DEFENCE POLICY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 April 1939, Page 9

DEFENCE POLICY

PLANS FOR CO-OPERATION IN PACIFIC CONFERENCE IN WELLINGTON. OPENING TOMORROW. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Pacific questions of mutual interest are to be discussed at a conference between representatives of the British, Australian and New Zealand Governments, to begin in Parliament Buildings tomorrow. The conference, which is the outcome of a suggestion put forward by the New Zealand Government about the middle of last year, will be opened by the Governor-General, Viscount Galway. The proceedings are expected to extend over a week at the verv least. Most of the British and Australian delegates to the conference arrived by the Wanganella from Sydney yesterday. ‘ Defence in the Pacific will be me major question discussed by the conference, for the need of a greater de-, gree of defence co-ordination in this part of the world is generally realised. Plans are likely to be considered with a view to closer co-operation between the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy and the Royal Australian Navy. The manufacture of aircraft in New Zealand and Australia will probably be considered. This is a question that has already been investigated in both countries by the British Air Mission, which arrived in the Dominion about 10 days ago. The full list of delegates is as follows: British Government. Sir Harry Batterbee, K.C.M.G., K.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 the 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, K.C.8., D. 5.0., representing the Air Ministry. The staff will consist of Captain W. D. McN. Graham, of the General Staff, 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. Coster, assistant official secretary to the High Commissioner for the United Kingdom in Australia. New Zealand. The Prime Minister, Mr Savage. The Minister of Education, Mr Fraser. The Minister of Finance, Mr Nash. The Minister of Defence, Mr Jones. The Minister of Industries and Commerce, Mr Sullivan. Major-General J. E. Duigan, C. 8., D.S.O. r. o r. 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.8.E., M.C. Mr-C. A. Berendsen, C.M.G., permanent head of the Prime Minister’s Department. Mr B. C. Ashwin, secretary of the i Treasury. Mr L. J. Schmitt, secretary of the Department of Industries and' Commerce. Lieutenant-Colonel W. G. Stevens, conference-secretary. Australia. Vice-Admiral Sir Ragnar Colvin, representing the Naval Board, and leader of 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., re-i presenting the Civil Aviation' Department. The Staff consists of Paymaster-Cap-tain J. B. Foley, 0.8. E., R.A.N., and Commander J. C. D. Esdaile, R.A.N. Captain Johnston will arrive on Monday, and Major Stafford tomorrow. The delegates who arrived yesterday were met by Major-General Duigan, Commodore Horan, Group Captain Saunders, Colonel Stevens, Messrs Boyd-Shannon and Berendsen, Commander A. B. Fanshawe, Colonel O. H. Mead, Mr Vaskass, and Lieutenant Nicholls.