Office of the Historian

800.796/9–644

The Counselor of the British Embassy (Wright) to the Assistant Secretary of State (Berle)

Washington, September 6, 1944.

My Dear Mr. Berle: I enclose herewith the text of a message dated September 1st which we have just received for you from Lord Beaverbrook.

Yours very sincerely,

Michael Wright
[Enclosure]

Message From Lord Beaverbrook for the Assistant Secretary of State (Berle), Dated September 1, 1944

Air Ministry sent me following information on paragraph 4 in your telegram of August 23rd on the subject of B.O.A.C.

2.
You mention that B.O.A.C, as a Government instrument operates air services both as a common carrier and in military form. You say that in contrast the “American air transport service” is wholly militarised and that the disparity between these two arrangements raise difficulties and danger of public reaction in America.
3.
It is true that B.O.A.C. is wholly owned by British Government but in normal times it will be an independent unit operating without Government operational control. It will thus be virtually a commercial concern in peacetime subject only to Government policy control.
4.
The war has changed the conditions. Since it was formed, after [Page 534] the outbreak of war, B.O.A.C. has operated entirely under the Air Ministry control. All its services are war services. B.O.A.C. was militarised in North Africa because the services traversed there a theatre of military operations.
5.
Military operations of B.O.A.C. are analogous to operations of T.W.A. and the American air lines’ crews under the United States Air Transport Command.
6.
It would be fairer for us to compare B.O.A.C. with Pan American Airways. Although B.O.A.C. is owned by British Government and Pan American by American public, their relative positions are comparable. Pan American Airways, however, flies both as a commercial operator and also under the Air Transport Command and Naval Air Transport Service.
7.
On the North Atlantic route B.O.A.C. carries no fare-paying passengers, mail or commercial freight whatsoever. On the same route both Pan American Airways and American Export Airline are operating commercial services for which they receive revenue.
8.
Purpose of this telegram is solely to explain the situation. I do not send it in any spirit of controversy.