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HIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT)
SECRET.
O.D.C. No. 1635.
COPY NO.
2
COMMITTEE OF IMPERIAL DEFENCE.
OVERSEA DEFENCE COMMITTEE.
THE STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.
Note by the Secretary*
At the time of the Imperial Conference in June 1937
the New Zealand Government requested that consideration
should be given to the strategic importance of the Pacific
Islands.     The Chiefs of Staff accordingly examined the
problem and prepared a Report (C.I.D. Paper No. 1327-B), in
which they came to the following conclusion:-
"We conclude that we should endeavour to
establish our sovereignty over any of the
Pacific Islands offering facilities for
fuelling bases or landing grounds.     It should
be our policy to assist, where feasible, the
development of those facilities which would be
of value in war.     We should at the same time
take whatever measures are possible to gain
information as to Japanese activities in the
Islands."
2. This Report was considered by the New Zealand
Government, and in a despatch dated 20th May, 1938, they
stated their proposals for action to give effect to the
conclusion reached by the Chiefs of Staff.     They also
suggested that the United Kingdom Govei-nment might think it
desirable that representatives of the United Kingdom, Australia
and New Zealand should meet at some suitable place to
discuss Pacific Islands matters.
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3. This despatch v/as considered by the Chiefs of Staff,
who stated (C.I.D. Paper No. 1455-B) their agreement v/ith
the steps which the New Zealand Government proposed to take
and made tentative suggestions on the subject of the United
Kingdom Government representation if the conference between
the three countries, the exact object of which v/as not
clear to them, were to be held.
4. The Committee of Imperial Defence at their 331st
Meeting (Minute 14 (c))    invited    the Dominions Office to
take up v/ith the New Zealand Government the question of a
conference between representatives of the United Kingdom,
Australia and New Zealand to discuss Pacific Islands
matters.     The Dominions Office, before making a definite
communication on the subject to the New Zealand Government,
made enquiries of other Government Departments to ascertain
whether those Departments considered that the conference,
if held, should be confined to strategic matters, or whether
political and other questions should be included.
5. Some divergence of opinion was apparent in the
answers to these enquiries, and on 24th November a meeting
was held at the Foreign Office to discuss inter alia v/hat
reply should be sent to the New Zealand Government to
their proposal for a conference.     At this meeting it was
agreed that it would be desirable to hold such a conference,
especially in view of the developments which v/ere talcing
place at Christmas Island and the Phoenix group.     It was
further agreed that it would be advisable   for political
and commercial as well as strategic matters   to be discussed
at the conference.      In order that the requirements of all
ft
interested Departments should "be co-ordinated, it v/as
decided to request the Oversea Defence Committee to meet and
draw up a draft agenda for the conference, which the
Dominions Office could then include in their reply to the
New Zealand Government.
6. In order that this matter may receive attention at
an early date, members are requested to forward their views
for circulation as soon as possible.
(Signed) E.I.C. JACOB.
Secretary,
Oversea Defence Committee.
Richmond Terrace, S.V/.l.,
1st December, 1938.
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