V
US'
Note of a meeting held in the Colonial Office
at 11.30 a.m. on Tuesday, the 29th December, 1936.
Present:-
Colonial Office.
Mr. R. V. Vernon, C.B. (in the Chair)
Mr. A.  J. Daw©, O.B.E.
Mr. K. 0. Roberts-Wray.
Mr. G. A. Jones, O.B.E.
Mr. G. H. Creasy.
Mr. W. J. Bigg.
Mr. J. G. Hibbert, ft.C
Mr. R.fT)D. Arundell.
Admiralty.
Captain P. A. Reyne.
Commander St. J. A. Micklethv/ait.
Commander Lord Louis Mountbatten, K.C.V.O
Mr. E. A. Seal.
Air Ministry.
Mr. C. J. Galpin, D.S.O.
Dominions Office.
Mr. C.G.L. Syers.
Mr. V/. G. Head.
Foreign Office.
Mr. C.A.E. Shuckburgh.
1.
The
had before *&em a memorandum
which had been prepared in the Colonial Offico re-
garding certain islands in the Pacific which might
be of value in connection with the proposed trans-
Pacific air service-tb '*W> ^ZaJUaa^j

2. In opening the meeting Mr. Vernon
suggested that the best course would be to decide
which of the islands in question would be of value
in connection with the proposed air service and
then to consider the present position as regards
ownership and title.     In response to his inquiry
Mr. Galpin explained that the route at present
contemplated for the air service from New Zealand
to Honolulu would be via Fiji (with a possible halt
at Minerva Reef) and thence via either Nukunono or
Hull Island and either Christmas Island or Kingman
Reef to Honolulu.
It v/as then decided to consider in order
the various islands included in the proposed route.
3. Christmas Island.     Mr. Galpin explained
that from the point of view of the air service
Christmas Island was more attractive than Panning
Island^where considerable demolition of coral would
be required.     A further point of some importance
v/as that Christmas Island was the nearest British
territory to the North American Continent, and if
for any reason United States territories were
closed to Great Britain it might still be possible
to reach Mexico direct from Christmas Island.
The past history of Christinas Island
showed that it had been claimed by the United States
prior to 1882 but that it had been evacuated by that
date.     It had subsequently been visited by several
British ships^and in 1888 a note had been addressed
to
P.
f-
to the United States Government indicating that the
island was claimed as British. No reply had
been received tc that note,and the view taken at
the Foreign Office was that the British claim to
ownership of the island was absolutely watertight.
It was considered, however, that early
steps should be taken to secure an active exercise
of sovereignty on Christmas Island and to provide
for effective eea^w%iun; and after discussion it
was decided to recommend that, in view of the
importance attached to Christmas Island from the
point of view of the proposed air service,
¦Majesty* a Government'» title to the island should
be established by effective oeoupation.     The only
sure means of securing this end was the appointment
of an administrative officer to reside on the island
and such an appointment would naturally be made by
the Government of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands
Colony, of which Christmas Island form«*part. The
cost of this appointment, which would be made purely
in order to consolidate a civil air route, could not
properly be assigned to Colonial fundsjand should be
met from home sources.
The Committee were informed
that it would be difficult for the Gilbert and
Ellice Islands Government to spare an officer for
this purpose in the near future,but that the High
Commissioner for the Western Pacific might be able
to secure an officer temporarily from Fiji. The
Committee recommended that before considering other
sources, e.g. New Zealand or this country, the
position should be explored with the High
Commissioner.
- % Mr,

Mr, Galpin explained that it was possible
that a flying-boat would be sent out to survey the
area in the spring of 1937, and it was desirable,
therefore, that the appointment of an officer to
Christmas Island should be treated as a matter of
urgency, although there was little prospect that
any of the permanent establishments required for
the complete air service could be started before
1938.
4. Nukunono Island.     The GomuittiJ were
informed that this island v/as now a Dependency of
New Zealand, having been transferred from the
Jurisdiction of the High Commissioner for the
Western Pacific under the Union Islands Orderfin
Council, 1925.     The island was -adequately
administered by the Government of New Zealand from
^-^Samoa, and there appeared to be no doubt as regards
British title to it.
5. Hull Island.     Mr. Galpin explained that
Hull Island would be regularly used as a normal
port of call for the Pacific air service, and it was
desirable to establish a good title to it.
- It appeared to the Commixtofc that Hm-
MajTmlr'fr Imnnr*1! title to the island would be
strengthened if it, and the neighbouring islands in
the Phoenix Group, were added to the Gilbert and
Ellice Islands Colony, but that effective occupation
'"toqi"i'ui'iitfbJ^T *Lhii uooition woo to ba full
safeguarded. yA^V"^. , *<^\^~*-Jfc<^Jl^
The

The question of recommending the formal
addition to the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony of
the Phoenix Group was discussed, and in this
connection Mr. Seal suggested that His Majesty1s
Government should address a note to the Government
of the United States, calling attention to the action
taken by the United States in connection v/ith Jarvis,
Baker and Howland Islands and asking the United
States Government to inform His Majesty's Government
if they proposed to claim any other islands in the
Pacific area.
After further discussion tho Oomulttii
decided to recommend that Canton, Hull, Sydney,
ElcKean, Knc^bury, Phoenix, Birnie and Gardner Islands
in the Phoenix Group should be formally included in
the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony,but that no
steps should be taken at present to administer them
or to post officers to them.     If such a step became
necessary later it would be necessary, as in the case
of Christmas Island, to ask that the cost involved
should be borne by United Kingdom funds.
6.     Flint, Caroline, Vostock, Starbuck and
Maiden Islands.     The CommitT/o^ considered the
position of these islands^but did not find it pos-sible
to recommend that any action should be taken regarding
them. £T ^Lu
7.     Pitcairn Island.     It was decided that
consideration of any action regarding Pitcairn Island,
^jTUU--tZpU^^f
including ito DependenciesOeno, Henderson and Ducie
Islands^,
5"
Islands, should be deferred pending the report by the
administrative officer who, it is hoped, will pay a
8•     Telegram from the New Zealand Government
regarding Christmas Island.     It was d£s*CTed that a
reply to the telegram from the New Zealand Government
of the 30th of November regarding Christmas Island
should be deferred until information could be given
regarding the action to be taken in accordance with
the recommendation in paragraph 3 above.