(Addressed to the Prime Minister, Mr. Curtin.)

POST-WAR CIVIL AVIATION

The Dominions Office are cabling you with regard to the present
position in connection with the contemplated United Nations
Conference and recent discussions with the Americans. [1]

The position appears to be anything but satisfactory and it is
difficult to avoid the impression that the United States of
America have little enthusiasm for a worthwhile International
Convention governing postwar civil aviation but are hoping to pull
off bilateral arrangements with individual nations which will
ensure to America a dominating position in post-war civil
aviation.

In view of this possibility it is essential in my view that the
meeting of Empire representatives suggested in Dominions Office
telegram D.1080 of 28th July [2] should be held at the earliest
possible moment to consider McVey's proposals [3] and formulate
our plans. By the formulation of such plans we would place
ourselves in a position to meet, should it eventuate, the American
threat to dominate post-war air, and at the same time would be
arming ourselves to make a more useful contribution in the event
of the contemplated United Nations Civil Aviation Conference being
held and for your personal information-although it is not quite
clear and I have asked to have the point clarified, it seems that
the proposal for the tabling of plans (Dominions Office telegram
D.1082 of 29th July [4]) has now been abandoned.

BRUCE