I.UHF.LD&i'.i1mL
S.36757/IV+
nOTDS OP AH INTlvR-DlSiVOT. 22ITAL IIUTING HELD
AV TIE AIR MINISTRY (ARIEL HOUSE)'AT 3 p.m.
on Friday, .xxxemd:;:? 30th;, 1938.
to CtiSCU6S
.lJ.aSURES r/HICH COVLD 3K TO STRENGTHEN
TIT.1 CLAIM 0^ HIS HAJ^jTY'S G0V22 i-LNT TO 'HIE
oyjitlrohip of omnsTnAO island.
Present :~
Air Ministry:
Ur. r.r.P.Mildred, O.B.E.
Deputy Director General of Civil Aviation,
(in the Chair).
Mr. -7#U,BurkettP O.B.C., U.C.
Mr. J.J.7/. Herbertson, O.B.E.
Mr. V.Ho Raby
Mr. P. Entwietle
'Jing Commander R.i:. Pester, D.F,C. .
Lieutenant Coi    rider J.A.L. Drunnondp R»H* (Reta»;
Souadrcn Leader F.L.C. Butcher
Ur. P.J. Christie, (Secretary).
Foreign Office:
Gorell Barnes.
Dominions Office:
Mr. C.W.Dixon. C.M.G., O.B.E.
Colonial Office;
Mr. A.Bevir*
Mr. ^.J.Bicc-
Atfoiralty:
lia.-jor G.r/.M.Grover, R.M.
ThQ. Chairman explained that the meeting had "been
called to consider what measures could be taken to give effect to
• the conclusion arrived at by an interdepartmental meeting held
&   afc tne Poreir-n Office on November 24th last that the possibility
^5VOi/ should be explored of taking further ste^a to strengthen the
British elate to Christinas Island and that the Air Ministry, in
view or the vital importance of the Island in connection with a
trans-Pacific oir service, was the appropriate Department to take
initial action with regard to this investigation.   The Air
Ministry    txC 3 nsidered this recommendation and thought that in
view of the fes.iral>ility of taiiinr so e positive measures it mirht
he possible for them to establish a meteorological and wireless
station on the Island.     The Chairman suggested that before
proceeding to discuss these proposals it would be convenient to
ascertain the views of the other departments on the "eneral
aspects of the ouestion.    He asked Mr. Gorell Barnes"whut were the
views of the Poreirm Office.
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'-• .   H3k. jSogell Barnes stoted that the Foreign Office had
reason to believe tnat the United States of America might be
intending to lay claim in the near future to the Island and that
the Department, whilst they did not feel in a position to make
concrete suggestions as to what shoult. be done, woi;ld welcome
any measures which could be ta?;en to strengthen the claim of this
country*
3«     Tltrj Chairman inquired as to our legal title to the
Island in order that the Treasury co Id be informed on the point
when the Air Ministry sought that Department's financial authority
to proceed with their porooaal.   Mr, Gorell Barnes said that the
Foreign Office considered our clain to tHe Island to he very
strong and they were prepared to refer the matter to arbitration
if the necessity should arise,   ?he U.S.Government did not
demui# and had not since challenged* the formal notification
of 1888 that Great Britain had annexed the Iala-nd*    Mr... Bevir '
said that it was not impossible that the Government of the
United St        : light attempt a coiro as at Canton*       It was clearly
undesirable for the U.S.Government and HoM.Governrr.ent to have, to
go to arbitration on such a matter., but if necessary it would
have tc be done.     He added that articles had appeared in the U03.
Press urging the desirability of the U.S.A. laying claim tc thr?
Island.
4o     Mr. Herbertson inquired what grounds the U.S.A. could
adduce in sup] ort of their 2i.aim and observed that cn a map of
the Pacific Ocean published by the National Georgra^hic Society
(of America) it was shown as belonging both to the 'U.S.A. and
Great Britain.   Major Greyer considered that we co 'Id base our
claim partly an the discovery of the l3land by Captain Cook in
1777«        The formal annexation of the Island by ii0:*„S. "Caroline"
in 1888 and the regular visits paid b:.- H.H.Shifcs since that dat<N
constituted a better claim.     lis expressed the opinion that the
establishment cf a meteorological station on the" Island would be
a further useful measure in deterring the U.S.A. from contesting
British ownership.
5*     Tiv  Chainr.an innuir3d as to the number of inhabitant on the
Ieland and was informed that they consisted of a British administrative
officer^ one or two European out non-British employees of a French
trading company and a number of natives,   r.lr. Bcvir stated that the
administrative officer had been resident on the Island for about two
years.   His salary was paid for by the Colonial Government9 who were
reimbursed by the Treasury on the ground that the main reason for
posting hin there was Imperial rather than local interests.
6*     In reply to the Chairman, Mr. Gorell Barnes said that
there was in existence a Foreign Office nenorandum showing the basis
and relative validity of our claim and that of the U.S.A. to the
Island;   and he undertook to supply ? copy tc the Air Ministry.
7.     The Chairman   inquired as to the value o:: the Ieland from
the defence point of view.   'V::n;r Con ander Foster stated that it was on
the outer ed;;e of the area which wo:;I'd be covered by air reconnaissance
of the approach to Now Zealand from a northerly direction.   The Island
wasg therefore, of.direct interest to New Zealand who mightg at some
future date, wish to establish there art ao.vrnoe air base.     As to
who would pay for any facilities which i""; night be decided to provide,
"/inff Commander Foster expressed the opinion that in view of her
already larrje expenditure on defence it was doubtful if New Zealand
would be able, or ready, to shoulder the cost.   Mr. Dixon agreed that
New Zealand expenditure on defence was a considerable item in her
total expenditure but thought that she might possibly be willing
to face some expenditure on the prevision of facilities on Christmas
Island, provided it was not too great.   In support of this opinion
he added that New Zealand were paying the cost of the survey of the
group of islands of which Christmas was onee
S0     The Chairman turned to the question of what practical,
measures could be taken "by the Air Ministry to strengthen our
claim to the Island.   It appeared that this could, in the first
instancej> conveniently take the form of the establishment there
of a meteorological reporting station with wireless equipment
capable of transmitting to Apia.     This would'give effect to a
recommendation of an International Conference^ at which the O.3.A.
had been represented, held at Wellington about a year ago for
the purpose of concerting measures for the improvement of
meteorological facilities in the Pacific.     Until regular flying
in the neighbourhood of the Island took place it would be sufficient
if meteorological observations were transmitting to Apia four tines
during each period of 24 hours.
90     The Chairman adtird that the Air Ministry estimated that
the capital cost of such a station,'equipped with modern apparatus,
would i>e in the neighbourhood of £5^500*.     Two operators would be
required and it was estimated that the annual maintenance cost would
be about £2,0003     It was felt that the Treasury would regard this
cost as somewhat high in relation to the services which would be
renderedp but we could advance the argument that the provision and
operation of the station would be substantial evidence of effective
occupation should our claim to the Island be called in ouestion.
10. Mr. Burkett stated that the estimate of £5P500 was for a
station provided with up-to-date equipment, which was in advance of
present requirements.     It was possible that obsolete K.A.F.
equipment, "which might suffice until a regular service was
established^ could be provided at half this cost*
Maj.gr Grover stated that the Island was already provided with
wireless transmitting and receiving apparatus capable of maintaining
communication with Fanning Island^ where there was a cable station.
Mr, Entwistle stated, that in this case, if the administrative
officer on Christmas Island could be given the necessary instruction,
he could c't as meteorological observer - there was already a
precedent for this - and it would not be necessary to station
meteorological staff there.     The requisite equipment would cost
about £100.       It could "be placed in a small open air enclosure
which could he provided at very little expense.   He added that as
scon as meteorological observation's were regularly collected and
transmitted from the Island it would be shorn in international
meteorological lists as a British observing and reporting station.
He inquired how the equipment could be transported to the Islando
Major Grove? said that ships of the Mew Zealand Squadron had visited
the Jslad two or three times a year of.recent years and could convey
the equipment, there.       The two cruisers of the Squadron carried
trained meteorlogical   cf?icers» who could instruct the administrative
officer in the taking of observations and could inspect the equipment
on the occasions when they were in  .ae neighbourhood. /
11. After some further discussion on the poiiit tlie meeting
considered that it would be difficult to make out a erase at the present
stage for the full scheme..   It recommended that the siepessary
meteorological apparatus should be provided and thct/j/he administrative
officer should be given instruction in takiir meteorological
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observations and appointed to undertake meteorological duties* The
observations should be transmitted to Panning Island from whence
they should be passed on by cable*
!2*     The_Chairman   inquired to what extent it was considered
desirable to provide now the operational equipment which would be
required on the Island when a service was operated*     Mr, Burkett
thought that all that would be necessary at the nonent would be a
jetty and moorings and the demarcation 01' a landing area. These
could be provided at a cost of about £500 and the annual maintenance
char/res would be small*     V/inr; Commander Fostor suggested that we
should, seise the opportunity to provide at the outset all that
facilities that w<v<"id ultimately be needed or. the Island, and
inquired when it was expected that we would be in a position to
start operating a service-   Mr* Burkett stated that this would most
probably be in 1941*   With regard tc the extent to which we should
initially meet the full requirements of the station,, he thought that
it would take some time to obtain Treasury aut" ority for all that was
necessary, whereas that Department were unlikely to demur to the
provision of the limited equipment which he had uu • rested. This
v/ould enable us to take positive action almost i'mr.iediately and so give
to the world signs of our active interest in the Islandc
13.     After some further discussion it-was agreed, that the
operational equipment to be .installed should be limited at the outset
to a jetty and mcorinrs and that steps should be taken to ensure the
demarcation of a suitable landing erea*