Minutes of the Forty-second Meeting of the Committee, Held in Conference Room "H", at the Ministry of Defence, S.W.I, on Thursday, 37th April, 1950, at 10.30 a.m.

SECRET appear to lie in it being made clear to the Australian authorities that the views of a Joint Intelligence Committee are never taken as representing the views of the Commanders- in-Chief or British Defence Co-ordination Committee until they have been formally approved by that body. As regards the proposal to submit drafts of Joint Intelligence Committee, Far East, reports to Melbourne, the disadvantages of embarrassment by non-acceptance of Australian suggestions were offset by the advantages to be gained by ensuring that there were no divergences of view between reports on the same subjects being prepared by the two Joint Intelligence Committees simultaneously. After further discussion, THE COMMITTEE:- (1) Expressed the general view that, with the exception of United States and combined United States/ United Kingdom information, it was in principle desirable that all possible information should be passed to the Australians and that therefore to this end Mr. Creswell's proposals were welcome. (2) Invited the Foreign Office to approach His Majesty's Embassy, Washington, for a progress report on negotiations between the United States and Australian Governments concerning the exchange of information. (3) Agreed that, provided there were no misunderstandings regarding the status of the reports, there were no objections to Joint Intelligence Committee, Far East, reports being passed to Melbourne before they had been approved by the British Defence Co-ordination Committee, Far East. (4) Agreed to defer further discussion on the proposal for submitting draft reports to Melbourne until they had discussed this matter with Mr. Creswell. Joint Intelligence Bureau Unit, Singapore. AIR COMMODORE WOOLLEY said that he had discussed with Mr. Creswell the proposals to increase the strength of the Joint Intelligence Bureau Unit, Singapore, by three officers, to cover respectively communications, economics and topography, and one staff clerk. There was no possibility of obtaining these reinforcements from London. Nor could they be provided by the Joint Intelligence Bureau, Melbourne, since approval would never be given owing to political objections and in any case the Joint Intelligence Bureau, Melbourne, could not possibly provide the personnel without hindering its development. The last possibility was that the reinforcements should be obtained from the Services in Singapore. This was also impracticable since although an officer might be forthcoming with the necessary experience of communications and transportation, it was too much to expect serving officers to be found who were qualified and experienced economists and geographers. The present difficulties had arisen chiefly because reports were required in a hurry and insufficient time was allowed for reference to Melbourne and for proper editing of Melbourne's contribution for inclusion in reports by the Joint Intelligence Committee, Far East. He suggested therefore that the solution -2-