811.79640/81
The British Ambassador (Lindsay) to the Secretary of State
Sir: Under instructions from His Majesty’s Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs3 I have the honour to inform you that the French Ambassador in London4 has communicated to the Foreign Office an invitation to His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom “on behalf of the French and United States Governments” to join with them in studying the technical aspects of collaboration in Trans-Atlantic transport. M. Corbin has further proposed that French air experts should visit London in order to discuss the matter.
- 2.
- As His Majesty’s Government realise from a communication already made by the United States Embassy in London that such a joint démarche was not authorised by the United States Government, they propose to delay making a formal reply to the French Ambassador until they have obtained further information respecting the results of the visit paid by a French mission to Washington last February and the attitude of the United States Government towards this question.
- 3.
- In this connection I have been instructed to explain that negotiations have been on foot for some time between Imperial Airways [Page 514] and Pan-American Airways with a view to cooperation between the two companies in establishing an air service between Europe and the United States for the carriage of mails and passengers. His Majesty’s Government would be glad to learn the attitude of the United States Government towards this proposed cooperation between the two companies, and also to be informed whether the United States Government propose to enter into arrangements with other foreign interests in regard to the carriage of mails and to landing rights and other facilities in the United States for such service.
I have [etc.]