AIR ROUTE.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 May 1921, Page 5

AIR ROUTE.

LINKING THE EMPIRE.

TO LONDON IN EIGHT DAYS.

MIDDLE EAST CHANGES.

By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received May 6, 5.5 p.m. London, May 5. The Daily Telegraph says that as a result of Mr. Winston Church ill ’b visit to the Middle East we are likely to get a definite and clear-cut policy, but the great difficulty is to reconcile economy of the taxpayers’ money with the demands which the security and development of the Empire make necessary. Two great principles propounded are the establishment of a great Imperial air route from Europe over India to Australia, and the organisation of the Middle East as a chain of native autonomous States, feudally related to this country. In pursuance of these main objects the following will probably be proposed. Mesopotamia will become a rendezvous of the Imperial Air Force, which will be the paramount factor in that region. The aerial routes to India and Australia will pass the great plains of the Tigris and Euphrates. When Australia can be reached by aeroplane in eight days. Mesopotamia will be an intermediary station.

An independent Arab State in Mesopotamia will be created forthwith, with a native prince. The candidature of Emir Feisul will be considered favorably. The Budget of the civil administration will be independent of any grants from the British Exchequer, but substantial grants should be available for the maintenance of the Imperial force. This will be reduced to twentyfour battalions, and within a year to twelve British and Indian battalions, while when an air force is organised to police the area the troops will be reduced to a brigade. The railways will be put into private hands. The Government has already had an offer to buy them. Native armed forces will be cheated to work in conjunction with the Imperial force. Kurdistan will be formed into a separate autonomous province. Transjordania will remain a separate Arab State under Emir Abdulwah. The organisation of Palestine will remain as at present, the holy, places being placed under a commission under a prominent Englishman, including Moslems and Jews. The port of Haifr will be developed. The organisation of the native States in Arabia will be perfected under King Hedjaz Iman of Yemen.

The main idea is to get rid of all the minor troubles with Ideal affairs, leaving all these to the Go rnments of the native States. —Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn.