AIR CONFERENCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 117, 20 May 1942, Page 5

AIR CONFERENCE

OPENING IN OTTAWA

LONDON, May 19. Delegates from 14 of the countries fighting in the cause of free- . dom were present at the opening of the United Nations air conference in Ottawa today. President Roosevelt, in a special message to the delegates, described Canada as "the aerodrome, of democracy" and said it was fitting that the conference should be held there. As president of the conference, Mr. Mackenzie King expressed regret that it had not been possible for the Soviet air force to be represented. He told delegates that the efforts and achievements of the Soviet air force in actual combat would have assured its representatives the warmest of welcomes. Captain Balfour, Britain's Undersecretary of State for Air and the chief British delegate, expressed his regret also, and reminded delegates that he had been fortunate enough to see something at first hand of Russia's i total war effort.

Discussing the purpose of the conference, Mr. King said that he had reviewed its scope with President Roosevelt, who had made a number of important suggestions. The conference was taking place; at a time which might prove to be the greatest testing time of all, and he added that in the perfecting of a co-ordinated effort among the combined forces of the United Nations lay the key to victory.