"With the collapse of French resistance our forces in the Middle East were left to meet the situation without the help of the French armies Our forces were relatively small, and, what was worse, they had many serious shortages of equipment, In the late summer of last year, the Government at home was deeply exercised by the situation in the Middle East.
"After Gen. Sir Archibald Wavell came home for consultations with the Prime Minister, the Government toc the decision to take great risks to reinforce that army. We then sent out armoured units,' men, material and aircraft and it was that equipment and these weapons which enabled Gen. Wilson and Gen. o'Connor in their desert advance to secure such brilliant successes.
"That decision was taken at grave est risk in light of our equipment here. Since then, we have maintained a continuous stream of men and materials to the Middle East. This country has made that possible by submitting to restrictions of imports.
"With the collapse of France, the fulfilment of obligations for equipment to Turkey, and the guarantee to Greece tet exclusively on our shoulders. On our arrival in Cairo we found there that the three Commanders-in ief were in complete agreement ith the policy advocated in London. "We found in principle that the land formations to be sent out had already been decided on and preparations were in hand for their concentration. chance of holding the German advance.
"The decision was reached very quickly, and in complete agreement between the military experts of the two countries, It so happens that at that time we had the advantage of consulting in Cairo that most wise statesman and tried warrior Gen. Smuts, I asked him if he could be kind enough to come to Cairo when we were there. With characteristic generosity he did so and we were able to consult him,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.