-¦ /W. £l*^t ¦- /A £-3* 6^. |kf> ^ >% 3 /(VlXvwv /*Wi6W~* 1 /A an f\0\ ju.b.C). k*jji. ivi.^i -7, -f? 7 O- o (F. -}}0/tJ<.) /o - f - 3f. <2/ 2). i ? £ f St ft ¦ «s-* I 1/ t 9 — ^ ""7 cm 9 A tut k^s- uxt^ M>. 7 £ v^^J>> i~~*Jt*zC* a-L^jZJL ^ ^ A^c^- & to.. > J * CUr^T l&ctAM. ttuJT Urr- c^y. yJ- (X^K^^t. Ct^r I* **£jU+*^cC 6y/t6~f •>oft tuJf&o Jfa^A., Grnsm* C k> Uz± |Z_ 2.V0. — ?^ \Z -An •• C (P. k~ itfo 0 file. Y <^x^v^- ^(r*- Gfio //o. 2i Do i Si I 4 A (&cujL.fc ¦Jfc-4)*&t /£«+£*A. Jr&4t y Jr. to Gfh..- / «i A CJL /U^ MrCL. /' oto Cc^.y J< CUAtLu.k* !//(( iffy a>++~—-— 34- jterf/QjdL h^ot/'iy IT L<*ld fviu&u^iu, cot Imi' Ig*c it; h. &&M^ t.O-J Ol-Ltu. U. /St ^/oh tc'cMo ^ &¦ Pac — kJl~ CUV -hSuJZ> * Jlf/^" - I Iurn. ttttA*. tel. Pa Mr. Bigg. I understand from Major Jacob that unless we wish to suggest some item for the agenda of the proposed conference which is definitely controversial, and of which other Departments should therefore receive prior notice, it will suffice if we make our suggestions orally at the meeting on Monday next. Mr. Mr. Acheson has been good enough to say that P. and M. Department will take over the responsibility of putting forward suggestions on behalf of the V Colonial Office/and that a representative of that Department will attend the meeting for this purpose. If there are any suggestions which you would wish to make you will no doubt consult Mr. Acheson so that an agreed statement can be presented to the Committee. So far as the strategic aspects are concerned, we can safely leave the Service Departments to raise them. 7th December, 1938. The P. and M. Dept. is concerned in this matter as regards the political aspects and - in Mr. Lee's absence - as regards the defence aspects. On the defence aspects the Air Ministry and the Admiralty will be represented^.** I do not think that there is anything that we can usefully suggest at this stage. On On the political aspects there are:- (a) The question of concerting an agreed policy with the Australian and New Zealand Governments regarding the general attitude which should be adopted towards any further claims made by the United States Government in relation to islands in the Western Pacific, the proposed four power conference, etc. This is, strictly speaking, more of a Foreign Office matter than a matter for us, and no doubt the Foreign Office representative will make it clear that they want an item of this kind to be included in the agenda. * ¦ (b) The particular question of the attitude which should be adopted in regard to thecLine islands. At present we have not defined our view. The Islands are uninhabited, and neither the U.S. Government nor any other power have, so far as we know, shown any inclination to claim them. But I suppose they may be a potential bargaining counter with the United States and, presumably, they may possibly have some value in relation to the defence of New Zealand and/or Australia. At present they are "in the air", but we ought to know where we stand about them. (c) I suppose it is just possible that the Australian and New Zealand Governments might make some suggestion about the handing over of the *&'ru*Aif administration te—them of some of these islands^*^^- Such a suggestion would, I think, be quite outside the scope of the discussions which are here projected and their inclusion in the agenda should be resisted. (d) Finally, it occurs to me that these matters matters are gradually coming to a point at which questions of expenditure will be M involved. For example, measures are being initiated for the construction of air stations on Hull and Christmas Islands. At present the Treasury is presumably going to pay, and it occurs to me that the discussion might perhaps extend to the financial aspects and the question of division of cost. But if other Departments do not think the stage has been reached at which this financial matter need be considered, I should not be inclined to press it qua the CO. Utsm****! Mr. Bevir will attend the meeting of the O.D.C. on this subject as the representative of the P. and M. Dept. ^ to. v~ fid a^r^^/lro ^-t ~~«. *W a4^^ ***** <*fl>Jr/t •i8 2. /-3? __/< 7 £*--, <- -7 2f ? 3 <^uAy >^ < 2 if I understand from Mr. Dixon that the Dominions Office will make arrangements for the Interdepartmental meeting agreed to in the minutes under No. 41. As this meeting will he concerned/with the political questions to he discussed at the proposed conference, I do not think that I need attend it. .v As regaad£.the enclosure to 45, I have suggested to Mr. Dixon that in addition to the officers mentioned in the 4th paragraph of the enclosure, the Joint Planning Committee might also consult Colonel R. Miles of the New Zealand General Staff, who has just completed the course at the Imperial Defence College. 10/1/39, Jo . di^kr — /• V /