i n
i
P. 720/187.
PARAPHRASE TISkSGBAM
m\'i ZEALAND
To the Government of Eow Zealand©
Sent 8.0 p.m. 16th January, 1939.
Wo*12 Oecret.
Reference your telegrams Nos. 144 and 145 of 24th
December.     For their part His M:.jestyls Government in the
United Kingdom agree that discussions at the proposed
conference on the defence side should take the form proposed
by His Majesty's Government in Now Zealand.     After receipt
and consideration of Report of Hew .ealand Chiefs of Staff
they will be ready to put forward their observations on the
various questions mentioned in your telegrams under
reference.
As regards representation at the Conference, His
Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom foel that, if
subjects to be discussed on the defence side are to be of
the wide nature suggested, it would be very difficult to
decide on nature of representation until they have received
the Report of the Hew Zealand Chiefs of Staff.     Prom your .
telegram of 4th January i;o.l it is observed that this will
not arrive until 3rd February and it is feared that if
defence discussions at the Conference were to open before
about middle of April there would not be time for adequate
study of Report and for framing instructions for guidance
of United Kingdom representatives.
It would be the hope of His Majesty's Government in
the United Kingdom, and doubtless of His Majesty's
Government in New Zealand also, that opening of conference
should