Copy No47 THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT IN NEV.' ZEALAND. All Communications In your reply please to "be addressed to qsote this number: "The Secretary". D.C.S. 8 DEFENCE CONFERENCE, 1939. Parliament Buildings, Wellington, C.l. SECRET. 24th April; 1939. MEMORANDUM for :- Notes of Proceedings of the Meeting (Eighth) of the Defence Conference 1939 * held on the 24th April, 1939. The attached copy of Notes of Proceedings of the above Conference is forwarded for your information. / v ;\ f Secretary, ftfence Conference 1939. U FORM D.C.F. 12. THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT IN NEW ZEALAND. 7 DEFENCE CONFERENCE, D.C.S.8. Copy No._ 2i+th April, 1939. 939. SECRET. It is requested that special care may be taken to ensure the secrecy of this document. Notes of Proceedings of the Eighth Day of Meeting of the Defence Conference - lionday, 2Uth April, 1939. PRESENT: NEW ZEALAND. Delegates. Hon. P. Praser Hon. .7. Nash Hon. P, Jones Hon. D.G. Sullivan tfajor-General J.E. Duigan* C.B. , D.S.O. Commodore H.E. Horan, D.S.C.^ R.N. Group-Captain H.V/.L. Saunders> H.C., D.F.C., M.U. Group-Captain T.M. Wilkes, C.B.E., M.C. C.A. Berendsen, Esq., C.M.G. B.G. Ashwin, Esq, L.J. Schmitt, Esq. Lt.-Col. Y/.G. Stevens Advisers. Commander A. B. Panshav/e, R.N. Paymaster-Captain E.L. Tottenham, O.B.E., R.N. Colonel O.H. itead, D.S.O. H. Turner, Esq. Group-Captain L.li. Isitt, R.N.Z.A.P. 1/ing-Commander A. de T. Nevill, R.N.Z.A.F. T.A. Barrow, Esq. A.R.F. nackay, Esq. J.R, Middleton, Esq. Squadron Leader E,A. Gibson Secretariat. Lt.-Col. V/.G. Stevens Lt.-Commander T. Ellis, R.N. Captain D.T. Maxwell, N.Z.S.C. Sqn. Ldr. E.K.F. Grundy, R.A.P. P. Shanahan, Esq. H.G. Nicholls, Esq. Major G.H. Clifton, M.C. UNITED KINGDOM. Delegates. Sir Harry Batterbee, K.C.M.G., K.C.V.O. Sir Harry Luke, K.C.M.G. Vice-Admiral Sir Ragnar Colvin, K.B.E., C.B., R.N. Major-General P.d. Mackesy, C.B., D.S.O., M.C, Air-:;arshal Sir Arthur Longmore, K.C.B., D.S.O. 2 (United Kingdom), Advisers. Captain V/.D. McN. Graham. H.H. Vaskcss, Esq., O.B.E. Lt. F.R.J. Nicholls, R.A. Secretariat. G.E. Boyd Shannon, Esq.. N.E. Costar, Esq. AUSTRALIA. Delegates. Vice Admiral Sir Ragnar Colvin, K.B.E., C.B.R.N. Colonel V.A.H. Sturdee, C.B.E., D.S.O. Wing-commander G. Jones, D.P.C., R.A.A.P. Captain E.G. Johnston, D.F.C. Adviser. Commander J.CD. Esdaile, R.A.N. 1. The Conference assembled at 10.10 a.m., when Mr. Berendsen extended an invitation on "behalf of the Prime Minister, to the Delegates and Advisers, to meet him at tea on Wednesday afternoon. 2. The Conference then considered the Report of the Strategic Committee (paper D.C. Strat. 1). 3. The Report was then considered, page "by page, and certain minor amendments were made which the Secretary was instructed to incorporate in the Report. k» Mr. Nash then moved that the Report of the Strategical Committee, as amended, should "be adopted. The motion was seconded by Vice-Admiral Sir Ragnar Colvin, and carried unanimously by the Conference. 5. The Conference then discussed the question of the final lay- out and binding of the Report. 6. After some discussion and in view of the fact that reference would frequently be made to the individual reports as opposed to the Report as a whole, it was agreed that the report of each Committee f 3. should be bound separately and then placed in an over-riding binding. Ur.Kash raised the question of the number of copies to be prepared, and su_iested that, on the grounds of secrecy, it would be preferable if a limited number of copies of the full Report was sent to each Government concerned, and the responsibility left on them to prepare additional copies should they so desire. It was agreed that each Delegation should state the number of copies it required and they would be taken possession of by a responsible person for delivery to the Government concerned. It vas further agreed that all temporary copies and documents should be handed in and destroyed, with the exception of the Notes of Proceedings which were to be retained. The Conference adjourned at 12.30 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. 8. The Conference resumed at 2.30 p.m. and considered the report of the Committee on Supply. Certain amendments were made and the Secretary was instructed to incorporate these in the Report. 9. The Hon. D. G. Sullivan moved the adoption of the Report. This was seconded by Major-General Mackesy, and carried unanimously. 10. The Conference adjourned at 3 p.m. to allow delegates time to consider the Report of the Committee on Trans-Pacific Air Routes, 11. The Conference reassembled at 3-30 p.m. The Chairman stated that it had been brought to his notice that Item (g) in the agenda - "Possible effect of German demand for the return of mandated territories" - had not been discussed. 12. Mr. Nnsh replied that he as Chairman of the Strategic Committee wished to inform the Conference that it had been thought wise not to discuss the matter. 13. Sir Arthur Lonfrnoro moved that the item should be withdrawn from the agenda. The motion was carried. 1*1. The Conference then considered the report of the Air Committee. After some discussion certain amendments v/ere incorporated in the body of the report as a result of suggestions by various delegates. 15. The Chairman, the Hon. I'r. Fraser, then moved that the report, as amended, be accepted. Captain Johnston seconded the motion which was carried unanimously. * 16. The Hon. Mr Praser then asked the delegates if they thought that the Conference should recommend that further Defence Conferences would "be "beneficial. 17. Mr. Hash drafted the following recommendation:- "The delegates recognise the value of the discussions and consultations at the Conference and recommend to the Governments concerned that similar conferences "be arranged periodically in the Pacific area." This recommendation was approved "by the Conference. 18. Sir Harry Batterbee then expressod the thanks of the United Kingdom Delegation to the three Chairmen of Committees, Mr Praser, Mr Nash and Mr Sullivan for their work on the Committees. 19. Sir Ragnar Colvin associated the Australian delegation with Sir Harry1s remarks and also expressed his thanks to the Secretariat. 20. The Chairman then adjourned the Conference until 3 p.m. on Wednesday, April 26th.