Prime Minister's 159 [1] and our S.183. [2]

Following message for Prime Minister has been received from
President Roosevelt:

Begins:

From the President to Mr. John Curtin.

Careful consideration has been given to your despatch with
reference to the returning of the 9th Australian Imperial Division
from the Middle East to Australia. [3] Before proceeding further,
I wish to extend my heartiest congratulations to you and to the
officers and men of the 9th Division on the heroic part it has
played in the recent victory in the Middle East.

In view of the strenuous period of combat service which it has
endured and its long absence from home, it is my belief that the
9th Division should be returned to Australia at the earliest date
practicable. This date should depend however on two factors.

Firstly, the 9th Division should remain in the Middle East until
the pursuit of Rommel's [4] forces has resulted in final and
decisive victory; and secondly, it should not be returned until
its movement can be accomp[lished] [5] without a too serious drain
on available shipping.

Under existing conditions I am of the opinion that the present
engagement in the Middle East will be concluded satisfactorily
early in the year. Once this has been accomplished, I shall urge
that the 9th Division be returned to Australia as soon as shipping
becomes available. In this connection I feel that the movement
home should be accomplished on one of the larger liners returning
from the Middle East to the United States, via Australia. To
conserve shipping, the movement should include only personnel. The
Division should, I hope, leave its equipment in the Middle East
and be re-equipped upon its arrival home.

Our operations in the South West Pacific are affected more
seriously by the scarcity of shipping than by a lack of available
troops. The campaign now being undertaken in North Africa,
including the action in which the 9th Division is engaged in the
Middle East, will have the result, we hope, of opening the sea
lanes of the Mediterranean and the Suez Canal. You can appreciate
how this will alleviate the critical shortage in shipping. The
benefits thus derived will be felt in the South West Pacific just
as they will be in all other theatres in which troops of United
Nations are engaged. I feel that by contributing to our success in
the Mediterranean the 9th Division has added to the security of
Australia more than it would have, had it remained at home
Present plans contemplate sending 25th United States Division from
Hawaii to the Australian area on the following schedule:

One regimental combat team sailed Nov. 23rd.

One and one half combat teams to sail immediately.

Remainder of the Division to sail during the month of December.

With this Division arriving prior to the 1st of the year, and the
9th Australian Division arriving home as soon as possible after
the 1st of the year, I feel that you can be reassured as to the
adequacy of troops available, to drive the Japanese away from
Australia to such a distance as to make an invasion impossible.

I greatly hope you will co-operate in seeing this plan through.

ROOSEVELT