884.796/13
The Secretary of State to the British Ambassador (Halifax)
Excellency: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Your Excellency’s note of November 16, 1942, relative to the Agreement of January 31, 1942 between the United Kingdom and Ethiopia, Article XI (c) of which deals with air transport operating rights in Ethiopia, in which you indicated that His Majesty’s Government has no intention, when dealing with the question of flights of United States aircraft across Ethiopia, of departing from the terms of the Embassy’s aide-mémoire of July 28, 1942.44
I assume that the word “across” covers the three cases specified in the exact language of Article XI (c) of the Agreement referred to, which provides 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. As it is understood that your Government has no intention of opposing the granting to United States aviation interests of equality of opportunity in Ethiopia, and in order that there may be no misunderstanding, [Page 118] I should appreciate confirmation that my interpretation of your Government’s policy, as indicated in your note of November 16, 1942, is correct.
Accept [etc.]