800.796/8–744
The South African Minister (Gie) to the Secretary of State
The Minister of the Union of South Africa presents his compliments to the Honourable the Secretary of State and has the honour to refer to the Department of State’s Aide-Mémoire of June 22nd, 1944,70 extending an invitation to the Government of the Union of South Africa to enter into discussion with the United States Government on the subject of post-war aviation.
The Minister has been directed to say that the Union Government greatly appreciate the kind invitation extended to them and that they would have liked being in the position of exchanging views with the United States Government at this time. The Union Government find, however, that they are not quite ready to exchange views at the present time. It is proposed to hold a conference of British territories in Southern Africa in the near future for the purpose of considering certain matters of mutual interest concerning post-war civil aviation. The Union Government will participate in this conference and therefore would prefer to postpone the proposed bilateral discussions with the United States Government until after that conference is over. They hope that the United States Government will not find such a postponement inconvenient.