NOTB.
At their 331st meeting, held on the 27th of July,
the Committee of Imperial Defence approved in principle
the proposal put forward by the New Zealand Government j
that four strategic air routes radiating from Fiji should j
be established in the South Pacific, and that, as a first
step towards the establishment of those routes, the New
Zealand Government should themselves undertake a full
survey of Route A, from Fiji to the Gilbert Islands. The
New Zealand Government were informed accordingly on the
9th of September and reported on the 12th of Seotember that
they proposed to commence early in October a survey for a
landing ground in Fiji.     The High Commissioner for the
Western Pacific was informed of what was proposed and
authorised to make the necessary arrangements for the
proposed survey in direct communication with the New Zealand
Government.
The High Commissioner had previously corunented on
the New Zealand Government's proposals and expressed doubts
first^K &s to the need for the provision of land aerodromes
on the proposed routes when facilities for seaplanes could
more easily be provided, and secondly whether the
establishment of the proposed air routes, if they could not
be adequately defended, might not prove to be a double-edged
weapon.     The High Commissioner's despatch was circulated to
the Committee of Imperial Defence (C.I.D. paper 1463 B)
but was not considered at the meeting of the 27th of July.
It
It raises technical questions which fall to be considered
by the Service Departments rather than the Colonial Office,
and on which no Colonial Office comment seems necessary.
13/3164/38 and 86057/5/38), for reasons connected with
civil aviation rather than with defence, that Houte B,
from Fiji to Christmas Island should be surveyed before
Route A, starting at Christmas Island instead of at Fiji,
and that early steps should be taken to survey and demaroat'
alighting areas for aircraft at Christmas and Hull Islands
on that Route.     It is understood that the Dominions Office
have taken no stepe to communicate this proposal to the
New Zealand Government pending further consideration by
the Committee of Imperial Defence, though no further
paper on the subject has yet been circulated to the |
Committee of Imperial Defence.     From the point of view j
of the Colonial Office there is no objection to the course
proposed and the Dominions Office and Air Ministry have
been informed accordingly.     The Colonial Office are also
in communication with the High Commissioner in regard to
the steps that would be necessary to enable the Government
to take possession of any land in Christmas Island that
eanwhile the Air ilinistry have proposed (see
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