I>-().3a.
SECRET
Aft. CAe^i*W,£*^.
«LsUo_w*x~ »ee and^I
Reference to previous correspondence:
With the compliments of 'VW S^c^-
A copy has also been sent to   Vw^<>t N o*
Dominions Office, Downing Street,
5 JAN 1353
(HfiHS) W1 32340/35S« ft.000 2/3« B A 9p OpCIO
<ItG0O»   Wt IttGStfOCT   9lVK)0(4) 7/30

V
8ip B. Harding,    ir H. Battorbee and X |
discussed this with Gen-oral lamay and Major Jacob
this morning.
It was agreed that the vest procedure would
tie to circulate Now Zealand telegrams Hob. 144 and 146
to the Chiefs of Litaff, who would "be asked to advise
on the questions raised in those telegrams, though
as regards the detailed proposals in telegram Wo. 145,
femoral Is ay t. ougM that tho view of the Chiefs of
Staff v/ould probably   e that, having regard to the
general strategical situation and to urgent
commitments elsewhere, it would not be possible for
the United Kingdom to undertake any of the measures
referred to.
It was also agreed that in .the circumstances
the letter to the Governor-General of ?Tevr Zealand
drafted on D.G/37 would not be required and that it
would be necessary for tho memorandum of the Chiefs of
—-s
otaff to be revised so as to deal with the educations
raised in the New ..ealand telegrams, a reference to
which would appropriately form tue opening of the
memorandum.
It was thought that before the matter went
before the Chiefs of itaff thems Ives, it would
probably be convenient for it to be considered by the
Joint Planning Committee v/itiiwhom would be associated
not only &%r !I» Battorb: e, but also Captain Parry and
Group Captain -iaunciera, who are ftOll&g out to New
Zealand, and :r. Dwyer, who is coming from New Zealand
to attend the Imperial Defence College, apparently
with a prospect of being appointed 'Secretary to the
defence Department thereafter.
.3

As regards trie question of United
Kingdom representation at the Conference, it
was pointed out that an aircraft Mission
will he going out to Australia and should arrive
there about the end of February*     If the New
Zealand Government desire taat the Mission should
also visit New Zealand, it was anticipated
that they would proceed to Hew Zealand about
the end of March.     It waB felt that the
presence of this Mission was a new factor
that should be taken into account in considering
the question of United Kingdom representation*
As regards the date of the Conference,
the feeling wua that there was no special
reason why the defence discussions should take
place before tne end of April* but it was
pointed out that, on the political side, the
Foreign Office were anxious that there should be
no avoidable delay in order that :iis Majesty's
Governments concerned raigut be prepared for any
action which might be taken by the United States
Government*     It was suggested that a possible
course might be for the Conference to open,
shortly after Sir H* Batterbee's arrival in
New Zealand, with a discussion of the political
questions, the discussion of defence questions
being deferred until after the arrival of the
air Mission.     Sir H. Batterbee undertook to
raise this question at the inter-Departmental
meeting which it is proposed to hold to consider
preparations
1
preparations Tor the Conference on the political
side* 1
In order to consider the timet; .Me further,
Gen ral Ienay asked that we would send a telegram
to New Zealand asking when the Report of the New
Zealand Chiefs of Jtaff was likely to be received.