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Coll 5/61 ‘Far East: Proposed extension to Burma-Yunnan frontier of Imperial Airways to link up with Eurasia Corporation’ [‎296r] (590/728)

The record is made up of 1 file (363 folios). It was created in 26 Oct 1934-20 Apr 1939. It was written in English and French. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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Calcutta and Hongkong are on approximately the
same parallel of latitude near the Tropic of Cancer„
Mandalay is about 50 miles south of this parallel, a
negligible angular diversion on a long route. Lashio,
the rail head of north-east Burma, Is practically on the
Calcutta^Hongkong parallel. At Lashio there is an
excellent emergency landing ground already in existence
and capable of development as a good commercial aerodrome.
The important Burma Corporation silver and lead mines at
Namtu are close to Lashio and it is adjacent to the
States where further mines exist.
High ground and rainfall affect the suitability
of the direct air line iron Calcutta to Hongkong. Between
Chittagong (which is practically on the direct air line)
and Mandalay there are some 120 miles of extremely wild
country, the Chin hills, reaching 7000 to 10,000 feet.
By edging south xrom Calcutta and striking Akyah, about
150 miles south of Chittagong, the hilly strip between
the Indian Ocean and Mandalay can be reduced to about
50 miles and the maximum land height to about 5,000 feet.
Sast of Mandalay the ground is fairly broken
but relatively mild to the China Frontier anywhere near
.uaelio, and for some distance north of the Mandalay- Lashio
direct line, e.g. ao Kutk&i vthere there is a poor but
possible emergency landing ground and much open cl ownland
at about 3000-6000 feet) and Nsmkhan where the Shweli
River enters Burma from China. Going north of Namkhan,
by Bhamo and onwards the country is higher, more broken
#
and much more wooded, especially round Bhamo itself and.
the Irrawaddy valley.

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Content

The file is concerned with a proposal to link Imperial Airways Services and those of the Eurasia Aviation Corporation and/or China National Airways at the Burma-Chinese frontier, in consideration of establishing a more direct link to Hong Kong. The file therefore contains occasional references to political developments within China, and her diplomatic relations with Japan. The file also includes correspondence regarding an aviation agreement signed between France and Siam [Thailand], and related agreements between the British and Siamese Governments.

More direct routes are also explored in the file, in particular a route via the Southern Shan States and French Indo-China. A report by Frederick Tymms, Director of Civil Aviation in India, on a reconnaissance flight between 25 and 26 April 1937 has been included: see folios 165-168. For the conclusions of the survey: see folios 190-192. An appended report on the landing ground at Loikaw can be found on folios 169-171. Three maps accompany the report: see folios 172-173 and 193.

For further information a copy of a report by Georges Winckler of an exhibition through Laos and Upper Burma between 8 and 17 February 1936 has also been filed: see folios 174-186. The purpose of Winckler's exhibition was to explore the possibilities of a direct route between France and French Indo-China [Vietnam].

An additional sketch map outlining possible overland routes between Burma and Hong Kong can be found on folio 260.

The main correspondents are officials of the Air Ministry, the Foreign Office, and the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. . A significant amount of correspondence with the Government of India – Department of External Affairs and the Department of Industries and Labour – and correspondence with numerous British representatives across Burma, China, and Siam, have also been included.

The French language content consists of a single letter (folios 253-254) from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs dated 10 March 1936.

The file includes three dividers (folios 2, 95, and 131) which gives a list of correspondence references contained in that section of the file by year.

Extent and format
1 file (363 folios)
Arrangement

The file incorporates two files from the Economic and Overseas Department: E&O Coll 2/23 (folios 131-364) and E&O Coll 2/23A (folios 95-130). Material from PZ Coll 5/61 makes up the remainder of the file (folios 2-94). Within each section, the papers are arranged in approximate reverse chronological order.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 364; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. A previous foliation sequence, which is present between ff 4-94 and is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

Written in
English and French in Latin script
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Coll 5/61 ‘Far East: Proposed extension to Burma-Yunnan frontier of Imperial Airways to link up with Eurasia Corporation’ [‎296r] (590/728), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2022, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100047412706.0x0000c1> [accessed 19 April 2024]

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