159/1947 12 May 1947

TOP SECRET

ANTARCTIC : PROPOSED ANNEXATION OF HEARD ISLAND

PREVIOUS CONSIDERATION: On the 2nd May, 1947 the Defence Committee
considered a memorandum (A47/26/11) in which the Department of
External Affairs had raised the question of annexation by
Australia of Heard Island. After noting Report No. 14/47 by the
Joint Planning Committee, the Defence Committee concluded that
from the defence viewpoint, the possession of Heard Island was 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 (Minute
No. 154/1947).

2. TELEPRINTER MESSAGE No. 320 FROM DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL
AFFAIRS: The Defence Committee gave consideration to teleprinter
message (No.320) [2] in which the Department of External Affairs
mentioned that the report of the Defence Committee (vide Minute
No. 154/1947) did not indicate having taken meteorological
considerations into account, and requested, in view of the
importance of that aspect whether those considerations would be
likely to affect the Defence Committee's views.

3. REPORT BY JOINT PLANNING COMMITTEE: The Committee noted that
the Joint Planning Committee, which had examined initially the
aspect referred to (paragraph 2 above), had submitted the
following observations in its Report No. 21/1947, (copy attached):

[3]

'In respect of the aspect raised by the Department of External
Affairs, the Joint Planning Committee observed that the use of
Heard Island as a meteorological station was considered from the
Defence aspect and primarily, in relation to its usefulness in the
operation of a Southern air route between Australia and South
Africa should it become necessary for strategic reasons.

The Committee considered that it appeared unlikely that, in the
foreseeable future, there would be a need from the Defence aspect
to establish air communications along this route. The value of
such a meteorological station for the use of shipping would be
very limited. The establishment at Heard Island of a
meteorological station would consequently not be justified on the
grounds of Defence.'

4. CONCLUSION: The Defence Committee endorsed the views of the
Joint Planning Committee as set out in paragraph 3 above.

H.D. PRESTON
for Secretary,
Defence Committee

L. HAMILTON (Admiral)
Chief of the Naval Staff

G. JONES (Air Marshal)
Chief of the Air Staff

S.F. ROWELL (Lieut-General)
Vice-Chief of the General Staff

V. W. QUEALY
Asst. Sec, Dept. of Defence