“GORGEOUS BLUFF”

Northern Advocate, 5 December 1935, Page 7

“GORGEOUS BLUFF”

U.S.-N.Z. PACIFIC AIRWAYS WORTHY OF FIRST-CLASS POKER THE RECIPROCITY QUESTION [United Press Association.-By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright! (Received 1 p.m.) LONDON, December 4.

The newspaper “Aeroplane” emphasises that the agreement between New Zealand and Pan-American Airways for the Pacific services 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,. 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 provision enabling New Zealand to cancel the contract on one year’s notice is worthless, the paper contends, as Pan-American Airways could reduce its fares and multiply its services to make itself indispensable. If Pan-American Airways, for political reasons, should resolve to capture the traffic nobody else would stand a chance or be capable of paying New Zealanders to travel to the United States as Britain paid, with the subsidy of £8 per head, for cross-channel passengers in the early days of air transport. The Dominions Office is not concerned in the deal, out of which the American State Department has carefully kept itself and is thus'free to do what it likes in respect of a British Empire Pacific airways.

“It is a gorgeous example of diplomatic finesse, combined with bluff worthy of first-class poker, plus the ancient pastime of giving somebody else the baby to hold.”