Teleprinter Message 8 May 1947

IMMEDIATE TOP SECRET

PROPOSED ANNEXATION OF HEARD ISLAND

Reference is made to your memo A46/26/1 dated 18th April 1947 and
previous correspondence concerning the proposal that Australia
should annex Heard Island. 2. The report of the Defence Committee
[1] in this matter has now been received and is as follows:-

'The Defence Committee after consideration recorded the following
observations:

(a) Heard Island is situated some 2,200 miles from the nearest
part of Australia and it possesses no suitable naval or flying
boat anchorages or harbours.

Difficulties could therefore be anticipated in occupation and in
subsequent maintenance of an occupation party.

(b) The practicability of airstrip construction [2] is open to
doubt since in the Admiralty Sailing Directions, a description of
the Island includes the following details-

"Heard Island is approximately 25 miles long and 9 miles wide. On
it is a volcano 7,000 feet in height, known to have been active in
1910. The Island, covered by glaciers, has no secure anchorages.

The weather is generally foggy and boisterous. The climate is far
inferior to that of Kerguelen. Landing from the sea can be
effected on an average, only one day in three."

(c) The topographical details given in the Admiralty Chart of the
Island are so lacking in particulars that they do not provide any
guide as to the practicability of airstrip construction.

The Defence Committee concluded that from the defence viewpoint,
the possession of Heard Island is of no value either in the
prevention of long range attack on Australia or in the protection
of our Indian Ocean communications, and, therefore, agreed with
the view expressed by the Admiralty that Heard Island appears to
have no strategic value whatever.'

3. The Minister has approved the above conclusion of the Defence
Committee as representing the defence view of the proposal for the
annexation of Heard Island. Political and External Affairs aspects
of the matter have not of course been considered by this
Department.