Mr. Lee 13/6/39.
Mr. Bevir     14/6/39. 5 ,
( 4 on 7025/2A/39 Part I
Mr. Antrobus 16/6/39
at once as draft. ^
5 ^
CYPIUK TiiLKQRAM from the Secretary of Stute for the
Colonies to the Governor of Fiji.
(Sent 0 p.m., 12th July, 1939)
No. 112. Secret.
Your telegram No. 93.     Recommendations in
paragraph 59 of report of Hew Zealand Defence Conference
have nov/ "been considered "by Oversea Defence Committee,
following is summary of Committee's views with my comments.
Numbering follows that of sub-paragraphs of paragraph
59 of Report,
(a) IjJX
(i) Committee endorse recommendations for expansion
of Defence i,lorce.     War Office are investigating
possibility of providing machine guns and small arms
ammunition required.
I agree with Committee's view and trust that
expansion of force will be begun forthwith.     Assume you
will consult Government of Hew Zealand direct a3 regards
proposed provision of rifles and web equipment.     It is
not yet known here whether New Zeals-.nd Government has
accepted recommendation of Conference in this respect.
I will communicate further as regarrto machine cuns and
ammunition.
(iii) Committee recommend that Suva should be
classified as Category A defended port with coast defences
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of 2 6-inch guns and 8 search-lights.     If Commi ttee
of Imperial Defence approve recommendations, defences will
"be provided from United Kingdom sources as and when
available > "but demands of Suva must "be considered in
relation to similar demands throughout Kmpire. Sence
there may "be some delay.     In the meantime Admiralty
are considering whether guns can he provided from Admiralty
¦
sources in Australia.
Will communicate further as to this, hut in the
¦
meantime it is desirable that preliminary arrangements
should be considered for recruitment of personnel ( 6
officers and 106 other ranks) who will he required to man
defences, in order that there may be minimum delay in
forming unit when equipment is available .     No-- actual
recruiting should of course, be be^n at present.
(iv) and (vi).     Committee endorse recommendation
that two landing grounds should he constructed. His
Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom will share cost-
equally with Hi3 Majesty's Government in New Zealand, on
the understanding that financial contribution from United
Kingdom funds is limited to half estimated cost of
constructing   landing grounds only, and that cost of other
facilities for New Zealand Air Force is home by His
Majesty's Government in New Zealand.
Assume you will communicate with Government of New
Zealand as regards construction of landing grounds, but you
should defer any such communication    for the present
-3-
pen&ing conclusion of conversations on defence matters
in
at present proceeding/London *'ith the New Zealand Minister
of finance.
(i) Committee endorse recommendation to raise one
infantry company, as being an essential corollary to
proposal, to construct landing grounds in Tonga, since these,
if constructed, must "be defended.     It is not, however,
recommended that any part of recurrent cost should he
borne from Imperial funds.     Initial equipment and arms
would, hov/ever, be made available by His Majesty's
Government in the United Kingdom and in Nov; Zealand as
set out in paragraph 45 of the report.
I appreciate that absence of any promise of financial
support towards recurrent cost may make it difficult
for Government of Tonga to maintain force proposed, and I
should not wish any undue pressure to be exercised if
Government of I'onga is, in the circumstances, reluctant
to undertake commitment proposed.     nevertheless, unless
you see any objection, I should be obliged if you would
approach Government of Tonga   at a favourable opportunity
in order to ascertain whether they will be prepared to
implement proposal on the understanding, set out above.
(ii) Committee welcome proposal of Government of
Hew Zealand to survey possible sites for emergency
landing grounds.
You
4
You will no doubt concert arrangements for such
surveys with the Government of New Zealand direct, in
consultation with the Government of Tonga.
(&) ffannrinft Island;
' (i) Committee v/elcome proposal that one platoon
from New Zealand should he stationed at Fanning Inland
in peace, on the understanding that ..hole of initial
cost and of subsequent maintenance will he "borne "by His
Majesty's Government in New Zealand.
New Zealand Government are considering advisability
of sending a platoon as a temporary measure for such
purposes as construction of section'posts and improvement
of water supply, hut have not reached a final decision.
(ii) You arc taking action as regards food reserves
and will no doubt report if there is any difficulty.
(e) Qcoan Island:
(x) Your action is noted.
(ii) War office will be consulted as regards proposed
supply of arras and ammunition in light of separate
telegraphic correspondence.
/      (f) New Hebrides and (3) New Caledonia :
As regards financial implications of above proposals,
I have noted v/ith appreciation recommendations ma.de in
paragraph 5 of your despatch of the 17th -January, 1939.
I assume that it will be possible for -''i.-ji to meet;
Your report on these items will be awaited.
(i)
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(1) any capital cost involved by proposed expansion
of Defenc, Force
(2) inci*eased recurrent cost "both of proposed
increase in Defence Force and of unit to man
coast defences ;
(3) recurrent cost of maintaining landing ground;
(4) cost of small R.H.V.R. unit concerning which
I am sending a despatch.
I agi'ee that if Pijl accepts responsibility for these
charges, annual voluntary contribution     of ,05,000
hitlerto made for Imperial Defence should he discontinued.