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Note of questions suggested for consideration at the
proposed conference on matters concerninrc the Pacific
Islands "between His nanesty1s Governments in the United
Kingdom, the Commonwealth of Australia and Kew Zealand,,
1. The question of formulating an agreed policy regarding
the attitude which should he taken up in the event of the United
States Government adopting one or other of the undermentioned
alternatives:-
(a) a demand that the joint regime should be extended to
other islands of the Phoenix Group "besides Canton and
Knderbury;
(b) a renewal of their proposal of August 1937 for a
general "clean-up" of islands of disputed sovereignty;
(c) a rejection of the invitation to'a fiour-party air
conference which has been extended to them;
(d) an acceptance of this invitation accompanied, however,
by an intimation that the resulting discussions should
also include a settlement of the status of other
Pacific Islands,   e.g. Hull and Christmas Islands, to
which they consider that they have a title.
2*     The question of concerting action to ensure that,
in the event of any unforeseen move on the part of the United
States, pressure can be brought to bear to induce the United
States Government to consent to a four party conference.
3,.     The question of selecting the moment when, assuming
no move by the United States Government in the interim, it would
be most appropriate to press with renewed vigour for a four-party
conference.
40     The possibilities of the establishment of an air service
across the Pacific in co-operation with a United States company
on the lines of the projected North Atlantic Service,
5.,     The advisability of a British application being made to
the United States for landing rights in San Francisco and Honolulu,
/6,
6. The position in relation to Pan-American Airways if such
an application can be refused.
7. If the United States Government agree to the four-party
conference, what main proposals should he made to them.     (NOTE. His
Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom have suggested
"open" rights on all the islands likely to he situated on the
route of a trans-Pacific service and have intimated to the United
States Government that they do not exclude the possibility that
in the course of the conference it might prove necessary to settle
the status of hitherto neglected islands*     In practice His
Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom are of opinion that this
category of island should only include the six southern islands
of the Line Group).
8. If at the time of the conference between the United
Kingdom, Commonwealth and New Zealand Governments no claims have
been put forward by the United States Government to Hull and
Christmas Islands, what further steps, if any, can be taken to
strengthen the British Claim to these islands.
9. The means whereby information as to Japanese activities
in the Pacific Islands can best be obtained, collated and
disseminated.
10.     Preliminary investigation of the general nature of
defences which might be required for islands of importance in
connection with civil and military trans-Pacific air operations.
December, 1958.