Government

Cablegram 118 WELLINGTON, 16 July 1944, 6.03 p.m.

Received 17 July 1944

SECRET IMPORTANT

Your telegram No. 141. [1] Civil Aviation. We too have been
concerned at the developments in this field, but have refrained
from communicating with the Secretary of State on the subject
pending the return of Mr. Fraser, who as you know had discussions
with the United States authorities during the time he was in
Washington, and is now on his way to New Zealand. As we see the
position it was intended that a Conference of United Nations
should be convened to discuss civil aviation in the post-war
period and these conversations in Washington were but a
preliminary in order to secure some measure of agreement regarding
the Agenda for the main meeting. The result of course has been
that the United States have secured the initiative and that the
orderly and controlled development of civil aviation that we
agreed to support and secure if possible now appears likely to be
compromis[ed]. We concur in the comment you make in the message
you propose despatching, but feel we should as well press for the
holding of the international Conference on the subject at the
earliest possible date. It is essential in our view that this [2]
should be held very shortly since if the present strategy is
successful in the European war the opportunity will arise very
soon for the institution of civil air services in a large area of
the world and if these commence on the basis of bilateral [3]
arrangements it will be difficult to secure later even a portion
of that control which we both consider so necessary.

2. The position will be discussed with the Prime Minister
immediately following his return and we expect to communicate with
you further at that juncture.