Proceedings of the Conference CANBERRA, 19 January 1944

SECRET

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE AGENDA
(Pacific Conference Papers-Agenda No. 6)

Mr. Chairman,
By resolution of the conference on the 18th January, 1944 it was
agreed to postpone consideration of Item 3 (c) [1] until the Notes
on the Agenda [2] had been considered and reported on by the
respective civil aviation advisers of the Delegations.

This report was received, and subsequently considered by the
Committee on the Agenda appointed in accordance with the direction
of the conference in Resolution No. 4. [3]

The following recommendations have now been agreed to and are
submitted to conference:-

Paragraphs 23, 24 and 25 (i) are agreed to, subject to the
following understanding as regards 25 (i) (C). [4]

The two Governments are unanimous in support of the principle that
(1) ownership, operation and control of the international air
routes should be vested in the International Air Transport
Authority, and (2) that in any devolution to national authorities
by the international authority for the management of international
trunk routes that may be made, then such national organization
should operate under the flag and the uniform of the international
authority.

It was agreed that paragraph 25 (ii) be amended as follows:-

(ii) This statement of principle has been amplified by the
declaration of certain national needs which Australia and New
Zealand would wish to have recognized within the framework of an
international agreement. These are:-

(a) The right of each country to conduct all services within her
own national jurisdiction including her own contiguous
territories, subject only to agreed international requirements
regarding safety and commitments in respect of the proposed
international air authority in regard to facilities, landing and
transit rights for international services, exchange of mails, &c.

(b) The recognition of the need for Australia and New Zealand to
be included in one regional panel, coincident as far as
practicable with the Australian - New Zealand regional defence
zone, which would authorize, under the International Air Transport
Authority, the establishment and control of air services to
contiguous territories which fall within the particular area of
security, trade, communications and development of each country.

The New Zealand delegation do not wish to include the phrase
'including foreign'.

(c) In the event of failure to obtain international agreement to
establish international trunk routes, the two Governments agree to
support the principle of British Commonwealth trunk routes.

(d) The recognition of the right of Australia and New Zealand to
utilize to the fullest extent their productive capacity in respect
of aircraft and raw materials; and of the right to use a fair
proportion of Australian and New Zealand personnel, agencies and
materials in operating and maintaining international trunk routes.

The Australian and New Zealand Governments agree to act jointly in
support of the abovementioned principles, whether in a further
conference between the members of the British Commonwealth or on
an international plane, and to inform the other Government of its
existing interests and commitments, as a basis of common policy.

This agreement obviates the necessity for the adoption of
paragraphs 26, 27 and 28.

H. V. EVATT