Foreign Relations of the United States, Diplomatic Papers, 1936, General, British Commonwealth, Volume I

811.79640/328

The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Bingham) to the Secretary of State

No. 2569

London, October 9, 1936.
[Received October 16.]

Sir: I have the honor to enclose herewith copy of the Embassy’s note to the Foreign Office No. 2085, of October 9, 1936, sent pursuant to the Department’s telegraphic instruction No. 366, October 8, 7 p.m.⁹³

Respectfully yours,

For the Ambassador:

Ray Atherton

Counselor of Embassy

[Enclosure]

The American Ambassador (Bingham) to the British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Eden)

No. 2085

[London,] October 9, 1936.

Sir: I have the honor to refer to your note of August 17, 1936 regarding the proposed trans-Atlantic air services and the proposed local service between the United States and Bermuda.

My Government accepts entirely the assumption and suggestions set forth in paragraph 2 of your note under acknowledgment, and will alter the proposed Bermuda permit accordingly. My Government also desires to add at the end of paragraph 1 (b) of the proposed Bermuda permit the following:

“(as to the United States mail, such of the same as may be authorized by the United States Post Office.)”

This simply amends the Bermuda permit to accord with the trans-Atlantic permit in this regard. With these slight modifications the United States and the British permits for the Bermuda service appear to be satisfactory.

The text of the proposed permit for Pan American Airways to conduct a trans-Atlantic service, enclosed with the note under acknowledgment, has received the most careful consideration of my Government, which finds it satisfactory with the exception of paragraph (e).⁹⁴ If this paragraph can be eliminated apparently both United States and the British permits for the trans-Atlantic service are also satisfactory. The United States Government is therefore prepared to issue to Imperial Airways the permits for the local Bermuda service and for the trans-Atlantic service in the forms now proposed simultaneous with the issuance to Pan American Airways Company by His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom of the Bermuda permit in the form proposed and the trans-Atlantic permit in the form proposed omitting paragraph (e) referred to above.

It is further understood by my Government that upon the designation by His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom of the customs airport serving London to be used by Imperial Airways and Pan American Airways Company referred to in paragraph (b) of the proposed trans-Atlantic permit to be issued to Pan American Airways Company my Government will be furnished with information as to the designation of such airport, together with maps and flying directions showing entrance thereto to be used in the operation of the trans-Atlantic service contemplated in the exchange of notes.

It is of course assumed as a necessary condition to the commencement of the trans-Atlantic service that Pan American Airways will receive permits from the Governments of the Irish Free State and Canada satisfactory to my Government.

I have [etc.]

For the Ambassador:

Ray Atherton

Counselor of Embassy

93. Not printed.
94. Paragraph (e) reads: “That Imperial Airways, or a company in which Imperial Airways has a controlling interest, is authorized concurrently by the United States Government for a similar period to conduct similar reciprocal civil air transport service of the same frequency and under similar conditions between Bermuda and the United States, using therein the customs port used by Pan American Airways as the United States terminal.”