800.796/7–744
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Assistant Secretary of State (Berle)
Mr. McIntosh came in to see me. His was in the nature of a follow up of the conversations in respect of civil aviation which we had had with Prime Minister Fraser during which Mr. McIntosh was present. The conversation was general and was merely designed to clarify views.
Mr. McIntosh said that New Zealand had no great ambitions in the air but of course wished to be connected. Their present ideas were running towards a trans-Pacific line to be jointly owned by the British, the Australians, the New Zealanders, and the Canadians, presumably stopping at Hawaii and connecting at Vancouver. I observed that there had been some opposition to a stop at Honolulu, though I gathered that a stop in the Hawaiian Islands might be possible on the ideas which were being generally canvassed now. (Note: The President believes that a stop on the Island of Hawaii is preferable to one on the Island of Honolulu.)
With regard to stops on islands or bases in or near New Zealand, Mr. McIntosh said he thought there would be no objection to that.
The Government of New Zealand is sticking strictly to the idea of a central international authority which could control air traffic between nations.