Your telegram 176 of 28th March. [1] I have not yet received
letter from Blamey dated 5th March [2] to which you refer. It
seems curious for Blamey to write and not cable on matters of such
urgency.

I pointed out in the War Cabinet here that the timetable for troop
movements difficult and slow but was assured that Dill [3] and
Wavell [4] were nevertheless favourable. I will again take the
matter up and ask for definite information regarding
reinforcements and the sending of troops to the Middle East,
though I know that all available shipping is being intensively
used.

You will also appreciate that the fall of Keren will greatly
improve the position. Wavell was of the opinion in Cairo that
after Keren, the cleaning up of North East Africa would only be a
matter of weeks. Particular attention is being paid to aircraft
and reinforcements are going every week. I was certainly informed
of Blamey's agreement and cannot understand why he should regard
himself merely as receiving instructions. He knows of his powers
as General Officer Commanding A.I.F. and should not have hesitated
to offer his views and to apprise us of any views he had.

The only cable I had related to Command of the force, of which he
made no great point. However, I will raise with Churchill the
question of absence of discussion with Blamey.

The view here is that while the adventure is hazardous, it has
reasonable chances of success.

These are now improved if Yugoslavia goes as well as Churchill
anticipates and Turkey is stimulated by her example. Personally I
feel that no chance to form a Balkan Front should be neglected and
that our aid to Greece may prove the decisive factor in stiffening
resistance.

MENZIES