811.79640/109: Telegram
The Minister in Canada (Armour) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 3—12:55 a.m.]
134. Department’s 137, November 21, 6 p.m. Delegates may not leave for Washington until December 4. Expect to send list and other pertinent information tonight or tomorrow.
Today’s newspapers report as rumor Canadian delegation to favor North Sydney, Nova Scotia, as Canadian terminus of line via Harbor Grace and refer as another possibility to a tentative agreement between Imperial Airways and Pan American for British line to Bermuda and American line thence to New York.
I understand Canada has been holding out for a line which would make Montreal the focal point for trans-Atlantic line from eastern seaboard and central and western United States and Canada. Sir Donald Banks of the British delegation indicated to me that he was disturbed lest decisions of conference here might appear in the United States as facing us with a fait accompli. Logan of Pan American, a Canadian, was here when conference opened but left on advice of J. A. Wilson who felt his presence in city during “family discussion” might be misinterpreted. I conclude that possibly Canadians are pressing British to nullify for the present any Bermuda route commitments with Pan American and are offering some advantages in exchange for this assurance that Canada will have a share in any knowledge [sic] monopoly to Europe. Wilson has repeatedly expressed, however, his desire to see plan of cooperation with Pan American worked out, emphasized necessary intra-empire character of present meeting and assured that no attempt would be made here to prejudice future American interests. Christie9 also expresses this last opinion, states that Bermuda and Newfoundland routes have been discussed, that although Imperial Airways may have trans-Canada route to Orient in mind for the future it has not been discussed here. Much discussion regarding subsidies, mail rates and regime for landing facilities have apparently taken place. Conference delegates have agreed apparently to careful secrecy and, therefore, no other direct information of negotiations is available.
- L. C. Christie, Canadian Counselor of the Department of External Affairs.↩