S/S–NSC files, lot 63 D 351, “U.S. Civil Aviation Policy—U.S.S.R. and Satellites”
Memorandum by the Under Secretary of State (Smith) to the Executive Secretary of the National Security Council (Lay) 1
- Subject:
- Third Progress Report on Implementation of NSC 15/3, entitled: “United States Civil Aviation Policy Toward U.S.S.R. and its Satellites.”2
NSC 15/3 was approved as Governmental policy on January 6, 1950. It is requested that this “Third Progress Report,” as of February 2, 1953, be circulated to the members of the Council for their information.
The policies established in NSC 15/3 continue to be, on the whole, effectively implemented. Action taken in September 1951 to deny the Czechoslovak Air Lines permission to overfly Western Germany, which was determined by a foreign policy decision outside the scope of NSC 15/3, has continued to have the effect of helping to contain the operations of CSA. However, the Department understands that weekly representations are being made by the Czechs for approval of CSA operations into Belgium and the Netherlands. This has so far been denied although the Belgian Government has expressed concern over possible retaliatory measures that may be taken by the Czechs against the operations of Sabena, the Belgian Air Line, into Prague. In these circumstances, Embassy Brussels has been instructed to urge the Belgian Government to keep holding the line against Czechoslovak pressures, especially since no serious retaliatory measures have yet been taken [Page 408] and Sabena service will likely be terminated whether or not concessions are made if the Czechs see no advantage in it.