THE WHITE HOUSE
                                
                                 WASHINGTON
 
The Honorable,
 
     The Under Secretary of State.
 
My dear Mr. Welles:
 
       With reference to your memorandum of February 11, 1942, transmitting a copy of a message
with reference to conditions in New Caledonia, forwarded by the New Zealand Chief of Air Staff,
to the Chief of the Air Staff in Australia, the following action with reference to the matter has
been taken.
 
     I have arranged with General H. H. Arnold, Chief of the Army Air Forces, to turn over to
the New Zealand Government six aircraft (type O-47), which were part of a shipment reported to
have arrived in Australia on February 5, 1942.
 
       I believe, after discussion with the New Zealand Minister, that this arrangement will be
eminently satisfactory, as far as ameliorating present conditions in New Caledonia.
 
                              Very sincerely yours,