P. 720/152.
SBGBST
October, 1938.
Dear Bevir, £
With reference to C.I.D. paper 1455-B,
enclosing a copy of a despatch from the Governor-General
of New Zealand, dated May 20th, no conclusion has yet
been reached regarding the suggestion of the New Zealand
Government that a conference might be held to consider
*-
the whole question of islands i n the. Pacific and
/
trans-Pacific air routes.
It is not clear exactly what the New Zealand
Government intend should be discussed at that meeting,
and we think it would be well for us i n the United
Kingdom to decide what type of meeting we wish for and
then inform New Zealand that we shall be pleased to
attend a conference of that type.
The Report of the Chiefs of Staff (1455-B),
discussed at the 331st meeting of the C.I.D. on the
27th July, suggested that if the conference was to be
confined
A. BEVIR, ESQ.
direct c nsult;ttion wiuu ti

confined to strategic aspects, the United Kingdom
Government should be represented by the Commodore
Commanding the New Zealand Division, and the Group
Captain attached to the New Zealand Air Force. If,
however, political and other questions were to be
included, they suggested instead the Air Officer
Commanding, Singapore, and the Commander-in-Chief, China.
It is also for consideration whether the United Kingdom
High Commissioner in New Zealand, who will be taking up
his appointment very shortly, and perhaps the High
Commissioner for the Western Pacific, should not also
attend.
We should be glad to learn what your views
are on this matter.
I am writing similarly to Herbertson, Dykes,
Balfour, Seal and Hale.
Yours sincerely,