COUl'ONKKALTH OF AUSTRALIA.
NKV/ ZBAJ.AND.
To the Governments of the Commonwealth of Australia and
New Zealand*
(Sent 10o0epomo    8th March, 19390)
Secret,,
your telegram of 8th Uarch N0o240     So far as
concerns statement to be issued here our feeling is that it
would be best if this were on following lineso Begins*
As the result of a suggestion put forward about the middle
of last year by His Ltajesty's Government in New Zealand
which has since been under discussion between the Governments
concerned, arrangements have now been completed for the
meeting in New Zealand in the near future of a Conference
between representatives of the Governments of Hew Zealand,the
Commonwealth of Australia and the United Kingdom to consider
Pacific questions of common concern with special reference
to defence questions*.   The United Kingdom representatives will
be the High Commissioner in New Zealand for His Majesty's
Government in the United Kingdom, the High Commissioner for
the Western pacific and representatives of the Defence
Services* Ends*
In order to avoid misconception in foreign
countries it seems to us that it would be advisable to make
clear as indicated above that proposal is not one "recently
evolved