INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION CONFERENCE, CHICAGO 1944
The Minister for Air and Civil Aviation, who was Chairman of the
Australian Delegation to the International Civil Aviation
Conference held at Chicago, 1st November - 7th December, 1944, [1]
has presented to me his Report, a copy of which is attached. [2]

The Minister for Air and Civil Aviation has recommended (see page
8 of the Report):-

(a) that the Government approve of his action in signing the
Interim Agreement on International Civil Aviation on behalf of the
Government of Australia; and
(b) that the Australian Minister at Washington be authorised to
sign on behalf of the Government the International Air Services
Transit Agreement.

The Interim Agreement referred to in (a) is described briefly in
paragraphs 10-17 of the Report. The Interim Agreement, which will
apply for a period not exceeding three years, contains most of the
provisions of the permanent Convention on International Civil
Aviation (discussed in paragraphs 19-35 and 39-44 of the Report,
and also in the Appendix), which will be submitted at a later
stage for ratification by the Government and which will take the
place of existing Conventions.

The International Air Services Transit Agreement confers upon
signatory States what are known as the first two freedoms of the
air [3] (see paragraphs 23 and 46 of the Report).

A copy of the International Air Services Transit Agreement is
attached. [4]

JOHN CURTIN
Prime Minister