Coll 5/43 ‘Night flying facilities in the Persian Gulf in connection with the Empire Air Mail Scheme’ [‎65r] (129/157)

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equivalent to the housing and landing fees; and this ooint
will need to be keot in rind in deterrinin" the rniniruin
oostal osvDiente which will be acceotable from the three
countries *
If this offer of oarticioation in the scheme could
be made immediately, it would greatly facilitate a collateral
request that urgent action should be taken towards the
orovision of the night flying facilities required under the
scheme* The matter is so urgent, that the Air Ministry feel
it essential that a small party should proceed, if possible
at the end of Aoril, to negotiate In these three countries
with a view to securing agreement and initiating immediate
actiono If this is not done, there will be inevitable delays
and serious danger of failure to secure the co-operation of
these Governments in a matter which is of the utmost imoortance
for the future of the Empire scheme* It is suggested,
therefore, that the Inter^Deoartmenta1 Conference should
consider the desirability of arrangements being made to this
end; and it Is hoped that the p oet Office will consider the
possibility of nominating a representative to deal with
the postal side of the negotiations., The remaining members
of the party should comprise, it is suggested, an officer
from the Air Ministry authorised to negotiate terms for
the provision of the ground organisation and a settlement
of the questions attendant on payment of housing and
landing fees and exemption from duties on petrol and
oil, together with a technical officer from the Civil
Aviation Departmento
As a preliminary to su<hvisits, it is further
suggested that H<,M„Representstives in the three countries
should be informed of the position in general terms and