884.796/12
The Secretary of State to the British Ambassador (Halifax)
Excellency: The attention of your Excellency is invited to Article XI (c) of the Agreement between the United Kingdom and Ethiopia, signed January 31, 1942,40 in which it is stated that the Emperor of Ethiopia will not permit foreign aircraft, other than British aircraft, to fly to, in, or over Ethiopia without the concurrence of the Government of the United Kingdom.
In an aide-mémoire which this Department delivered to your Embassy on May 27, 194241 in reply to one from your Embassy of April 15, 1942,42 this Department referred to the air transport situation in the Near and Middle East and Africa, and expressed the hope that neither the Government of the United Kingdom nor the Government of the United States would set up arrangements which would exclude in these areas air transport lines of the other, except after consultation through diplomatic channels. In your Embassy’s aide-mémoire of July 28, 1942,43 it was stated that His Majesty’s Government concurred in this principle. In the circumstances it is assumed that your Government has no intention of opposing the granting to United States aviation interests of an equality of opportunity in Ethiopia.
I shall greatly appreciate it if you will inform me whether the provision in the Agreement with Ethiopia referred to above is to be interpreted by your Government in the manner indicated.
Accept [etc.]