800.796/8–944
The Counselor of the Belgian Embassy (Gruben) to the Chief of the Aviation Division (Morgan)
D. 8443/8
No. 3778
Washington, August 9,
1944.
Dear Mr. Morgan: I acknowledge with thanks the
receipt of your letter of August 5, 1944, enclosing, for the information of
the Belgian group participating in the exploratory talks on aviation next
Monday, an informal summary of the American objectives.
You will find attached hereto, for the information of the members of the
American group, a similar informal summary of the objectives favored by my
Government in the same field.
There is also enclosed herewith this Embassy’s note informing the State
Department of the composition of the Belgian group.73
Sincerely yours,
[Page 528]
[Enclosure]
Summary of Objectives Favored by the Belgian
Government With Respect to Civil Air Transport
- 1.
- Confirmation of Article I of “CINA” (Conférence Internationale
Navigation Aérienne at Paris, October 13, 1919) stipulating that the
territory of a country should be understood to include the national
metropolitan and colonial territory.
- 2.
- Each nation should have the right of cabotage within its territory
as specified in No. 1.
- 3.
- The right of transit and non traffic stop for technical reasons
should be recognized.
- 4.
- The Belgian Government is in favor of the setting up of an
international body with regional committees for the purpose of
regulating civil air traffic. This body should emanate from the
governments and not from the companies engaged in civil air
transport.
- 5.
- The right to load and unload passengers outside the national
territory should be defined by the international body mentioned in
No. 4.
- 6.
- The granting of subsidies to favor competition should be
eliminated. The question of subsidies deemed indispensable by the
respective governments should be left to the international body
suggested in No. 4.
- 7.
- Steps should be taken by all nations in the form of an
international agreement for the establishment of uniform standards
for aircraft worthiness, operation, and all matters dealing with the
safety of civil aviation. The establishment of these standards
should come within the scope of the international body.
- 8.
- Each nation reserves the right to organize its civil aviation in
the form which it judges to be to its own advantage, whether by
private companies, monopolies, or government operation, etc.
- 9.
- In order to avoid harmful competition in the international
traffic, it is desired that uniform rates should be adopted.
