Coll 5/43 ‘Night flying facilities in the Persian Gulf in connection with the Empire Air Mail Scheme’ [‎18r] (35/157)

387895/35.
Meeting held on 22nd March, 1935, to
discuss the Empire Air Mail Scheme.
Preface
Treasury
attitude.
Present
Ltc Col. Shelmerdine Air Ministry.
(Chairman).
W/Cdr, Allen
F/Ltc Allen
Mr 0 Burkett
F/Lt . Duncan
Major Mealing
Mr. Self
Mr, Weekly
Mr.
Bigg
Colonial
t»
Shuckburgh Foreign
it
Dibdin
India
it
Laithwaite
tt
it
Lumley
Post Off:
it
Bridges
Treasury
it
Grey
tt
1. The meeting had primarily been called to consider the
best means of obtaining the co-»operation of the British and other
Governments concerned in the early provision of the ground
facilities which are an essential preliminary to the Empire Air
Mail Scheme. Memoranda had been circulated to the Departments
represented at the meeting setting out the suggestions of the
Air Ministry which envisaged that a small Delegation, consisting
of representatives of the Air Ministry and the Post Office should
visit the various countries at an early date to discuss on the
spot with the appropriate authorities the financial and technical
aspects of the scheme and endeavour to secure their co-operation.
2. The Post Office representative explained that his
Department are anxious to do all they can to assist but they
would not be able to give a decision on the question of a Post
Office representative accompanying the Delegation until the
return of Sir F. Williamson to this country probably about
26th April next. From the Air Ministry point of view, it was
regarded as important that the Delegation should leave England
at the end of April. It was decided, however, to proceed with
the discussion on the assumption that a Post Office representative*
would proceed with the Delegation at that time; any mention of
the Delegation meantime would refer to "a party of technical
experts"
3. The Treasury representatives said that in principle they
had no objections to offer to the proposals in the Air Ministry
memorandum, nor to the suggested visit of a Delegation to
negotiate with the authorities concerned. The Treasury would
like, hov/ever, to be clear as to the extent of the powers of the
delegation to enter into final commitments v/ith the various
Governments. T&ey also had certain drafting points which they
would communicate separately.
Invitation to
Palestine
and Iraq.
The Air Ministry representatives explained that in the
case of three countries which lie along the England - Australia
air route, namely, Egypt, Palestine and Iraq, it was proposed to
ask each of the Governments to participate in the scheme and to
contribute postal payments but not subsidies apart from a sura
equivalent to the landing and housing fees v/hich would be
incurred by Imperial Airways aircraft, coupled with exemotion
from taxes on fuel and oil.