PAlliimiAiE: TELEGHAH
0(mioijmAXsu op Australia
To the United Kingdom High Commissioner in the Commonwealth
of Australia.
(Sent 115.30 a.m., 2nd. February, 1939.)
Ho.lG. Secret.
Reference telegram from Commonwealth Government
of llth January, No«$.     Telegram, text of which is as
follows, has been received from His Llajesty's Government in
New Zealand begins:-*
Hy Prime Minister desires me to inform you that so
far as Hew Zealand Chiefs of Staff report is concerned, it
deals with a strategic survey of certain Pacific Islands only.
and report is adequately summarised in my secret telegram of
December 24th No*145,     At this stage Kis Uajesty's
Government in Hew Zealand would like to set out more
precisely the points which they suggest should be discussed
at the Conference namely:-
(a) Possible lines of action by enemy pavers against
Empire Interests in the south west Pacific in the period
before the arrival of naval reinforcements, including (i)
operations to capture bases in the Western Pacific. (ii)
Nature and scale of possible operations against Empire trade,
(iii)   Nature and scale of possible operations against
Australian and Hew Zealand territory.
(b) Measures necessary to defend - (i) Pacific Islands
and Mandated territories, notably Fiji Tonga Hew Hebrides
Solomon Islands.     (ii)   Ships trading with United Kingdom
New Zealand and Australia.     (iii)   Australian and Hew
Zealand territories.
(c)
(c) Most effective means of cooporation with the United
Kingdom in the defence of British Commonwealth after
providing for security in the South Western Pacific,
including schemes for mutual reinforcement.
(d) Coordination of defence policy in peace and war.
(e) Sources of supplies of equipment after the
outbreak of war.
(f) Scales of reserves of supplies; including fuel and
equipment.
(g) Possible effect of German demand for the return of
Mandated Territories.
(h) Economic aspects of war, including provable effect
on trade and shipping.'
(j)   Policy in relation to Trans Pacific Air route and
the United States activities in the Pacific.
This agenda is dependant only in a small degree
on report of the Hew Zealand Chiefs of Staff which affects
point ("b) above only.     His Majesty1 s Government in New
Zealand had hoped that it would be possible to hold the
conference at latest by mid-March and they are somewhat
disturbed at the proposal of His Majesty's Government in
the United Kingdom not to hold it before the middle of
April.     His Majesty1s Government in Hew Zealand still hope
this will bo possible and in view of relatively small
importance of report of New Zealand Staff Chiefs already
referrei to, suggest that His Majesty1s Government in the
United Kingdom may be able to decide on their
representations forthwith and arrange for the arrival of
their representatives by the middle of March*
The substance of this telegram is being repeated
to the High Commissioner for Western Pacific and to His
Majesty's Government in the Commonwealth of Australia.
Ends.     Following reply has been sent.     Text begins.
His
His Llajesty's Government in the United Kingdom
"Oto^ agree that Conference should meet "by the middle of March if
possible or as soon as may he practicable thereafter. They
are endeavouring to arrange for United Kingdom Service
representatives to "be available at that time and further
telegram will be sent as to'this as soon.as possible.
As regards agenda of Conference on the defence
side, His Majesty's Government in the United1 Kingdom fully
recognise importance of the Various matters referred to in
your telegram-     It will be appreciated however that adequate
consideration of some of the topics mentioned,* such as those
set out under (d), (g) and (h) in your telegram, would call
for a meeting more in the nature of an Imperial Conference in
which representatives of other Dominions and India might
wish to participate.     It is assumed that on such topics the
task of the present Conference will be merely exploratory
with a view to drawing up reports for further consideration
by the Governments concerned.     This would not apply to
immediate practical problems such as those mentioned under (a),
(b) and (c), which it is thought could be fully discussed at
the Conference with a view to reaching definite conclusions.
His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom agree that
( j) should be included in Agenda-     Text ends.
If discussions at the Conference are to be of the
nature suggested it is clear that attendance of senior
officers of the three defence services will be necessary,
and if Conference is to open in March it would be advisable
that Officers at present in the neighbourhood of New Zealand
should be selected.     it is thought, therefore, that most
suitable arrangement would be for   3ir Jiagnar Colvin and
Lieutenant-General Squires to be the Naval and Military ,
Service representatives on behalf of United Kingdom
Government, provided that the Commonwealth Government were
willing
willing that they should so net in addition to any duties
which they may be performing in relation to the Conference
i'or the Commonwealth Government.
Please approach Commonwealth Govern; ient accordingly
and inform us as soon as possible whether they have any
objection.
For your own information, as regards Royal Air
Force representation position is that consideration is "being
given to the question whether it would he possible for
Sir Arthur Longmore to be released from his duties in
connection with Aircraft Tflission to Australia in order to
take part in Conference in New Zealand in latter part of
March.     View of Government here as regards Conference
generally is that it is desirable that as far as possible it
should be confined to immediate problems.