So The Americans Aren't Bullies!
p. 47 · Read in the full issue
Western Samoa’s Minister of Civil Aviation, Tupuola Efi, returned from Washington DC with what were apparently “the laurels of victory’’. For, the minister announced, the American civil aviation authorities have agreed to delay Pan Am’s entry to the Apia/Tafuna air route by at least 12 months, after which the civil aviation authorities of both countries will reconsider the impact of PanAm competition on Polynesian.
I was under the impression that the United States were bullies but it was certainly not the case in this instance,’’ Tupuola happily remarked.
In Washington, the minister told officials of the State Department, the Civil Aeronautics Board and the Federal Aviation Agency that there was insufficient traffic to support services by two airlines, and that Pan Am’s involvement at this stage would have a deleterious effect on Polynesian.
Tupuola had felt it necessary to go to Washington to present Polynesian’s case before the American civil aviation officials, especially as there was a very likely danger that the Americans might withdraw Polynesian’s landing rights in American Samoa.