Three For the Future

For all the world to see, British Civil Aviation Minister Lord Swinton last week laid down a bold and specific plan for Britain's air future.

In a carefully prepared White Paper, Tory Minister Swinton let it be clearly understood that Britain will not limp into international postwar air competition with one monopolistic chosen instrument (British Overseas Airways Corp.); it will enter the postwar international air race with three. The new chosen:

1) A B.O.A.C.-managed corporation, with a sprinkling of steamship-company money, to operate routes to the U.S., the Far East and the Commonwealth.

2) A corporation, owned jointly by B.O.A.C., four British railway companies, short sea shipping lines, travel agencies and independent prewar airlines, to service Europe and the United Kingdom.

3) A corporation, owned partly by B.O.A.C., mostly by British South American steamship lines, to service Portugal, Spain, West Africa and South America.

The reasoning behind this news was clear enough. To shake off the old lethargy and face the growing challenge for world air routes, it was obviously necessary for the British Government to expand its monopoly to include all the experience, equipment and money its private transportation industry could muster -- even though some British shippers and independent airlines bellowed for free competition.

Whatever U.S. civil airmen thought of Britain's method, they had to admit that at least the British had a plan. The U.S. did not know what it had.

In Washington, big, rich Pan American Airways again agitated for U.S. adoption of a united front, or a "chosen instrument" policy. Stoutly seconding this move was United Airlines.

Stoutly against it were 17 other U.S. airlines, many of which have gained solid overseas-operations experience during the war. They insisted on a policy of regulated competition, permitting all qualified comers to pitch in and fly for the postwar trade. While no man knew how (or when) the argument would be settled, U.S. airmen did know one thing for sure: once again, in a vital matter touching on U.S. foreign policy and trade, the U.S. had been caught sucking its thumb and trying to decide what to do.

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