The discussions, which have now terminated, were conducted on a friendly and informal basis and were preliminary and exploratory in character. Both sides were agreed that it was desirable to adopt all practicable measures to promote the early expansion and development of international air services for the common benefit of the peoples of the world. Questions relating to the transit and commercial entry of aircraft, as well as the constitution and functions of an International Air Organization, were discussed. The exchange of views disclosed a considerable measure of agreement in regard to regulatory measures in the technical field. Both sides were also agreed that the calling of an international conference to draw up a multilateral air navigation convention would be both beneficial and desirable. ESTABLISHMENT OF DIRECT RADIOTELEGRAPH CIRCUIT BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND INDIA 811.7445/43: Airgram The Secretary of State to the Officer in Charge at New Delhi (Merrell) WASHINGTON, January 5, 1944-6 p. m. A-8. On February 11, 1943 Board of War Communications approved the shipment of two transmitters from the United States under Lend-Lease 12 to India for the establishment of direct radio telegraph circuits between the United States and India 13 with the understanding that delivery would be made in June 1943. The Board has received information from the British Ministry of Supply that the two transmitters manufactured by RCA Manufacturing Company should arrive in India about January 15, 1944 and be ready for service in the latter part of February 1944. See your 952, December 14, 5 p. m.14 HULL 811.7445/51 The Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (Fly) to the Secretary of State WASHINGTON, May 2, 1944. MY DEAR MR. SECRETARY: Certain difficulties have arisen in connection with the establishment, upon a satisfactory basis, of direct 12 Lend-Lease Act approved March 11, 1941; 55 Stat. 31. 13 The view of the Board was that in the interest of national security duplicate circuits should be established between the United States and Bombay (811.7445/51). 14 Not printed. radiotelegraph circuits between the United States and Bombay, India, by Mackay Radio and Telegraph Company 15 and R.C.A. Communications, Inc. Accordingly, the assistance of your Department is requested in this matter. The pertinent facts are as follows: [Here follows account of negotiations on technical aspects of the question between American communications officials and their counterparts in the Government of India.] In summary, the Commission would appreciate the cooperation of the Department of State in obtaining the consent of the appropriate Indian authorities to the establishment of the direct circuits with both RCAC and Mackay upon the following basis: 1. The volume of traffic from India to the United States to be transmitted over the direct circuits shall bear the same relation to the total traffic from India to the United States as the volume of traffic from the United States to India over the direct circuits bears to the total traffic from the United States to India. 2. Traffic from India to the United States shall be divided between the RCAC and Mackay circuits, respectively, in the same proportions as the Indian Company received traffic from each of these companies. 3. The radio link portions of the tolls shall be divided equally between the parties. 4. Accounts shall be established and maintained by all parties in gold francs. 5. The settlement of traffic balances shall be effected in United States currency at the rate of 5.1825 gold francs equals one United States dollar. By direction of the Commission 811.7445/51 The Secretary of State to the Officer in Charge at New Delhi (Merrell) No. 158 WASHINGTON, May 12, 1944. The Secretary of State refers to previous correspondence in connection with the establishment of direct radiotelegraph circuits between the United States and India to be operated at the United States end by Mackay Radio and Telegraph Company and R.C.A. Communications, Inc., and encloses for the information of the Mission, as well as of the appropriate Indian authorities, a copy of a letter of May 2, 1944 16 received from the Federal Communications Commission requesting the Department's assistance on account of certain difficulties which have arisen in connection with the establishment of the aforementioned circuits. 15 The Mackay circuit was to be established for the duration of the war and six months thereafter (811.7445/51). 16 Supra. The Mission is requested to bring this matter to the attention of the Indian authorities and to urge that the direct circuits be established upon the basis requested by the Commission, as set forth in summary on pages 3 and 4 of its letter. The Mission is requested to advise the Department by telegraph of the result of its action in this matter. 811.7445/7-2544: Telegram The Officer in Charge at New Delhi (Merrell) to the Secretary of State NEW DELHI, July 25, 1944-3 p. m. [Received 11:40 p. m.] 542. I have just been advised informally by Sir Gurunath Bewoor, the Secretary of the Posts and Air Department that all of the suggestions contained in the enclosure to the Department's air mail instruction No. 158 of May 12 have been accepted, that the Indian company is in direct communication with the two American companies and that August 15 is aimed at as the target for opening the circuits. Bewoor suggests the possible advisability of having the direct communication opened by an exchange of messages between Sir Mohammed Usman, the Honorable member of the Viceroy's Executive Council for Posts and Air and a corresponding official of the American Government. He would appreciate the Department's views on this suggestion. Bewoor who has been most helpful in these negotiations plans to arrive in Washington, in company with Sir Frederick Tymms, Director of Civil Aviation, between the tenth and fifteenth of August to participate in the postwar civil air transport talks.17 During his visit to the United States, he would like very much to be put in touch with the officials of Mackay and RCA. MERRELL 811.7445/8-1244: Telegram The Acting Secretary of State to the Officer in Charge at New Delhi (Merrell) WASHINGTON, August 12, 1944—6 p. m. 570. Re your 542 July 25. Following is message which Mr. Fly, Chairman of Federal Communications Commission will transmit to "For correspondence regarding these talks at Washington between American officials and representatives of the Government of India, see pp. 291 ff. Sir Mohammed Usman through facilities of RCA Communications and Mackay Radio and Telegraph Company upon occasion of opening of direct radio telegraph circuit between United States and India. "It is a pleasure indeed to greet the Indian government and people on the occasion of the opening of the first direct commercial radiotelegraph circuit between the United States and India. By means of such radio circuits, messages which a century ago would have taken weeks or even months to reach their destination are now transmitted with the speed of light. I trust that the new circuit will further strengthen the bonds of friendship between us, and will hasten the day of victory in the war which we are fighting together." STETTINIUS 811.7445/8-1544 The Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (Fly) to the Chief of the Telecommunications Division (DeWolf) WASHINGTON, August 15, 1944. DEAR MR. DEWOLF: Here is a copy of the telegram received from Sir Mohammed Usman today on the occasion of the opening of the circuit between India and the United States. Sincerely yours JAMES LAWRENCE FLY [Enclosure-Telegram] Sir Mohammed Usman, Member for Posts and Air in the Viceroy's Executive Council to the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (Fly) I warmly appreciate your message on the occasion of the opening of direct radio telegram circuit between India and United States and heartily reciprocate the sentiments expressed therein. I am confident that this measure will help to hasten the day of victory and further strengthens the bonds of friendship between our countries. SIR MOHAMMED USMAN REPRESENTATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE APPLICATION BY THE UNITED PRESS FOR THE LEASE OF TELETYPE TELEGRAPHIC LINES IN INDIA 19 740.0011 Stettinius Mission/146 Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. Foy D. Kohler of the Division of Near Eastern Affairs 20 LONDON, April 22, 1944. Participants Sir David Monteath, Under Secretary of State for India, Mr. Eric E. Crowe, Foreign Office, Mr. A. H. Joyce, India Office, Mr. Wallace Murray, Director, Office of Near Eastern and African Affairs, Department of State, Mr. Foy D. Kohler, Office of Near Eastern and African Affairs, Department of State, Mr. Robert D. Coe, American Embassy. Sir David and Mr. Murray reviewed the correspondence regarding the request of the United Press for communications facilities in India which has taken place between the Embassy and the Foreign Office during the past year, based on the Department's telegram number 2009, March 31, 12 noon [midnight], to London; London's number 5650, August 27, 7 p. m., to the Department, and the Department's number 5684, September 12 [16], 12 midnight to London.21 Sir David said that he thought that it had been accepted that land line facilities were simply unavailable and mentioned that the Government of India had recently asked for 20,000 miles of telephone 19 Continued from Foreign Relations, 1943, vol. IV, pp. 289-296. 20 Mr. Kohler and Mr. Wallace Murray, Director of the Office of Near Eastern and African Affairs, were in London to discuss Near Eastern subjects in connection with general talks inaugurated on April 7 between the Under Secretary of State (Stettinius) and officials of the British Foreign Office; for report to the Secretary of State by the Under Secretary on his mission to London, see vol. III, pp. 1 ff. 21 Foreign Relations, 1943, vol. IV, pp. 289, 292, and 294, respectively. 554-184-65--20 |