J\ 720/260.
PAKAPHKASJS TKtBOKAM
To the United Kingdom Uigh Commissioner in Canada.
(tient 10.0 p.m., Jjlot i,iarch, 1939).
Ho. 54. V
Secret.
The following message from Harding with reference to
your teio&ram iio. 68: of 16th March "begins:-    i?vom print of
telegrams referred to you vrt.il have gathered that Conference has
teen ci'mi^sd or. the initiative of tfev/ Zealand Government and it
seems to us that it is hardly for United Kingdom Government¦to
volunteer to the Canadian Government any statement as to its scope or
composition,.    The main deal ire of Hew Zealand Government in arranging
Conferen.o'-;, we gather, is to disCuss defence questions (as set out
in I*o. 6 in the print) relating to South West Pacific, and we our-
selv©3 hope that Conference will afforu opportunity for making clear
to New Zealand Government (a?, well as commonwealth Government)
measured of further oo-opci'L>tlon in Imperial defence which from our
point of fiow ?/oUld "be of moot value.    (L?or your own Information
we should assume that Canadian Government might prefer not to
participate in discussions of this nature and indeed we feel very
doubtful'. ¦ -nether Canadian Prime Minister's answer quoted in your
telegram Uc. 67 was intended to suggest that an invitation would he
welcome)*
tfe wish to take advantage of the Conference to discus;* with
Conmonwculth im& New Zealand Governments in addition, questions as
to policy in relation to the United Stated activities in the Pacific
and
and the trans-Pacific air route, papers as to which were
enclosed in Dixon^ letter of 10th March with request thut
Cunadian authorities mi^ht be informed informally of position.
(We are sending you by mail, copies of briefs on thie subject
prepared for United Kingdom representatives, for your own-
information)•
The Canadian authorities can be informed confidentially
of position as described above if any enquiries are received from
them, it beinr made clear 'chat feeling here has been the.t since
Hew Zealand Government originated and are conveners of the
Conference, it was primarily for them to determine who should be
invited to It.     You could ad<3 thut 30 far no public announcement
hus been made as to pt.rtioular questions to be discussed and that
any such announcement ccein;. unlikely-     I:essu#e ends.