PACIFIC DEFENCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 85, 12 April 1939, Page 10

PACIFIC DEFENCE

COMING TALKS

TO BE OPENED BY, LORD GALWAY

DELEGATES ARRIVE

SUBJECTS FOR DISCUSSION

Arranged at the instigation of tha New Zealand Government, a confer" ence between New Zealand, Australian, and British, representatives to discuss the question of defence in the Pacific will be. opened by hi* Excellency the Governor-General (Viscount Galway) on Friday. The majority of overseas delegates are now in Wellington, members of the Australian and British delegation arriving today. The conference will be held in Parliament Buildings. The need for a more compact British defence policy in the Pacific has been admitted for some considerable time, and this conference is regarded by competent observers as a positive step in this direction, as well as an indication of a tightening up of Imperial defence strategy in thijS part of the world. The delegates attending the confer* ence will be:— British Government. Sir Harry Batterbee, K.C.M.G, X.C.V.0., United Kingdom High Commissioner in New Zealand (leader). Sir Harry Luke, K.C.M.G., Governor of Fiji and High Commissioner for tha Western Pacific. Vice Admiral Sir Ragnar Colvin, K.8.E., C.8., R.N., representing "the Admiralty (and also acting as head of the Australian delegation). Major-General P. J. Mackesy, C.8., D.5.0., M.C, representing the War Office. Air Marshal Sir Arthur Longmore, X.C.8., D.5.0., representing the .Air Ministry.

The staff will 'consist of Captain W. D. McN. Graham, of the General Staft War Office; Major A. H. Stafford, of the Fiji Defence Force; Mr. H. H. Vaskess, 0.8. E., of the Western Pacific High Commission; Lieutenant F. R; J. Nicholls, R.A., A.D.C. to Sir Harry Luke; Mr. G. E. Boyd-Shannon, official secretary to Sir Harry Batterbee; and Mr. N. E. Costar, assistant official secretary to the High Commissioner for the United Kingdom in Australia.

New Zealand. The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage).

The Minister of Education (the Hon. P. Fraser).

The Minister of Finance (the Hon. W. Nash).

The Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones).

The Minister of Industries and Commerce (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan).

Commander H. E. Horan, D.S.C, R.N. Group Captain H. W. L. Saunders, M.C.; D.F.C., M.M. Group Captain T. M. Wilkes, C.B.E, M.C.

Mr. C. A. Berendsen, C.M.G., Per* manent Head of the Prime Minister's Department. Mr. B. C. Ashwin, Secretary of- . the Treasury. Mr. L. J. Schmitt, secretary of the Department of Industries and Commerce. Lieutenant-Colonel W. G. Steven* conference secretary. -Australia. Vice Admiral Sir Ragnar Colvin, representing the Australian Naval Board and leading the delegation. Colonel V. A. H. Sturdee, C.B.E, D.5.0., of the Military Board. Wing-Commander G. Jones, D.F.C* R.A.A.F., of the Air Board. Captain E. C. Johnston, D.F.C., representing the Civil Aviation Department. The staff consists of PaymasterCaptain J. B. Foley, 0.8. E., R.A.bN; and Commander J. C. D. Esdaile, R.A.N.

Captain Johnston is to arrive on Monday, and Major Stafford, of the British delegation, on Friday. The delegates who arrived today were met by Major-General Duigan. Commodore Horan, GrouprCaptaia Saunders, and Colonel Stevens; Messrs. G. E. Boyd Shannon and C. A. Berendsen. Commander Fanshawe, Colonel Mead, Mr. Vaskass, and Lieutenant Nicholls. AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURE. One of the questions that will be discussed will be the manufacture of aircraft in New Zealand and Australia, and it is understood also that plans -will be considered for a closer co-operatio.i between the New Zealand warships and the Australian Navy. Arising out . of the last issue has been a sugges- ■. i tion that Australia should be equipped with a dock capable of accommodating a capital ship. As is pointed out by experts, the development of naval plans since tha completion of the Singapore Base, which will still constitute the first lin* of defence for New Zealand and Australia, and the increase in long-distance-flying are factors that have emphasised the need for a properly co-ordinated policy of defence in the Pacific. i* is generally conceded that -neither country need have any immediate fear of a properly-planned invasion by enemy forces. The main danger lies in sudden coastal raids on mam centres, and this calls for proper local fortifications, a trained land force, .and properly-equipped naval and air arms, to which end the Dominions ara working. _______.__—.