CO129-497 - Public Offices - 1926 — Page 411

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Hong Kong, dated 23rd June, 192C, in which it was stated

that proposals would shortly be made to tho Committee of

Imperial Defence that the various Goverments interested in

the Washington Troaty should be invited to a Conference

with a view to reaching agreed donolusions as to the

interpretation of Article 19 of the Treaty, and that pending

the results of such a Conference it would appear that the

proposals for tho creation of an Air Force or for the

purchase of land for an aerodrome could not be usefully

pursued. This despatch is reproduced as Appendix III to

this lote.

4. During the course of the discussion which took place

it was pointed out that the results of such

International Conference, suggested in tho above-menti ore d

despatch from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, might

not be forthcoming for several years, and that in the mean-

time the land at present available for an aerodrome might

havo beon built over.

5.

The Chiefs of Staff Sub-Committee recognise that so

far the question has only been considered by, and agreement

reached between, the throe Service Departments, and that

other Departments of State aro interested in the matter.

Accordingly they rocommended to the Prime Minister that

the Interim Report by the Joint Staffs be reforrod to the Overeea Defence Committee, in order that the views of the

Colonial Office and other Departments concerned may receive

They desire, howovor, to call attention

consideration.

to the fact that they commend the recommendations ontained

in the Interim Report on strategical grounds.

(sd) L.A. Olemons.

Socro tary,

2, Whitehall Gardons,

S.W.1.

28th July, 1926

OVERSEA DETETOR COMMITTEE.