800.796/673: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 4—9:45 a.m.]
2717. From Berle. Civil Aviation Conference started yesterday morning under the auspices of Lord Beaverbrook. The following were present from the British Government: Lord Beaverbrook, Captain Harold Balfour, Cribbett, Deputy Director General of Civil Aviation, Richard Law and Le Rougetel of the Foreign Office, Masefield and Baring of Lord Beaverbrook’s staff. Dr. Warner and Satterthwaite accompanied me.
Lord Beaverbrook requested I summarize the steps that led up to the present discussions and outline briefly our talks in Montreal with the Canadians. I said that we had discussed future application of the doctrine of sovereignty of the air, the use of American built airplanes, and the bases of airfields built abroad with United States money. We outlined our idea that a transition period was necessary during which data might be collected on which future controls could be predicated if they proved necessary.
After these general remarks we proceeded with the discussion of the first items on the agenda which for working purposes is a synthesis of the two statements exchanged by our two Governments last February.
It was tentatively agreed that the two countries must standardize technical aviation procedures (radio, meteorology, ground services, [Page 439] air worthiness, licensing of personnel, sanitary regulations, customs treatment and taxes on fuels). It was agreed to recommend that the requisite number of technical discussions be held between the two countries as soon as convenient on these subjects with a view to accomplishing the standardization agreed to be desirable.
Subject of cabotage and its definition was then discussed. I defined the United States position that we considered traffic between the United States, Puerto Rico, Alaska, Hawaii, Canal Zone, and other possessions as reserved to American flag carriers and that we expected that the British would consider as reserved to their flag carriers traffic between Great Britain and all parts of the Empire except the Dominions and India as cabotage. Specifically this would include traffic between Great Britain and Newfoundland. The British said they shared this definition of cabotage.
Discussion on the question of control of uneconomic competition was begun but it was necessary to adjourn the meeting before very much was developed. The British felt that for the time being at least they should be guaranteed 50 percent of traffic on important routes such as the North Atlantic. I indicated that this position would be difficult to maintain.
We resume discussions this morning. [Berle.]