800.796/10–2644
The New Zealand Prime Minister (Fraser) to the Secretary of State 89
My Dear Secretary of State: I have to refer to the discussions which took place during my visit to Washington in July last with Mr. Grew, Mr. Berle and other representatives of the United States Government concerning the future development of Civil Aviation, and to the copy which was then handed to me of the summary dated 24th March of objectives favoured by the United States of America with respect to post-war civil air transport. To this was attached a copy of a draft form of bilateral agreement relating to the operation of international air transport services.
I informed Mr. Grew and the other representatives of the United States Government at this meeting that the summary of objectives would be considered and that I would later inform you in writing of my views.
The New Zealand Government have given careful consideration to the basis on which air services on international routes should be operated and their conclusions are, as I stated during the course of the meeting in Washington, as defined in the agreement made at Canberra in January of this year between the Australian and New Zealand Governments. As a first principle, the New Zealand Government hold the view that air services on international air trunk routes should be operated by an international air transport authority, which would own the aircraft employed on these services and ancillary equipment. It has become evident in the period which has elapsed since the publication of this agreement that the principle of international operation of trunk air routes may not prove wholly acceptable and as an alternative the New Zealand Government support a system whereby air services on international trunk routes would be developed and operated under the control of an international authority which should be established as soon as possible. This authority should possess regulatory powers in the technical and economic fields. Within the framework of such an authority, the [Page 548] New Zealand Government would be willing to subscribe to the grant to all signatory powers of the four following freedoms of the air:—
- (a)
- The right to innocent passage.
- (b)
- The right to land for emergency, refueling, etc.
- (c)
- The right to disembark passengers, etc. from the aircraft’s own country of origin.
- (d)
- The right to embark passengers, etc. for the aircraft’s own country of origin.
A system of international co-operation on the lines suggested above would afford equal opportunity to the air carriers of all nations, in accordance with some such principle as traffic interest, and ensure that with full recognition of the needs of security, air services were operated with appropriate regard to the national interests and needs of all States.
Subject to the principles outlined, the New Zealand Government find themselves in agreement with many of the objectives stated in the paper dated 24th March submitted by your delegation. The forthcoming conference to be held in the United States of America commencing on the 1st November next, will afford opportunity for consideration in detail of the objectives favoured by the United States and other interested Governments and the New Zealand delegation to this Conference will be in a position to state and discuss the views of the New Zealand Government.
I should like to say in conclusion how much I valued the opportunity which my visit to America gave me for discussions on the subject of civil aviation and I am hopeful that the forthcoming conference to be held in your country will yield an agreement which will ensure that air services on international trunk routes are operated on an orderly and equitable basis.
Yours sincerely,
- Transmitted to the Department by the New Zealand Legation in covering memorandum dated October 26, 1944.↩