FOREIGN OFFICE,
31st October, 1938
FOREIGN OFFICE, > . 7. l.»
29th October, 1938.
A.8060/0.
Dear Archer, >^
Your Secret letter P.720/158 of the 26th October
asking for our viewB as to the character of the confer-
ence v?hlch the New Zealand Government have suggested In
general   terms should take place between representatives
of Great Britain, Australia and Hew Zealand to discuss
acifle island matters.    .Ye note that the despatch from
the Governor-General of New Zealand of the 20th May last
in which this suggestion is submitted deal© rriraarily
with the importance of developing facilities on Pacific
islands which can be employed by New .ealand aircraft for
strategic purposes.    It is clear, however, from the recent
differences between His Majesty's Government and the
United states Government regarding Janton Island, and from
the various indications we have lately received that the
United   tatee Government may before long attempt to assert
claims to sovereignty over other hitherto neglected Pacific
Islands, which they could utilise as air ports, that any
conference relating to the development of the above-
mentioned. ...
U.K.Archer,   aq., O.B.8.
mentioned air facilities must necessarily also concern it-
self with the problem of consolidating the British title to
Individual islands likely to be suitable for thia purpose,
e.g. Hull Island and Christmas Island*
The political aspect of the problem 1b thus insepar-
able from the strategic* and the Foreign Office would
recommend that the former aspect of the matter should be
placed on the agenda of the conference and British repre-
sentation arranged accordingly.   It would appear appropri-
ate in the circumstances that, if possible, both the united
Kingdom High Commissionsr in New Zealand a; also the High
Commissioner for the  .©stern Pacific should participate in
the discussions.
f^Gm     I might add that you will be receiving from us a copy
of a letter to the oolonial Office Mo.A#7569/16/45 of the
28th Gotober enclosing a Foreign Office memorandum which
surveys the question of the future status of outlying
Pacific islands from the political angle. This survey should
%
is-
be read in conjunction with two previous Forei&i Office
memoranda on the subject, the one enclosed in ray letter to
iJsdgwiCk A. 1292/16/45 of the 21st February last, and the
other.•«•
other in my letter to him A. 3639/16/45 of the 10th
May.
(Sgd.) J. BALFOUR