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Mr. H. B. Cox - 4   September 16, 1948

have representation present at ICAO meetings, conferences, etc., but irrespective of this representation, we should come out and specifically state to all the world what the position of the air line pilots internationally is relative to the various questions that are under consideration by ICAO in which we, the air line pilots, have an interest.  In other words, if a proposal is made by anyone and carried into ICAO that is adverse to the best interests of the air line pilots internationally, either directly or indirectly, we should oppose it boldly and without hesitation, and we should so announce our position to the newspapers, magazines, and press representatives both in our respective countries and internationally.  We should take the position which such organizations as the Civil Aeronautics Administration and the Civil Aeronautics Board that these organizations should approve nothing without giving the representatives of the IFALPA a chance to be heard and that this representation be aside completely from anything ICAO may do or say.

My interpretation of what the prime function of ICAO actually is, so far as the various air line and civil aviation companies are concerned, is a superimposed method of forcing their ideas and their will by the means of international pressure on to everyone who doesn't happen to agree with them.  At least, that's the procedure and net result in our country.  Be all that as it may, I am firmly of the conviction that the members of the IFALPA should, first, operate completely democratically and, secondly, independently.  There should be no pressure groups nor special interest activities, and all the actions by our international federation should be my voluntary agreement, and if we can't agree, then we should recognize our inability to reach an agreement on the question that is before us and spend our time on problems on which we can agree.  We should strive always to create our own strong clear voice in air line transportation in our own country and internationally, standing squarely and completely on our own feet as the representative of all the air line pilots who are represented by our organization.  I don't think we should, to use a homespun phrase, pussy-foot on any issues on which we are able to agree.  We should come out squarely and straightforwardly and announce our position both in our respective countries and internationally.  Surely the public, internationally and in our respective countries, will listen far more intently and be convinced more effectively if the men speaking to them are the ones actually doing the flying than if they are some super-international, special interest lobby such as ICAO.

The cardinal interest of the air line pilots relates to air safety, which is also the interest of the public of every country of the pilots whom we represent.  In addition to that, we have the other interest, the improving of our standards in every respect, which is also a public interest matter for the reason that improved standards for us mean automatically the improvement of safety and operating standards of all air line transportation.  We must not hobble nor retard our freedom of action by attempting to bring our ideas too closely together because the differences in the laws and customs of the air line pilots of all the various countries we represent are too

Transcription Notes:
in the second paragraph, actions is spelled as acins "and all the actins by our international" (fixed) Also there should be a period instead of a comma "which we can agree, We should strive" (fixed)