THREE-SIDED PLAN

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 15, 13 October 1943, Page 6

THREE-SIDED PLAN

Empire Air Transport (Received October 13, 1 n.m.) LONDON, October 12. A three-sided plan for the organization of post-war air transport serving Britain and the Empire countries was propounded at a joint air transport committee representing the British Chambers of Commerce and the' Federation of British Industries. Controls' suggested were, firstly. British, second, imperial, third, international. . . . After advocating competitive air lines for Britain, the committee says: A world-wide Empire can continue to exist onlv if communications are strong, regular, and secure. Their establishment and maintenance is therefore as vital an interest to one part of the British Empire as another, and should he regarded as the responsibility of the whole Emcommittee advocates the creation of an Empire authority to co-ordinate and develop Empire overseas air routes. The authority should plan routes, invite tenders for'services and grant licences to an agreed number of companies. “An international authority with very considerable powers is advocated for the allocation of all inlernational air services. The committee suggests that air routes linking countries under the .same flag should be excluded from this international arrangement. “There exists a clear right for nil territories under one flag to link themselves together by air without let or hindrance from other Powers,” it says.. Discussing British and American interests, the committee says: “We. have consistently advocated that the international air services of the United States and the British Empire should be based <>n parity in terms of a mutually acceptable yardstick. This principle is regarded as of primary importance.”