POST-WAR AVIATION

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 January 1944, Page 5

POST-WAR AVIATION

ANGLO-U.S.A. CO-OPERATION

LORD BEAVERBROOK’S VIEWS

RUGBY, January 19. Lord Beaverbrook, in the House ol Lords’ debate on. civil aviation, said he envisaged a new age for the Empire with the full development ol the aeroplane. This new instrument would help to link up and gather together, to the fullest extent, essential raw materials for world use. “We have mastered the art of war and we are determined to master the art of peace,” he said. “Our Empire will, at the end of the war, be stronger than ever, and we are confidently determined to extend and develop the latest resources of. our hidden treasure.” 4 . He outlined the progress that had been made in providing types ol aircraft made could be used for both military transport and civil aviation during and after the war. The Government was ready to enter an .international aviation conference at any moment; said Lord Beaverbrook. “Our first concern would be to give general acceptance to certain broad principles whereby civil aviation could be made into an influence welding the nations into closer co-operation. These principles must assure all countries a free and fair share of this new means of transport. No nation, great or small, except the guilty aggressor nations, must be debarred from taking its full part in the upsurge of civil aviation that will follow the end of the 'war. It is our aim to make civil aviation a guarantee of international solidarity and a mainstay of world peace.” There were vital issues on which the great Powers must prepare a preliminary agreement. The Government was waiting for the Americans to complete their survey, particularly on the question of bases used in the war, and suitable for use in peace. Bases in the Dominions would be the subject of discussion between Britain and the Dominions. As for bases under our control, the Government has no desire to exclude the aircraft of other nations. We demand no prescriptive right to the use of airfields for ourselves. Rather do we mean to use them for steadily developing civil aviation throughout the world.” International agreement about traffic regulations and arrangements was an essential condition of future developments. Mr. Roosevelt had recently voiced certain proposals for the future of civil aviation. He had said that the United States was prepared to accept the right of innocent passage for all nations through the world, and the right of aircraft to land anywhere for refuelling and any other non-traffic purpose. Lord Beaverbrook commented: “I am now authorised by the Prime Minister to say that we join the President of the United States in subscribing to these principles. It is our intention that the Government shall take a full measure of responsibility for the development of civil aviation when the war ends.”

Lord Beaverbrook spoke of British achievements in the air since the beginning of the war, and the spectacular success of British military aircraft. He said: “What conclusion do I ask you to draw from all this? It is that the aircraft industry of Britain, which served us so well in the hour of our greatest peril, is capable of performing, when peace comes, a programme of design, development, and production of civil aircraft, which will not disappoint the highest hopes of those of us who believe in the dazzling future of civil aircraft.” LEASE OF BASES RUGBY, January 20. The Colonial Secretary (Mr Oliver Stanley) stated in the Commons that the only air bases in the colonies leased to the United States are those in Bermuda, BritisTi Guiana, and Ihp West Indies; As provided in the exchange Notes of Septmeber, 1940, these leases run for 99 years, and neither party has suggested any alteration of that period. NEW CIVIL AIRCRAFT.

(Rec. 11.5 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 20. A revolutionary form of propulsion will be provided for in the great British 100 tons airliner, which is now being designed for Britain’s future merchant air service, says Colin Bednail, the “Daily Mail’s air correspondent. A 32-tonner is also being designed, and will be ready much sooner. Although much smaller, it is expected to be equal to any foreign competitor at the time it take the air. “To get this announcement in proper perspective, it should be realised that the smaller liner may not be in service until about 1946-47, and the one-hun-dred tonner may not be sighted over the Atlantic until after the turn of tiie Fifties. It will be a close race with America as to who gets Hie first .100tonner actually flying. Both aircraft have interesting points. No plane of such ambitious character as the 100tonner could be contemplated without allowing for the certainly that petrol engines will be giving way to new forms of propulsion by the time it takes the air. Jet. propulsion will, not necessarily be the power-plant chosen. Civil airliners, unlike military aircraft, will seek safety and economical operating before extreme speeds.