GERMAN AIR TRAFFIC

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 7, 8 July 1922, Page 12

GERMAN AIR TRAFFIC

Negotiations have been in progress between the Allies with regard to German commercial aviation, since in accordance with the Treaty of .Versailles,! Germany is, now free to build. comnierpial 'aeroplanes., Proposals have been ..made to Berlin for a sort .of ..supervision, of-.these machines,, and there' is reason to .believe that theyl have been accepted by Germany.'. In a statement' he >■ has''made, M. Laurent Eynac, Under-Secretary of State for Air, - deals;, with ".the: -precautions which the Allies have taken to prevent Germany from building aeroplanes which' could be transformed for military purposes, A series of, rules has been drawn up. The first seven provide for all aeroplanes capable of flying without a pilot lending themselves 'to military installations, rising to an altitude of 4000 metresi or exceeding 2000 metres, flying at a speed of 170 kilometres an hour, carrying petrol exceeding a prescribed maximum or a cargo of more than 600 kilogrammes, to be considered of military interest, and therefore prohibited. As 'to dirigibles,, similar precautions have been taken. The * rigid machines are limited -to 30,000 cubic metres, semi-rigid,' to. }25,000, and non-rigid to 20,000 ; otherwise,, they ' will be prohibited^ v' A '.'•■'-.'

M. Laurent Eynac goes on to say that Germany "will have to accept in Berlin a Committee of Guarantee, which will take the place of the Control Commission, in operation, and will hold discretionary powers. France and England have three members on this committee, and other Powers two. s,

Rules 8 and 9, say that .all German factories' turning out ■ aviation material must be declared; . all machines, pilots, and pnpil. pilots will be registered, the list being r placed at'the disposal of the Committee :of Guarantee." ■' Stocks of motors, detached pieces, and accessories will only be acepted in-a proportion strictly necessary to civil aeroplanes. The French Air Minister believes that Germany, with her means of production, can soon build a fleet of 5000 to 20,000 commercial aeroplanes, and, as regards her construction outside all control in Holland, Switzerland, and Spain, he admits that this is a delicate point which is occupying attention. In this connection, however, he points out that the Treaty, forbids the importation and exportation of military aviation materials, and in this respect, tho Allies have a weapon against Germany. On the point as to whether Germany could deliver 10,000 commercial aeroplanes: to Russia if she received the order for them, the Minister points out that com: mercial aeroplanes built for Russia would naturally come under Allied control, sineo exportation of war material, is prohibited. - The French Air Minister .declares that "he regards the situation t.wit,hont..nnt.iiTiifi'r'. bat.-saih __essii_i___.