NAA.019.0066

so t

..

a

..e He • dO C rt • - ••~., iL1e. inister and 1n1sterror e ce C 0 tion.

The 0...... . .lOrela. ..; • , is"ter tor t eon. J.3. Oh.tley. ".?. ~re ural".

e -on. .V. Evatt••C.," •• , to e "-"enaraJ. a c.nist r for el"!! J airs.

eo. J •• Beasley. • •• 1nlater for Supplevelop nt.

The on.' .J.. O. "" , ". " . in 9 e1" or tob. "av,in1.st r for i tio soOo. ... e1"ord, .?. . iater tor ir.Th

PRESEN'r:

('I e Ohief ofat '"" Ohier

the ral sta 1', t Chi f ot the. r tafto the 1 a1 st f we]~e a1 0 pre e t at t Is-

and t eeet ).

The Ar'::ryfoll~ tug 911 jeet.s

~5L1,941 - :;rr.y•

1941)n )- " )

10 ee .. iUll e ,0. (1498») •• oa"&

gy ~. C 0 ST. •• • •

orts ere note by a1" cab t t'ter eb s. 01 lly t10ned '-•

(1527)

at o~ th Ge eral Starto. 9 0 8t 0V' :J.ber~st 5-pdr. t n ti­

neorreot. The e 111 e ts referredI1t anti- otar-bo t, nd are in-

a st f t- onn", eft.o. er. or Sydney and 0 ~or

(ll) ire t It sa noted at 0.7- c -a rcratt It1o:1 een

o t of ·eto r, t e rea on for t is bem?ty 0 a 5. he 1ni tel" or .unitlonsoa1 100' into e attar.

(111) ~~un~i.:.tl~O~~~i1f.ln~~s~. he C let at t General ta.ti'sst a ere Id eli err at a

th r O. over the nt 9 of J uary. ebruar3' d:'arch 19 roth) • s pxo::dsed. 0 taIliC had

een ara!!ll~e q iN ts 0 Wl1tion b enass s~ d 0 as! 0 the ull u ber 0 ered. naIlq t1 1 a amI!ll.Ulll..i1i1on era e calved th each e11-very ot 1;::;1.••,.;8 "

(iv) T eel aoture 01'o. {l7ti)(,1)". The

deU tB..l;.....a110t odel . d be

s. {?r&vlous r re.'a1' 0 t rald oe finalised au~

ut to at er.

no e - i.'1utet 3 ted t tthe irat three

NAA.019.0067

•

~.0IeSlll rt1. eas to the

(v)

BSSbe readvaries

~ister ~or unitions id t at tlsractory Pro-s be n de t the proJeot. . n :faotory wolllde 1'19' in ar. d he tho t th t irst e11­

oul be de in a~ or J' e. 1 .;;2.

etere ce .' s de to the considerable deflcien-les. ren uns an 2- r. anti-tank _ini er or ions Is to dvise ar Cabinet

ro uetion position at to 0 0' eet •

(vi)

.mad :-s of

T all urgentroved Y the ~1nlster

ar Cs at r1 te .ro. (803)

reI nary exp n iture for .a -... t ba' inconnection h the stalla i,on 0 COEl.st de:tenoand anti-Q1rc e' i t e~... ava! Ieoy the U tea. stat e • • •• •• :£20.

agendpos~!bleJ

cost.

Is t~ be sui:n1tted 0 ar Cs. inet s soon 8givtn d tIlils of the ccmol ted project and its

o

( )

fa lla'"»'1"ne :-avy

sUbj cta ..b r Cabinete tio d:-

t r the•

o£ qalry on t tire in~ t, ~13t t er s no direct

e.L ,there nan been a oer-~-A!ty 0 1s01 l1nary

"s a

11)~~a~2a.1t*f~~S5et~ob.~lre~~~~5rlo~f~5~h~lnS;.. (previa's ret'erenoe.,.I,JI.L.Uu£e '''0 .. 1: '38 •.•v. e 13 er U~21 nd ·evalo

ant reterred to 1a r 10us re uest for tuller inrormatlonto 1; El 4181>03tt10 of •• .• S 1 So ( ut&$ 09. (1397)

nd (lA9B»). J. is an:lB.tian ot yet b e de Bvall-bl, d as ed t t etio t . an t ens tha't 11;

a su 11 . r t s.

ot Chief 0 the .nv 1 t t 8t~ted t t e snot a,.......r8 01' e. st _ 'S rElVl0U5 request but t t he~Iuld 9 e that th 0 tio 'es1xed s e 8 lIable

co otia t scnsslcu at ~uture re.orts.

..tm-.e e t t co place in osltion 2.5OSO' th111 ast on 19t over. • ••s. "5y e on a

ot

.­•

~fcii~'ie"=S,y~d ~ ..".-""",:;;-=-rr CI - iIiiu"tetar

leoneroonstruoted coon

(HI)

NAA.019.0068

3.

raider. uda t e ii rs't 51ght".LUti. at£ r ld r alt red 00 se fro

no reply. t closer e t; ee D tch rlae. e ftstraad

:frO!!! e11 a.

nd des l'

ht.

bearin S ••or 1

OCOto 50raider, 'hiot:aJA'tika b 1

•

1650R th ship l1al coul'e» eedlata. S d.lley1' 'U the rai er'a beam,d1' ant less eSt as at aotio stations dmade I.·ake Olll' s1 Ie tte ' • fI ~tel .. et!1at .a1la ened fire t torpedoes, her rirst vohit 1 trSldney's br d an startin tt forwar.

By-dne n 0 eneQ f"lre s1mul t eoas!" but ar f rst a vo'WaS ove. arly t e acti.o ·he crUiser s t by ato edo er t t. 1'Gsul 1. . an turretsb j. ~d. ey' B to ado t s· re hit yaurther sal 0» ' ire s at e tUt,.~~

ted tmotion 0 ~t.

The C 10 as bra art' ter abou 0ar,d 'Sytb.ey' J bu q. fiercely ate bo •

proceeded at 5 knots. The rei ar...~c a race! ed a1 1 1.. s 0 0 :1'8 a!111dlm:ll-' ith h r e

l' 0 t or action. t about e 1"'f!1'e' crewa d ed aM , at nl 8S I, . ioh s

uttl • 1 up.

It i 1 B'1I'ed to. t • dne anK at 25 OBII9.

mane.

b 1starrbee

re_ rd_1'e entBt t t

e

t' o~~'~'31bl1ity o~ aeeon ae~~t th! et10. the cting Chier ot t .. e.va!t. th 1 t at investi tl0 S ...........cb. had.

1 V au or t (l di Dot ace t t v1&. •

cti C let or t e v 1 start referred to the61 osl ion hich have b placed as

re nlt of t l.'t! ure d1.so1os by tho trIll~ o,;".LllI::;Ut oriti a o~ thtl eme a esc i_ tiOD of t 6 ... 1 er hich

otio 1 h ':....... Y • i reus ensor-een 0::> d in I U alia a.dv~o ao to e

at restr etI0 s as a. looted to t e United8. t ontia • ese restrietion:!!, v r. notsed 011 t e B. .C. 1"t 1 "l'SSS the

roliUC:.e...t of 1 0 t1 b t 3..C 0 2 ace bar dpllbli tiD 1 t e n1 ted' do pr 'ss force th pI turer 1. se to e ust 11 res or ot er tar leb. it

desi bot e be to thhol.

t Q sol be 0 thetter a d t lr tt tlon

lrenmt 1'8 l"OeldC at by theha ea9 1 as ul be

~es of t Is nat •

'emf'eaentt EI

01"gto

It> "~:Jt w-,"",",v

i :vitali. to pre to• .e to the ai en r nt re

(b) El ot1n Ohier at thet .a~ to doe4 and

Tll re had, , oxt talY t

(B S (} •

porta er a e b r C 1net.

(c) 'T..Y .l.j C •-orta ere noted, y ar C 1 -to

4.

£ ~efenoe Cu ittea is to vi tho strength a or Di­an 10 o£ the thre ervioas t at e probable torms at attao on

..oI.iJ...tralla. t El state of' preparedness of the ervices to t tlfll theirrespective roles 1n the defence 0 ustro-lia. itb ~necial referenoeto e u1pme t, d e prior ties ic~ it considers should be acoor-ed to :n.easu as -,-or t e 00 1 10n 0 de.l.ence against tile probable

foI'I!lS o:f atb C • on t e basie that the primary requirement is to.prevent an eneIlii rrom. reachl _ llstralia.

The 00 ittee is so 0 consider. in t e ligut of theabove, the possibility of redu llg the es b11 t of tue i1i t aryForces y, say, 20.000 to 30.000 me to e ble dditio al ahpo~rto be made a llable for ~he avy and ir Force and for unitlonsoroduction. Is ot to affect the ~I. "' hich Is Co be tn-tained in accord ce ith the rinci1Jles ready a.n aved.

NAA.019.0069

~Iote: e bOY tl.i t s su erseded y inlIte (1557).

(1530) Ti~OO

(Previo~s reference -• . o. lI52;;») .

itlI refare as to .Unute . o. (1525)." 16." 0 t e ci.ete-rioration of t" T\ r ~astern itu· tic. ' s t e b tt I onreferre to is 8"' .. a:rl'ed for c as. to tc :oC:1J .g, it 5 aidedt t leave for tireo s at Yin ~ ul e dere ... ed.

2. e '=ea1a .dis." it} to retur:~ to c e ... a r do aldLngtra port 0 stores urgently re~ re at ar1in.

and for

~. The t~o s e.re to be to ed 0 the cire stances necessi-tat.lli£!, the defeme:·t of their lca'e.

(1531)

The ating Chief of t e laval St&f'f' stated that in theevent at' war ·11 Fer East it uld b necessar to co voy -shlpp.iDg

this 'foUl re ire re ulant' in sallin s. e hold-up thatfraq ent1 occurred ere C8.usinc.> t.e "av authorities ome concern.He referred to the dela s i :la.ili! s til t ha.d taken lace sinceO~tober and he a~'- ed . "hether ;;Ite.Js could be ta· H view toobviat ng these hold-ups.

It s eclded t t e matter auld be ta en up lith therltim.e Counoil) c.: t e r" e ....wi tee is to sea ~ .r. Udehope 1Il

Canberra cn t ce. bel.'. The C' . f of t e 11a a.l Staff is to pre-:;,lara 1"or the Pri: e iater a tat t sho g s"piug delays sineeOctober d also dlcati the neoess t for oonvoying ship ing inthe event oX a war . ster r and t e 1m ort eQ 0 sur g t tdelays _ort re reduced to a ne· nlste Tor tabonr 1salso to be i fa ed of the position.

(1532)

(preVious reference - . o. (1489)).

Consider t.1.. n 11 into the :f'oUowing _roposa~s sllbm1t-ted by the U ted at tes ;_

project I : The provision af suit ble aerodr~ es and 0 eratingfaoilities for ferrying of aircraft, 1nc~udlDg pursuit types.

NAA.019.0070

•

5.

fro To. svilla to the Ii inGS via a in. T e oevelopmentof a dapot at T svilla a-· sl.lch additional facilities as aredeeUlG necessary in 0 er to co a ~t frequent tlrain.1n.g n.1glltsto a d throu ustraUa b IlIlits stationed in the Phillpn1neaThe se of sue faell" ties tor eQ.cr ena reconnaiseance- bOmbeT'

'ssions 1s also inolude .

?ro ect II: IS evelo!,!I!e t of aerodra:uas and f~cilities in addl-on to that co tined in first &~oject referred to above blahill per.mit t e operation o~ a~oun 5 ~er cent~ of the i~

Foroe 0 ssl ect 1:;0 t1ie ? llip_tnes. Th opera~.1ons oE ta.1sforce i t be ither tacti~a1 or ,trate~ic~l. ith missionseing se:lt out frol'lthe orthe a t or ustltOlia to the Dutohst dies an Ne;t Guinea a d lei ity, or s310ns from the

nort east c.oast of' tlS t;:ralia t; tlle 0 0 on or r HebridesIslands ~al st it r 1_ or naval objectives•

.3. PROJ'ECT I.

It S oted that t.t..e 8.1' ro.,;;ina"e cost or the orks re-qUired un er Project I is .4:56,7"50. ppro al. was ... va or theueeess ry wor s to be underta B , t cost to be recovered from the

_ U..lited st tea.

3. PROJECT II.. .

Tue est1mated coat of project II i ~ .5,227,845, but nolarge expe dltur is to a uned until t e authority of theUnited states to p OC ad \'11 th the project is vent Peneling 1nalsanction of t e Unit ut~tes, a_~ro.al ~a3 ~iveu principle tothe roject. t· as 0 ed ~ at it i ht 8 ~oees3ary to ask theUnited States or oerta1 :p r omel, G'lu1)'''''ent a supplies whichcould no~ De made availRble in nat 1 vit out detriment or~elay

to other ar erforts in thi$ co try.

Expen i e incurred by tIe CofrC!:l the United Sti e ::J.G. 3 directed iof Ai~ 10 to :ee ~he Tr~\s ,- re ul 1'11penditu:re•

o ealth is to be reoovereduinute 499 ~ e Department

i11"'O mad r ~rd ~ this ex-

g recommenda-tiQus of h t inlster or .A1r•

e folIo,ere approved :-

(a) That !or 3 proposals (referred to in aragraph 5(A), viz.)at routout and lal es es Gai os, at respective oosts of~981500 end ~55B, 00, be roeeed d th edlntely onbe aIr or tae U. • • over ent;

( ) hat t e ge1aral conditio.s concer 1 0 rtna ce 3nd otbercters, as outlined In ndi I'" to Gand o.

S31J,/1 41 - SllP1?leme t .!o. 4, e 'opt d;

(c) That th~ rovlslon ofbet een Aust lia andb~sia e a ree to :-

::lUult, elluip ent andhe uuited states on

ersonnel ast e following

( i) U it '" t -:-.0 _-" t .. ' ItX' e •u9~ralin for alle n a.......... e - ~ .LW" 1exo~ lture iced on r vl1ities 1n ew caledon a

- exe s. 01' those plannod. for the R. •J_. F. ;-(il) uatx 1.1 'ill ~r vid~ 1 t, e ui me.t ~ d skilled

l-bour s r r . S ~ 3s1ble, ut that the Unitedt tee Jill ~ ovi e 0\ c additional plant, e~ulpmen-t

~na skIlled per annel s a be neoass~Y;

NAA.019.0071

•

6.

pr eeding 19as arranged.

DIES.

berSl~l of 5rd

dV~ll~'e parties ot R.A.A. . in unitooe~ ,HI lea, 30 IJiha, 15 Halong

e . 1n~ fll ht of 15 sQua.dron to ove ~ am.l a and re-in1 t f1i'Ylts of 2 ·Sq ron. to move oepan ;hen

required, but completion 0 move of total personnel 1ss bject to t G.Port limit tions.

( 4)

(1)

ir

(d) That funds to the extent of £250,000 to finance the propo­sals initially, pend g periodical reimbursements byU•• '., be ada available.

The te s of the- proposed oa.ble to B.C. B lard weresubject to the addition or the followin :-a proved

"5o:n.e ai'" .s mu.t.ilated d difficult to un erst d what 1srequi ed by General tel' l'oorte:n~ I am rep ring Te.}eat pre­.aring toll in action by •• '.~. :-

(2) TI 0 1'11 t8 ~ udso s 13 _quudro at:'4 hou s re dmess tofly Laha.

"For Commander Sa1.n fro y C ' andGor-ln-Chlef •"Re1'erring COver ent teler;raI:l to Colony inister. London •

•m..6 4U ppendiz l tt8r +-loB2 . k. 5-82, please advise _11' andA:rrJY Clliefs of ~taff a.s follows - Gove nt in La do ~eoidedit is pe itte~ to send to primo bo in total 8 offioers, 54lower ra n; . • • •F., hoy"ever no repeat no my _er onnel,seo do N aa slqll t (?sim1lar) to Anbon, tertia oepangthree otfi cers. Guteen 10 r :ranks and as msn rmy personnelthat bot groups totally . 1 not exceed .1th ~or than 50 enthe R.A••• and Army pcrsonn 1 hlah 1 e dy there, ~ua:rtoJennitted to ,ve r un.ifo • Request abo, e e tloned groups to besent hera s ui~kly as possible. le:;6 ~dvise by .. raless ot

robable ti the sending o~ aircraft and f'urther ground per-sonnel to Koepang an(l. Ambon ill take. Request striotestseorecy.

(15 3) F. Eo ., o.l PO !TIO T -... C \.UTIO"LR~

" ar Ca.b at authorise you to give t e ig Commissioner theassumnce of the C on ealt Goverruaent tllat .'lOrkS are beingoarrie out solely for the purpose of 0 r common defenceagainst the is owers and that the sovereignty and rights ofthe Free French Gover ant in :raw Clilledo ia ill be fully main­tained and protected by ~he CQ CloNe Ith. n

(5) One :n g11.1> ., s ..._dron 24 hours readiness 'to fly K08jlaI1g.

The Ohief of the iT Stai'f stated that a number of mess­ages had been received from. the commander-tn-Chief. ellh.erlandsEast I dies. fJ:'em. :hich 1.t appeared that the etherlands East Indiesnow desired Um.t ustralian 11.' Forces should be sent further norththan is con1>emplated under existing plans. T~el 'ere also r-athero posed to A.I.F. troops be g sent to _ bon. ~et erlands 'EastIndies 5ta1'1' Ofi'ieer is leaving by air for ustralia on 8th pecemberto discuss t e hole mDtte~ ith t e Australian Service authorities.:r th", meant e action was proceedinor the despatch of advanceparties to t e "et erla s East In as in accordance ith the

0110\'11 messages from the CQ!!I:'Iander- -Chief',. etherlands Ea~tIndies. of 1st eoe bel'. -and Air oar t s re 11 of' ~ eoelllber:-

6therlands Baat Indies

17.

(5) 18 () ea have otbing to do with exel'ciaea arrangedtor Dec b Z" lOth to 13th b- C. Z. • .w.ch w111 proc e4un! 2 cancelled b .E.I.

NAA.019.0072

•1.:1 l:e you d ~ d at

Gene 1 tar Poorten. lf1 tnOV ment. PI ase 1r1'o

2. of or er _:t r st t t tetborlnn t ... u 1 d no ob eotl041 to .I.P.

tro p ~1'Oc-e6d1n6 to L a 1"ov1d It coul e ens 1" d t ttyu.J.'.... nct nt r th to of on. L , bowev 1.', olose to onand t would not be POll ibIs to entoroo th18 1"Eistr-1ctlQn. The bad-&6oed t.. the esp toh 0 A.. • • troo;t>8 0 Koep n and act! on tothl. end _ a now bel ~ en.

~. The !!.r-rengem.ent de 0 th! epatoh at advanoe ,partie.ot e R•••• to bon, le ,:..n '00 _ and or A.:r.F.troo _ (30) to oep 8 C c. It. noted t t out~tand-

Ing t~el' in EUation to co-op ration it tn ab 1 s EaatInd1 sa are to be d1 QU !!C.Q th et 1'1 ..a tIe. tartOft1c e on 1.'1val r.; tr 11 n sek.

(b ) gjO02!!ll~ •

• 'Pbit O. e 0 th 11" ti t ted tb t be d rato thattbe diaw•• on at present taking pI co t inC pore etweenA .....lral 11" 0 P l,il d Via - ral ir Ul ...o -Ie ere to betolle-ed at 18tel' date by turtbBr contel"ene Singapore. Be'propo.ed that the R. .P. ahould be t"o aented at t 11 oont'e1"enoe.ether by himself or b7anot I" .A.A.F. ott 08. A coro.lerenc'e 18_1 0 to be bald to droa up lana tor the rotectlon or Portusuea.T or. in oollaborat1on w1 tb. t e etb9rlan<b Eaet 10<118.. Th8Un1tod dan Oovemm t ropo.ed. 1n oablesrUL 766 ot 18th

IV olllb r. t~ to the e t elk, 8ho'-1ld be held t in 01'61, but theCh!& or tb. Air start thQught t preter Ie tor them to takeplaoe in the etherJ.and1 _aet I Ie. He ropoaed to 4Iaouu th18wIth tb6 'etherl II at Indies at otrloeJO on bla alT val 1nAuIItrBll an or aboUt loth 0 eber.

(e) VY.

6. ott Ch1 t ot h Haval ta t outlIned the planatar OCl1VO ng uatralian coaatal .hip in dover.....h1PP1D&!"rom A.u.etra Ie.. H ftleo l'&1eod the elltlQn 0 the evaonatlon or

auru and or the 11 Ito 0 U BUon trCX!1 New Cuinea P ua trOlll• the pect 0 t.he ~vie1on of ahlp!rlg a01 It os.

6. It wu not th.at lf01!ltltli and ohll(lr n d' alread" beenev ouat d fr~ I u in oar enot) wi th e ~clalon ot ar OabinetIn nute No. (1176 • r.: tl that tn qUltst10n of the. l' eVaQUatlonrr ew Gu n Pa u conI) !.del" d 17th 'ov bel', JI1nute

o. (1.5 6). _en th.1~!' c1Ille of volunt(U' evacuation • re...af£ rmed, but bat lane then bow"" prepared tor 0 ul ~y.~:t10n O'..tl. c t~. It 8 deoided. to deter ocnelderatlon -

. th Q uleol" 8'V ou t10n or Reb 1, e" Ou1ne an! 1" pua tor thepresent.

(d) '[.7 The Cblet ot t General tatt eo1d t· t the que.t1on ot

o 11 t in the ev-ont ot war in . _ ~a8t • ona.tor.,heGovGrmn t to dfIIelde. He taut t t 1 ould b naco.eary to re-i oro ab 1 1n view or it deve10 en en 0 eratlanal ba.etor 1M bi the nlted ate. dd1 tlonal trOQl)a would. al80 beZ" Q.u1l"ed to Po t are by.

e I~ 1 t t ....tl 1I....,ul prooeed fer the rein-• .. 0 - UJJ _Ad. tlonal

tol"C to Q 1 art 0" '0 b the deepatob ot ..........troo ., t the t 1" for the r:JY ahoul-c1 'omit m e~to ar C ~ine tUn tn det 11 eel 6M"angem nta 1n tbia reepeo •

NAA.019.0073

eauforts le1'tGus ror these

:STEB.

that 6bar) •

8.

_ E.•

• a C "af or t e Air Staff statedfor Sings: ore yesterday (3rd oere ~o be fitted t S aporc.

The rr gements for t e despatoh or ir orce units tothe etherlands Et!st I les are outl ed ill rar.:!£,.-o.phs 1 to 4.

(e)

9.h.ustrallaaircraft

seoretary •