. -D.0-.3a.
SECRET
* ¦
Xo.
r, 73o
Subject:
Reference to previous correspondence:
With the compliments of ^
A copy has also been sent to
Dominions Office, Downing Street,
103
29
CBM89)  Wt ltttt/MCT   20.4JMH) 7/30
V
26 DEC 1938
-•ear Foster,
M have been thinking over the S-^&geotlon
made at the meeting of tne ?eroca iJefence Corral t tee on
the 12tu i*>cember tuat the 'Jolted Mogdon representatives
at the proposed oo. Terence wit:i :iew Zealand and tne
Ossssonwealth of  .ustralia on   acific Islands questions
might include the Conraodore in command of t.e r.en
Saaland station and tne Group Captain, Royal Air Force,
attached to the New Zealand Air Force.
vhilc there might not in this case be
constitutional objections to this course, we are
inclined to think that there niifcht veil be practical
difficulties, and we understand that the colonial ffice
snare our views*     As you know, the New Zealand Chiefs
of Staff nave Just put to the nigh Ccaeoissioner for tne
;eetern Pacific certain suggestions as to the defence
of tne r-aclfic Islands*     Details have not yet been
received but, woen tney are obtained, it is quite
possible
possible that it raig/it be taou^nt desirable to put
forward at tiie conference comments on tae suggestions
from toe United Kingdom point of view and conceivably
also to suggest taat N«r Zealand might aaoist financially
in the measures proposed.     It would be very awkward
if officers whot although they belong to our services,
were at tne time in the service of tne New Zealand
Government, i*ad to take port in discussions of this
nature as representatives of toe United Kingdom
Government.
It occurs to us that a possible alternative
which would avoid these difficulties might be to
suggest to the New Zealand Government toat taese
officers should attend tne conference as expert
advisers* whose technical advice would be available to
tike United xingden Government or to the Haw Zaaland
Government (or to the Conraonwealth Government also if
they desired to nave the benefit of it).     If this
could be arranged* it snould be possible for tie chief
United Kingdom representative at t ie conference to
convey to the two officers any views which Service
Departments ..ere might wish aim to communicate to them.
I
I have mentioned this idea to Grover who
thougnt tnat there would be no objection to such a
procedure from the Admiralty point of view* Could
you let me know how the Air ministry regard the idea?
I am sending copiea of thi3 letter to
Jacob, Grover and Acneson*
Yours sincerely*