The British Prime Minister (Churchill) to President Roosevelt 23
848. Thank you for your telegram Number 664.22
Although I have always felt that these discussions were premature and throw too heavy a burden on our minds at a time when so many anxieties of war weigh down upon us, yet I can assure you that I sympathise completely with your desire to take advantage of these pregnant negotiations at Chicago. It is our considered view, however, that further and, in the end, swifter progress will be made if we have an opportunity here to review the position in every one of its aspects and in its general setting in the world economy.
It is our desire, as it is yours, to reconcile the greatest possible freedom of air commerce with a broad justice to all nations, large and small.
It is your desire, as it is ours, that the free play of enterprise should not degenerate into an exploitation of national advantages which would in the end be found generally intolerable.
We are not satisfied, however, that the projects which have succeeded one another in such profusion during the intricate discussions at Chicago represent the final contribution of human ingenuity towards a solution.
[Page 599]Apart from our own views, we have to take account of Parliament and public opinion.
Criticisms of the Chicago proposals are already appearing in quarters of the press which are in no sense reactionary or narrowly nationalistic. These are symptoms which in the interest of ultimate agreement we cannot ignore. They serve to fortify us in our conviction that we should at this stage consult with our people. From such a consultation we shall expect to reach a clearer comprehension of issues which now seem to us extremely confused and to propound fresh constructive approaches.