800.796/541: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 12—8:20 p.m.]
1207. See Embassy’s 968, February 4, 1 a.m. and 1084, February 8, 8 p.m. A member of Lord Beaverbrook’s office informed a member of the Embassy that they had this morning received a copy of a 20-odd page document containing Canada’s proposed agenda for the aviation discussions to be held in Washington. He said that they considered it “impertinent” for Canada to present such a detailed plan particularly in view of the likelihood of offending the other Dominions and India. He said that they were particularly concerned with a suggestion in the Canadian document that international flying not be considered to include flying to contiguous territory (that is between Canada and the United States). It is obvious that Lord Beaverbrook’s office would prefer to discuss civil aviation with the United States alone in the first instance, and have subsequent discussions (based on the general agreements arrived at between the United States and Great Britain) with Canada, the other Dominions and presumably other countries. There would be no objection to the United States dealing with Canada immediately following the general discussion between Great Britain and the United States.
With respect to the Embassy’s telegram 970, February 4, 3 p.m.,27 Beaverbrook may make an anti-monopoly and anti-subsidy statement in House of Lords very soon. In any case, it is expected that he will [Page 376] do so before he leaves for the United States. The Embassy assumes the Department has Canada’s proposed agenda; if not, it can forward a copy.
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