The "Colonial Formula*
The "taxt" of the "Colonial Formula" as it has been known for many years
is attached.
2.
It is clear from old papers that the Colonial Civil Aviation Conference
to which it refers was called in 1947 in the olimate produced by the entry
into force on 4th April 1947 of the Chicago Convention and the setting up
under that Convention of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
In particular Article 28 in the Convention stated:
"Each contracting State undertakes, so far as it may find
practicable, to:
(a) Provide, in its territory, airports, radio services,
meteorological services and other air navigation facilities
to facilitate international air navigation, in accordance
with the standards and practices recommended or established
from time to time, pursuant to this Convention;
(b) Adopt and put into operation the appropriate standard
systems of communications procedure, codes, markings,
signals, lighting and other operational practices and rules
which may be recommended or established from time to time,
pursuant to this Convention.'
Chapter XV (Articles 69-73) made provision for States to obtain assistance
from ICAO in implementing Article 28 and the Civil Aviation Conference of
1947 apparently spent some time considering whether or not it would be right
for the United Kingdom to seek any such assistance. The conclusion was a
negative one and the "Colonial Formula" was evolved as a means of determining
in what circumstances and to what extent the United Kingdom should assist
Colonial territories in the provision of civil aviation facilities - with
special reference to trunk route interest.
3.
So far as I can see the Civil Aviation Act of 1949 is the basis for the
provision of money in this context.
4.
It is very clear that the "Colonial Formula" can be used to produce a
variety of answers (when trying to determine whether United Kingdom financial
assistance is justifiable) but there is no doubt that, in the past, an
important factor has always been the financial state of the territory
concerned - even where a very olear United Kingdom trunk-route interest could
/be