Text Version


          2. The matter of franchises in neutral countries 
and some jealousies arising out of post-war ambitions 
of commercial operators.
 
          3. Lack of an adequate and efficient British 
communications system, which has resulted in deficient 
radio control, frequently resulting in planes arriving 
prior to receipt at the destination of radio messages 
reporting their flight.
 
          4. Lack of whole-hearted cooperation between the 
British and American officials in part arising out of 
fear of post-war commercial designs.
 
          5. Tendency on the part of the separate military 
commanders in Cairo and Basra to regard the Ferry Command 
as a local, instead of a through, service, resulting in 
confusion and conflicting instructions.
 
          An expert operating man from the civil airlines and an 
inspector are scheduled to leave shortly for Cairo to investigate 
and report on the general situation in that district. They will, 
of course, inquire specifically into any matters which have caused 
difficulty. Any readjustments required as a result of their 
report will be incorporated into the general reorganization program 
now in process.
 
              Since the stories of various travelers into this district 
necessarily reflect the special interest of the individual with 
whom they have discussed the matter, I suggest that it would be 
wise to allow the experienced airline operators now in our service, 
and one of our trained military inspectors report on the matter 
after hearing all sites, before any final conclusion is reached on 
the recommendation made by Mr. Johnson that command of the enter-
prise be vested in the U.S. Army mission in Cairo. In a long-range 
transportation problem, it would be unsound if each division 
superintendent of a railroad had complete authority over equipment 
and movements through his division without regard to through sched-
ules or terminal problems. In the same way, the best operation of 
this great airline must be planned with these elements very much in 
mind.
 
               If anything unusual develops as a result of the above 
inspection, I will see that it is brought to your attention.
 
 
 
                    Very sincerely yours,
 
                    /s/ Henry Stimpson
 
The President
     The White House
The President
      The White House
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