OCMMOHtfliALM Oi> AUSTRALIA From the Prime Ulnlator of the Commonwealth of Australia. Bated 16th February, 1930. Received 11.42 a.m., l&th February. Ifo. 18, Tele#rum as follov/s has been sent to tho New Zealand Government. Text begins Secret, Proposal contained in your telegram of 24th January hue been fliven full consideration. While toeing in full agreement concerning the holding of a Conference It would appeur to me that th^ proponed Agenda implies a full scule conference. It has been shown by past experience that many of the matters listed could be properly discussed only in London at an Imperiul Conference where the British Cabinet and Chief of the Staff are located. It io also observed that some of the subjects were discussed at tho 1937 Imperial Conference tmd that Committee of Imperial Defence Paper or the Report of Chief of Staff Sub Committee of recent date are available on most questions. I am sure you will agree with me thut in such a wide range of important subjects difficulties in achieving any great progress will be experienced without the presence of the United Kingdom Mini store and Chief of Staff. As you will be aware the Senior ])efence Officers in Australia are hard pressed with work on their programme and we should like to have a fuller understanding of what is proposed than the list of items for discussion. It would be inconvenient to lo.-;o the service? of these officers while they vvere preparing extensive data in addition to the time spent in travelling to and from Hew Zealund. As the success of the Conference is dependent upon the adequacy of the preliminary examination of the proposals, may may I suggest that you should as a fir^t a tagĀ© circulate documentation and the proposals for the information of the United Kingdom-Australian Governments. As ycu know the principle of documentation and its prior circulation is observed "by the United Kingdom Government, The date of the Conference could "be fixed after the documents have been examined by all concerned. Copy of this telegram is being sent to His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. Text ends.