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NOTE BY THE SECRETARY.
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1. The annexed Memorandum was prepared in consequence of an inquiry by the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia whether any modification in the scale of probable attack on Australia as laid down by the Committee of Imperial Defence in 1906 has become necessary owing to alterations during the last three years in the balance of naval power and recent naval developments, and, if so, whether any change in the armament of defended ports is recommended.
2. The general principles of Imperial defence as affecting the oversea Dominions and Colonies have recently undergone a comprehensive review, and are set forth in the Colonial Defence Committee's Memorandum No. 417 M, dated the 7th July, 1910, which received the formal approval of the Committee of Imperial Defence at the 107th meeting, held on the 14th July, 1910, as C.I.D. Paper No. 62-C.
The annexed Memorandum by the Colonial Defence Committee deals with the application of these general principles to the particular case of Australia.
3. The general conclusion stated in paragraph 18 of the Memorandum is substantially the same as that of the Committee of Imperial Defence in 1906, viz., that so long as the British fleet remains capable of acting on the offensive it is not reasonably probable that any military attack on Australia more formidable than a raid by a small landing force will be undertaken.
4. In view of the increased value of Sydney as a strategic objective to an enemy in consequence of its becoming the base of the Australian fleet unit, the strengthening of the fixed defences to enable them to deal with attack by armoured cruisers is recommended.
January 9, 1911.
C. L. O.
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PRINTED AT THE FOREIGN OFFION BY 3. F. HARRISON.~1\/1/1911.
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