N.Z. AGREEMENT

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 136, 5 December 1935, Page 9

N.Z. AGREEMENT

BRITAIN'S POSITION

NO EQUAL FOOTING

United Press Association—By Electric Tel*, graph—Copyright. (Received December 5, 10.15 a,m.) LONDON, December 4. The newspaper "The Aeroplane" emphasises that the agreement between New Zealand and Pan-American Airways does not. place the United States and the British Empire on an equal footing, as it is merely between a private company and New Zealand, and the United States Government can argue that it is not interested and that the agreement does not bind America to allow British air lines to use Hawaii. The proviso enabling New Zealand to cancel the contract at a year's notice is worthless, as Pan-American Airways could reduce the fares, multiply the services, and make themselves indispensable. If Pan-American Airways for political reasons resolved to capture the traffic, nobody else woujd stand a chance. It was capable of paying New Zealanders to travel to the United States, as Britain paid a subsidy of £8 per head for cross-channel passengers in the early days of air transport. The Dominions Office was not concerned in a deal out of which the American State Department had carefully kept itself. It was thus free to do what it liked in respect to the Empire. "The Pacific Airway," says "The Aeroplane," "is a gorgeous example of diplomatic finesse combined with bluff worthy of first-class poker, plus, the ancient pastime of giving someone else the baby to hold."