I have been asked by the Secretary of State to communicate to you,
for your consideration, the following proposals arising out of the
consideration which the United Kingdom authorities have given to
the report of the British Defence Committee in South-East Asia on
the question of co-ordination with Australia and New Zealand on
all important defence matters concerning South-East Asia and the
South-West Pacific. The South-East Asia Defence Committee at
present consists of the Governor-General of Malaya [1], the
Special Commissioner for South-East Asia (Lord Killearn), and the
Supreme Allied Commander, South-East Asia. [2] When the
appointment of Supreme Allied Commander is abolished, he will be
replaced on the Committee by the three Commanders-in-Chief.

2. The proposals which follow have been formed in the light of the
long-term strategic policy in South-East Asia, which is to make
Australia in any future war the main support area in the Far East,
and follows the lines of the discussions at the Prime Ministers'
meetings (see particularly the document P.M.M.(46)5-Memorandum by
the United Kingdom Chiefs of Staff on Responsibilities for
Commonwealth Defence.

3. So far as Australia is concerned, the Commonwealth
representative in Malaya [3] provides a suitable channel through
which liaison may be arranged. The United Kingdom authorities have
agreed that the Australian Commissioner should be invited to
attend as an observer meetings of the British Defence Committee in
South-East Asia when matters of concern to the Commonwealth
Government are under discussion.

4. There is at present no representative of the New Zealand
Government in South-East Asia. The appointment of such a
representative would be warmly welcomed both on general grounds
and particularly from the point of view of liaison with the
Defence Committee in South-East Asia. If the New Zealand
authorities agree to the appointment of such a representative it
is suggested that he should, in the same way as the Australian
Commissioner, attend meetings of the British Defence Committee in
South-East Asia when matters of concern to his Government are
under discussion.

5. The United Kingdom Government would propose to make available
to the Commonwealth and New Zealand Governments all papers
initiated by the British Defence Committee in South-East Asia
dealing with strategic and other matters of concern to them, after
these have been seen by the United Kingdom authorities. It is
further proposed that visits should be arranged on a reciprocal
basis between members of the British Defence Committee in South-
East Asia and the Commonwealth and New Zealand authorities. This
would be in addition to the attendance of Commonwealth and New
Zealand observers mentioned in paragraphs 3 and 4 above. Service
liaison visits between South-East Asia Service Headquarters and
Australian and New Zealand Service Headquarters would also assist
in achieving co-ordination in this area, and it is suggested that
these should take place as soon as they can be arranged.

6. The High Commissioner [4] has been asked to ascertain whether
the Dominion authorities agree with these proposals, which it is
hoped they will find acceptable and in which the United Kingdom
authorities will value their co-operation. If the visits of Mr.

Malcolm MacDonald and Lord Killearn mentioned in my letter of 28th
September take place, the Australian and New Zealand authorities
will no doubt wish to take that opportunity of first discussing
with Mr. MacDonald and Lord Killearn this proposed system of
consultation on defence. [5]

7. The question of permanent Dominion Representation on the
British Defence Committee in South-East Asia is being left for
consideration when the strategic responsibility in the area is
defined.

8. A communication on the above lines is being made to the New
Zealand Government by the United Kingdom High Commissioner in New
Zealand. [6]

(Sgd) W. C. HANKINSON