Coll 5/84(5) ‘FLIGHTS BY FRENCH MILITARY AIRCRAFT OVER India & BURMA EN ROUTE for SAIGON’ [‎85r] (169/394)

A.M. Form 1700 r--,r
CYPHER
'(•ntn) Wt. 18613-956 25011. 7/46. T5. 700.
MESSAGE
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B.
Si Oil.
TO
aPX.3697
. J.UU: A.C.A.B. (p).
j.^PX. 3697 1st •
Subject- clearancG of French Ilil it ary aircraft across' India*
2 * ^-Ggret doaly in replying'to your -.0. 297 February 20th, but did
not soe yoir AOX.267 February 7th until February 22nd ov/ing to error in
signal distribution.
• • * ’ 1 hile full apreciating your difficulties in obtaining clearance
for French aircraft in face of general synpathy in India for Viet Namese in
present operations in Indo China I oust emphasise the serious results which
any refusal may have on our plans vis a vis the French. The F rGnc h Government
have already made it cleat that they are not prepared to sign the X n gi 0 F rcn *h
Military air agreement until we have' obtained the approval of the Government
of-India to their requirements. Under this agreement, we will obtain the
long Term rigtit'to "ope rate' our regular trunk route services, special fligjjte,
ferry and ^efors aircraft across netroplitan France up to an itensity of ”
aircraft per day, ^jj^par facilities will also be assured to us in Indo China.
If the F rLnc h do not sign the agreement and refusv transit rights, all twin
and single engined aircraft for Middle Bast and beyond will have to go by sea,
and transport services will be limited to four engined aircraft operating at
a considerably reduced frequency via Gibraltar. This will have a serious effect
on the movement of priority traffic to all overseas commands.
4. The clearances at present outstanding arc as follows:-
(a) 2 JTJ 52 *s from Saigon to Paris (A.95 February 5th). These
aircraft arc us^-d in the transport role to supplement Dakota
services.
(b) Dakota No.759 from Paris to S a i S on (A.680) February 6th.
( NO*
c; 3 atalinas which it is confirmed are ultimately destined for
Indo China. 1 hey are endeavouring to rejoin their parent
unit (8th Flotilla) stationed in Indo China* It would seen
unlikely that these aircraft would be used for offensive
operations against Viut Namoso forces* Under agreement,
which vlll run for an intial period of 4 years, French
requirement is a total of 18 military Transport aircraft
across India each month made up of 2 weekly Da.kota/Ju *52
services in each direction and 1 monthly Halifax (Transport)
service. Shis is n Ivory t. small ..flew when compared with the.
rights mentioned in paragraph 4 above, which we hope to a
obtain and is unlikely to influence appreciably the progress
of French operations in Indo China. Similarly, it should
be possible, by using H.A.F. airfields and staging facilities
for these aircraft to pass through without attracting undue
attention on the part of Indian nationals.
/5.
Note.—In the Interests of economy, both sides of this sheet should be used.