,e of Imperial
IKFENCB,
[all Gardens.
S.W.I.
With the
Secretary's Compliments.
Forwarded with
reference to Major
Kollis1 letter No.
I.D./P./8 dated 30/6/37
and for favour of return
to this Office of the
earlier extract.
lath J'lly, 1937
THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT
Printed for the Committee of Imperial Defence.   June 1937.
SECRET. Copy No.
COMMITTEE OF IMPERIAL DEFENCE.
Extract from the Minutes of the 2942A Meeting, held on June 17, 1937.
###•#*
(3)—STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.
* ^ hii (C.I.D. Paper No. 1327^|X^;-
THE COMMITTEE had under consideration a Report by the Chiefs of
Staff Sub-Committee on the Strategical Importance of the Pacific Islands (C.I.D.
Paper No. 1327-B).
THE PRIME MINISTER said that the examination of this question had
been undertaken at the request of the New Zealand Government. The Report by
the Chiefs of Staff had already been the subject of discussion between the repre-
sentatives of Australia and New Zealand and the Chiefs of Staff Sub-Committee,
and it had been suggested that the representation of Australia and New Zealand
on the Interdepartmental Committee, now considering questions relating to the
Pacific Islands, would be of advantage. It was of interest to note that a telegram
had recently been received from the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific
regarding the activities of certain United States Officers at Canton Island.
LORD CHATFIELD, introducing the Report at the request of the Prime
Minister, said that the Interdepartmental Committee to which reference had been
made was now considering the question as to the islands over which it was
important we should establish our sovereignty and which islands were of no value
to us. The Committee was now awaiting a reply to a telegram to the High
Commissioner for the Western Pacific. The general recommendation of the
Chiefs of Staff had been that we should endeavour to establish our sovereignty
over any of the Pacific Islands offering facilities for fuelling bases or landing
grounds.
In reply to a question by the Prime Minister, Lord Chatfield
said that the particular islands which the Interdepartmental Committee had
under consideration were those which had previously had little or no significance,
from the naval point of view, but had now assumed importance from the air
aspect.
Mr. ORMSBY GORE said that he would welcome representatives of
Australia and New Zealand on the Interdepartmental Committee. The High
Commissioner for the Western Pacific was already engaged upon a tour of the
islands, concerning the status of which a considerable amount of investigation
had already been carried out by the Colonial Office and by His Majesty's ships on
the New Zealand Station. An administrative officer had been posted to
Christmas Island, which had for some time been one of the Gilbert and Ellice
Islands group. The Air Ministry were of the opinion that Christmas Island
might be an important point on the Trans-Pacific Air route. In addition, the
eight islands comprising the Phcenix group had been included in the Gilbert and
Ellice Islands colony. A full despatch had been sent to the High Commissioner
asking for his views on the Line group which lay considerably east of the Phcenix
group and on the group of four islands having Pitcairn Island as its centre.
The British Agent in Tonga was at present investigating Pitcairn with a view
to reporting what steps could be taken to provide for its more adequate
administration. He (Mr. Ormsby Gore) pointed out that the Islands were
extremely poor and could not themselves provide any sums of money for the
development of air facilities. The High Commissioner was fully alive to the
need for establishing and, where necessary, strengthening the British title to
[15529—2]     {Ugk • ,.\
the Islands and would always be willing to co-operate with the Naval and Air
authorities in any directions considered necessary.
SIB ARCHDALE PARKHILL said that Australia was inten^ this
question In his view the Islands fell into three categories. First, thoseo^er
288°British control had been established, f^^^^^^^
thought we had control, and, thirdly, those over which daubt exias to
whether anybody had control. His Majesty's Government in the Commonwealth
of Australia would like to see the position clarified and our title established to
those Islands which might be considered to be of strategical value to us^ including
those which had become important from the air point of view I he Department
of External Affairs in Australia had recently arranged for Captain laylor, a
distinguished aviator, to fly over certain of the Pacific Islands and to make a
report on the air possibilities.
Sir Archdale Parkhill expressed himself as extremely glad to co-operate
with the Colonial Office in their investigation of this question.
LORD SWINTON remarked that not only were certain of the Islands
important from the strategical point of view, but, in addition, they would be vital
to the Trans-Pacific Air route. This was a case in which civil and strategical
air interests were complementary.
Mr. EDEN mentioned that, according to a report received by the Foreign
Office, Easter Island, which belonged to Chile, might come on the market. It
might be worth while considering whether it would be of any importance to us.
Mr. ORMSBY GORE thought that the Island in question was mainly
important from an archaeological point of view.
SIR JOHN SIMON observed that the Island was too far South to be of
value for air purposes.
THE PRIME MINISTER suggested that the discussion on this subject
should be adjourned until the arrival of Mr. Nash, who was unavoidably detained
at another meeting.
(The discussion was resumed when Mr. Nash entered the meeting at the
Conclusion of Minute 4/
THE PRIME MINISTER, after summarising the discussion which had
taken place during Mr. Nash's absence, asked him for his views.
Mr. NASH said that the New Zealand Government were particularly
interested in the Pacific Islands from the point of view both of their possible
value to us and of the facilities they might afford to a potential enemy. The
Report prepared by the Chiefs of Staff contained information which would be
of the greatest value, and the New Zealand Delegation were now examining it
with a view to suggesting any further points for discussion.
Conclusions.
The Committer of Imperial Defence agreed—
(i) to approve the Report by the Chiefs of Staff Sub-Committee on the
Strategical Importance of the Pacific Islands (C.I.D. Paper
No. 1327-B), and in particular the Conclusions which were ' that we
should endeavour to establish our sovereignty over any of the Pacific
Islands offering facilities for fuelling bases or landing grounds. It
should be our policy to assist, where feasible, the development of those
facilities which would be of value in war. We should at the same time
take whatever measures are possible to gain information as to
Japanese activities in the Islands *;
(ii) to note that the Secretary of State for the Colonies would arrange for
the representation of Australia and New Zealand on the Inter-
departmental Committee considering Pacific Questions.
* * # * # *
2 Whitehall Gardens, S.W. %
June 17,1937.