843.7962/9–2547
The Ambassador in Canada (Atherton) to the Secretary of State
restricted
No. 5519
Ottawa, September 25,
1947.
Sir: I have the honor to refer to the
Department’s Restricted telegram No. 161 of September 22, 1947, 5
p.m., and to the Embassy’s reply No. 141 of September 24, 2
p.m.,1 both on
the subject of the Newfoundland Air Bases Agreement.
In accordance with the promise made by the Department of External
Affairs, as mentioned in the Embassy’s telegram, there is enclosed
herewith copy of an Aide-Mémoire dated
September 25, 1947, which is entitled “Newfoundland-United States
Base Fields Agreement”, which the Department of External Affairs has
transmitted to the Canadian High Commissioner in St. John’s,
Newfoundland, for delivery to the Newfoundland Commission of
Government. The Embassy believes that this Aide-Mémoire goes as far as it is possible for the
Canadian Government to go, particularly in view of the present very
delicate relationships which exist between the Dominion and
Newfoundland over confederation.
Respectfully yours,
For the Ambassador
Julian F. Harrington
American Minister
[Enclosure]
The Canadian Department of
External Affairs to the Newfoundland Commission of Government
Aide-Mémoire
newfoundland—united states base fields
agreement
The use of Kindley Field, Bermuda which is essential to the
operation of any Canadian commercial air service to the West
Indies is at present contingent on the exchange of notes between
the United States and the United Kingdom in relation to the
United States-United Kingdom Agreement on Leased Air Bases. A
wording acceptable to both the Canadian and the United States
Governments has been reached in respect to this exchange of
notes, but the United States as they had previously made clear
at Bermuda in 1946, would only approve this Agreement
conditional to a satisfactory agreement being
[Page 98]
reached with Newfoundland regarding
the use by the United States Civil Aircraft of Newfoundland air
fields.
In June of this year negotiations appeared to be progressing
favourably on the United States–Newfoundland Agreement when the
Commission of Government of the latter announced that they had
reconsidered the wording of Article 1 (d)
to the draft agreement, which provided that, “in the event of
Gander Air Field being closed temporarily or permanently, or
otherwise unavailable as a regular civil international airport,
the Government of Newfoundland will designate (subject in the
case of Argentia and Stephenville to the concurrence of the
United States Military Authorities) another suitable airport in
Newfoundland, either temporarily or permanently, as the case may
be, as a regular civil international airport;” The Commission of
Government said they preferred to amend the Article to read “the
Government of Newfoundland may designate etc. etc.,” insofar as
they feel, in view of the nature of the present Government, that
they should not bind their successors to the automatic
designation of an alternative air field in the event of Gander
being closed. It is understood that this week the United States
agreed to accept the latter wording, provided that in the event
of Gander being closed, the United States should be allowed to
automatically use Argentia and Stephenville as temporary fields
(subject to the concurrence of the military officials) during
the interim period whilst Newfoundland considered the
designation of a new airport.
The delay in the signing of this agreement affects the future
civil aviation programme of both Canada and the United Kingdom.
It is understood that the latter Government have already
forwarded a memorandum to the Newfoundland Commission of
Government explaining their own position and their urgent desire
to discover a way out of the present impasse.
In this respect the position of Canada is similar to that of the
United Kingdom. Failure of the United States and Newfoundland to
reach an agreement has resulted in the denial to Canadian
aircraft to the only air field in Bermuda suitable for
commercial operations. Such a result would be out of keeping
with the discussions at Bermuda in December 1945 in which
Newfoundland participated.
The Canadian Government appreciates the spirit of co-operation
which has at all times been evidenced by Newfoundland in respect
to the development of civil aviation and it is hoped that a
satisfactory agreement can be reached in the near future between
the Government of Newfoundland and the United States which will
allow the implementation of the decisions reached at Bermuda in
1945.