711.4027/7–2148: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Douglas) to the Secretary of State
3302. Second meeting in Foreign Office on satellite aviation policy confined further elucidation of problem on basis aide-mémoire given British Monday.1 Both issues of air rights and equipment were further explored. Questions asked by British indicated effort to build case for presentation to higher authorities rather than objection to proposed policy. We purposely refrained from pressing speedy decision but indicated need for high priority consideration. Makins concluded by saying proposed policy of such major importance especially in light Berlins situation, it must be discussed with Chief of Staff and other top-level political authorities and by assuring US that “most sympathetic considerations” will be speedily given to it. Foreign Office will notify Embassy as soon as their views formulated.
Our aggregate impression from Saturday’s, today’s meeting is British reaction on whole favorable although they may have reservations regarding difficulties securing cooperation of other countries and limits of effectiveness of policy. Except Watson, British conferees did not appear appreciate fully present disbalance between air relations Soviet and western worlds which further non-action and tolerance bound to accent. We are sending memo of conversations and aide-mémoire by pouch.
Barringer left for The Hague, departing from Amsterdam for States Friday evening. Deak returning Bern Thursday to await Dept’s instructions in light Athen’s 1371, July 20 to Dept.
- Telegram 3246, July 17, from London, not printed, reported that American and British officials met at the British Foreign Office on the morning of July 17 to consider the proposed revision of joint satellite aviation policy set forth in document NSC 15/1, July 12, ante, p. 451. Present at the July 17 meeting were, on the British side: Roger M. Makins, Superintending Under Secretary of State of the General Department of the Foreign Office, John H. Watson, Assistant Head of the Southern Department of the Foreign Office, Alexander A. W. Landymore and James D. Murray of the General Department, and Sir George Cribbett, Deputy Secretary of the British Ministry of Civil Aviation. Present on the American side were: J. Paul Barringer, Deputy Director, Office of Transportation and Communications, Department of State, James C. Sappington, First Secretary of the Embassy in London, Francis Deak, arid Livingston Satterthwaite, Civil Air Attaché in London. The aide-mémoire under reference here is printed supra.↩