Federal Ministry of Finance - September 2nd, 1946

The Federal Finance Minister Jean Vauthier today sent a proposition to his Dutch counterpart, proposing a cooperative agreement between the largest aircraft manufacturers in the respective countries - the Dutch Fokker and the Belgian SABCA.

"Given the economic situation of the continent, a cooperative agreement between SABCA and Fokker would be beneficial for both parties and potentially allow the resulting joint venture to dominate future aircraft sales in Western Europe," the proposition reads in part. Particularly, the emerging technology of jet aircraft, and the potential to produce them, provides an exciting opportunity not matched in other economic areas. "The market for conventional aircraft is heavily saturated at the current instant by surplus planes from the war," the Finance Minister pointed out. Fokker and SABCA have already been engaged in converting various aircraft from military specifications to civilian ones, including the huge number of Douglas C-47s on the continent. "I think we are united in our attitude that jet aircraft are the way forward. Therefore, we propose that, if such a partnership were granted, Fokker and SABCA dedicate themselves to developing a jet trainer aircraft and a jet airliner within four years." The proposition concluded with several additional points, including discourse on the fact that such a combined effort would have more negotiating power with those countries now producing jet engines, including the United States and Great Britain.