D.O. 3.
SECRET
Communications on thin subject
should bo addressed to—
The Under-Secretary of State,
Dominions Office,
nino Street, London, S.W.I,
and tho following number quoted :-—
c.o.
Subject: f5>d^.«f i*uou_rf*» .
Reference to previous correspondence:
Letter        fAe Dominions Office of the   a) ¦ 1-
from i
Transmitted by direction of tho Secretary of State for
Dominion Affairs.
A copy has also been sent to the ^-^-i
Dominions Office, Downing Street,
193
1 MAR
193S
PARAPHBaSX TJ&^OBAM
COltHONtVSALTH 09 AUSTRALIA
From the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia«
Dated 28th February, 1939.   Received 11.36 a.m., 83th February.
No. 21, Secret.
The following is text of tomogram whioh has teen sent
to the Prime Minister of Hew Zealand.     Telegram becins.
February 17th.   Secret.     Propoued Defence Conference. Advice
has been received that HI a Majesty's Government in the United
Kingdom will be i-epresented by Service Officers on defence matters.
His Majesty's Government in tlie Commonwealth of Australia is
agreeable to participate on this basis.     As was, however,
pointed out in my telegram of February 15th discussion on several
matters in the Agenda could only proceed between the Ministers
of the Governments concerned.     Commonwealth Government are
therefore of opinion that Item3 (c) (d) and (h) ure mutters that
cannot be dealt with by a conference of Service representatives
and that discussion on those Items must necessarily bo explorutorv
only with a view to drawing up a report for further consideration
by the Governments concerned.     Attendance of a Commonwealth
Minister would be impracticable and so far as Australia is
concerned discussion will be on purely defence matters.     In so far
as the Defence Conference is concerned therefore Australian
representatives will be empowered to discuss only the technical
aspect of the Service pluns and it is noted that the United Kingdom
Government's telegram of February 2nd also takes this view.
Ow^yj to pressure of work to which my telegram of February 10th
r^Hp*cd and departure of the Chief of Air Force Stuff for England
ti^MHno&th the Australian representation will "be the Chief of Naval
Staff affd Senior Officers of the Army and Air Force,   ffe will
notify full list later.     Please advise d.-.te proposed and, in
accordance with request of February 16th, forward, for examination
in advance of the Delegation, ? paper(s) on Items in the Agenda.
Telegram ends.
COUUOUiteALTH 0*1 AUST&ifclA
Prom the United Kinf^lora High Commissioner in the Commonwealth
of Australia,
Dated 20th Pebruury, 1939,   Kuceived 6.63 a.m., 28th February.
No. 33. J^cret,
Your telegrura Ho. 34 of the 25th February Pacific
Defence Conference*      I have received oral information thut the
Cabinet decided yueterday in Sydney thut they are pz*epared to
release Colvin uu representative of the United Kingdom as well
as of the Commonwealth, "but that theycannot release Soul res,
since the Government is at present considering his report.
Telegrams from the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia
to the United Kingdom und New Zealand Governments which, inter
alia, convey this decision are awaiting final approval of the
Cabinet at today's meeting.