810.79611 Tri-Motors Safety Airways/153
The Second Secretary of Embassy in France (Williamson) to the Assistant Secretary of State (White)
Dear Francis: The Embassy received Saturday the Department’s instruction No. 4245 of September 17, 192976 in relation to the agreement between the British and French Air Ministries for the development of air transport in Africa, the Near and Far East and in South America. It is not going to be, I apprehend, an easy task to secure precise and authentic information on the subject but the Embassy will at once commence its endeavors to that end. I trust, however, that with the contacts of Major Walsh, Military Attaché for Air, Commander Thomas, Naval Attaché for Air, and of Mr. Ide, and with my connections with the officials at the Foreign Office charged with aviation matters, we will be able in a discreet manner to procure reliable information.
As you know the Embassy has encountered difficulty in promptly obtaining permits for the flight of the Pan American Airways planes over Martinique and Guadeloupe, as well as for the flight of planes belonging to the New York, Rio and Buenos Aires lines over those islands and French Guiana. In discussing these requests a fortnight ago at the Foreign Office the competent official remarked that it seemed evident that American companies had in mind the project of running airways over French possessions in that hemisphere and that it should not be lost sight of that France might itself wish to extend its air lines in South America, notably those of the Aéropostale. He therefore observed that it seemed to him that the matter of commercial air expansion should be handled on a “fifty-fifty” basis and that perhaps it would be a good idea to have some understanding between the two countries in that regard,—that is if American lines were to operate over French territory France be assured of compensating privileges if desired. The views expressed by the officer in question were entirely informal and unofficial but it seemed evident that the delay in according the permits asked by the Department is caused by jealousness for French air interests in South America. I was, of course, careful to express no opinion on the topic brought up by him.
In order that the Embassy may have a proper background on the subject of the above paragraph, it is felt that it would be useful if it might be furnished with the purport of the understanding which, it is reported to me, Mr. Trippe of the Pan American Airways reached last year with the officials of the Aéropostale. Likewise, since it is understood that the New York, Rio and Buenos Aires Company and [Page 626] the Pan American Airways have been negotiating direct with the French officials in Martinique, Guadeloupe and French Guiana concerning mail concessions, it might be well for the Embassy to be informed with regard to the progress and precise nature of such understandings, if any, as may have developed. The commercial airways situation on the east coast of South America and in the West Indies, dovetailing as it does with the policy of the French Ministries for Air and Colonies, it would be helpful to us to be in possession of a full background on the matter even though you may wish the Embassy to preserve in the strictest confidence the data furnished it.
Very sincerely,