Foreign Relations of the United States, Diplomatic Papers, 1944, General: Economic and Social Matters, Volume II

800.796/7–2844

Memorandum by the Chief of the Aviation Division (Morgan) to the Assistant Secretary of State (Berle)

[Washington,] July 28, 1944.

Mr. Berle: Mr. Escott Reid of the Canadian Embassy called yesterday afternoon and asked if I could throw any light on the message which they had received from the Department of External Affairs, copy of which is attached.

I told Mr. Reid that no technical committees had been set up and no technical talks had been held between ourselves and the British except those on communications participated in by Messrs. Duncan and Jeffcock, representing the British, and a group of American technicians. Mr. Reid was aware that these conversations had been held. I also told him that we did not know of any technical committees which had been set up preparatory to such discussions in other fields, but I thought that such discussions would take place sooner or later. With respect to the question of Canadian representation in these discussions, I said that I would take this up with the appropriate authorities and communicate with him later.

You will note that the Canadians want to participate in technical discussions. Presumably they would prefer a three-party conference with Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States, and it seems to me that if the British agree, this would be the simplest way to proceed. However, the British did disagree to the original exploratory talks being on a three-party basis.

You may wish to take this up with Lord Beaverbrook to see what his plans are; and if you wish, I will take it up with Mr. Burden and Mr. Warner, who will presumably be handling the American side in such discussions when they are held.

S. W. Morgan

[Annex]

Teletype Message From the Canadian Secretary of State for External Affairs (Mackenzie King) to the Canadian Minister in the United States (Pearson)

No. EX–3080

Ottawa, July 25, 1944.

As you are probably aware, during recent conversations between Lord Beaverbrook and Mr. Berle it was agreed to set up Joint United Kingdom–United States Technical Committees on Civil Aviation to study: (List was that agreed upon by Mr. Berle and Lord Beaverbrook)

The United Kingdom representatives on the Committees have indicated that they are prepared to establish direct liaison with interested Canadian officials. However, at the last meeting of the Interdepartmental Committee on Air Transport Policy, it was agreed, in view of the close relationship between standards and techniques of air regulation in Canada and the United States, that it would be desirable for Canada to seek to participate directly in the work of the committees. It would, therefore, be appreciated if you would discuss informally with the appropriate United States authorities the question of Canadian representation on the committees. While we would prefer, of course, to have Canadian representives taking an active part in the work of the committees, we would be prepared to consider alternative proposals for establishing a close relationship between Canada and the work of the committees which might be put forward, such bi-lateral Canada–United Kingdom and Canada–United States discussions to parallel the United Kingdom–United States discussions or Canadian participation in the United Kingdom–United States discussions in the role of observers.