Following cablegram has been received by Spender [1] from Blamey
[2]:-

'Reference proposal withdraw Australian Units from Lustre for
reinforcement Cyrenaica. Have cabled Commander-in-Chief [3] today
as follows-
BEGINS-In view difficulty maintaining large enemy force in North
Africa consider full advantage should be taken of (a) Desert and
(b) our amphibious power.

Retention Libya is not vital to defence Egypt however much its
loss may affect British prestige.

In Southern Europe the Germans can assemble overwhelming air and
land forces much faster than we can.

Unless built up to adequate strength with land and air forces the
Imperial Forces in Greece will shortly be in grave peril. ENDS.'
This has direct bearing upon my cable of the 5th April No. 202 [4]
relating to Wavell's communique No. 54285. It is I think advisable
apart from other considerations to stress need for large
additional numbers of anti-tank and anti-aircraft guns aeroplanes
and tanks. These are given special emphasis in private letter from
Mackay [5] which has been sighted by Spender. The reported advance
by Germany against Yugo-Slavia and Greece with the possibility of
a major thrust by Germany in Libya make imperative most careful
appreciation of our position which if miscalculated may well
result in disaster to our troops in both areas.

FADDEN