800.796/9–644
The Assistant Secretary of State (Berle) to the Counselor of the British Embassy (Wright)
Washington, September 9,
1944.
My Dear Mr. Wright: I should be obliged if you
would send the attached telegram to Lord Beaverbrook in answer to his
messages to me dated respectively, August 29 and September 1, 1944.
Sincerely yours,
[Enclosure]
Message To Be Sent to Lord Beaverbrook From the
Assistant Secretary of State (Berle)
I am now in a position to reply to your message of August 29. The
President has approved the calling of an International Air Conference to
be held in the United States on or about November 1 and we are
accordingly issuing invitations to substantially all the countries.
It is not possible to enter the agreement suggested by you that the
United States bind itself not to request landing rights. In view of the
proposed conference to be held within sixty days probably the request
loses most of its importance. We do not propose to start a scramble for
landing rights and will keep you informed. Of course we shall do nothing
which would exclude any other nation, and we should be disposed to
discuss all questions at the proposed conference. We are not
contemplating hasty or violent action, but simply cannot be in the
position of accepting a position which will prevent us from protecting
American interests.
With best regards, and I look forward to seeing you within two
months.
