800.796/10–344: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
London, October 3,
1944—2 p.m.
[Received October 3—12:33 p.m.]
[Received October 3—12:33 p.m.]
8267. Intense activity on the part of all of the various elements in and out of the Government interested in civil aviation has given rise to numerous rumors of which the following stand out.
- (1)
- Lord Londonderry will initiate a debate on civil aviation in the House of Lords on October 5. Lord Beaverbrook will reply.
- (2)
- It is expected that the Government may announce the interim appointment of an Under Secretary of State for Civil Aviation. Aviation people do not look upon this stopgap with favor and are expected to increase their agitation for a separate Ministry for Civil Aviation or at least its removal from the Air Ministry.
- (3)
- Rumors have been current that Lord Beaverbrook would resign his connection with civil aviation practically continuously since his appointment, but at present they are more widespread than ever. If an Under Secretary of Civil Aviation is appointed there would seem to be no logical work left in aviation for Lord Beaverbrook.
- (4)
- It is not expected that the Government will in the immediate future announce definitely the end of the chosen instrument policy. It is expected, however, that consideration will be given to requesting shipping companies, the railways and others to get together to accept responsibility for running three or four major air routes.
- (5)
- Aviation circles consider it unlikely that the Government will announce the stand it will take at the forthcoming international conference until it has met informally with the Dominions in Ottawa. This meeting is expected to take place 10 days or a week prior to the International Conference. The degree of firmness with which the British Government will be prepared to stand behind its advocacy of tight international control will be determined by the final result of its efforts to persuade the Dominions and important European nations to support its position. (The methods of persuasion are, of course, varied and complex but the basis is a portrayal of Great Britain as protecting the other nations from the overwhelming might and announced intentions of United States civil aviation.)
Active and able London correspondents of Aviation Daily are believed to be resorting [reporting?] much of the foregoing. Apparently they do not yet know, however, of the nature of the British Government’s replies to the United States invitation to the November conference.
Winant