Zealand Government
before the receipt of the summary of the Japanese position which
Fraser only received with me this afternoon. New Zealand's first
echelon is a brigade group of about six thousand seven hundred and
fifty of all ranks.

I am told confidentially by the South African Minister, Reitz [6],
that South Africa proposes to send the personnel of thirty air
squadrons to Europe. It is not yet clear whether this indicates
that ground personnel and air crews will be despatched to join the
R.A.F.

CASEY