AVIATION CONFERENCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 November 1944, Page 6

AVIATION CONFERENCE

MR. ROOSEVELT’S MESSAGE. WASHINGTON, November 1. Mr. Roosevelt, in a message to thg International Air Conference in Chicago, said: “Air transport will be the first available means by which we can start to heal the wounds of war and put the world once more on a peaceful basis. When either the Germans or the Japanese are defeated, transport aeroplanes should be available in sufficient numbers to make a beginning; I do not believe the world can wait for several years for air communications. There is no reason why it should. It would be a reflection on the nations’ common sense if they were unable to make at least pro-' visional arrangements for opening much-needed air routes. I hope that when the conference adjourns these arrangements will have been made. I hope you will not dally with the thought of creating great blocks of closed air, thereby tracing in the .sky the conditions of possible future wars. “As we begin to write a new chapter in the fundamental law of the air, let us remember that we are engaged in a great attempt to build enduring institutions of peace. These peace settlements cannot be endangered by petty considerations or weakened by groundless fears. Rather, with full recognition of the sovereignty and juridical equality of all nations, let us work together so that the air may be used by humanity to serve humanity.” The Chicago correspondent of the “New York Times” says: “American delegates to the aviation conference, interpreting Mr. Roosevelt’s message, particularly his words, ‘I do not believe the world can wait for several years for air communications,’ point out that the United States is the only nation which is technically, physically, and financially capable of immediate operations. Indeed, the United States will be able to fly a big four-engined aeroplane across the Atlantic every 15 minutes the moment the war emergency ends. On the other hand, the British,, who insist that such competition would be ruinous to all other transport, favour international control. T _ “The Australians and the New Zealanders are going even further. They, it is reported, will propose a plan for an international air company in which all nations will participate, to control all international commercial flying. However, even the British .admit that there is no chance of the adoption of such a radical proposal. The attitude of most other nations has not yet been disclosed, but it is expected that the Latin-American countries will be solidly behind the American proposal.” RUSSIAN ATTITUDE. RUGBY, November 2. The International Civil Aviation Conference at Chicago opened on Wednesday without Russian participation, but this does not necessarily preclude Russian co-operation air matters at a later time. Indeed, it is understood there has already been a discussion between the United States and Russia in both of which Powers there is a tendency to prefer a bilateral to an international air agreement. In the Commons, on Thursday, the Deputy-Prime Minister (Mr. Attlee) was asked if the decision was due to the fact that an invitation had been sent to Fascist Spain, and whether the organisers of the conference could be asked to withdraw the invitation to Spain, Mr. Attlee replied that he understood objection was taken because Spain and other neutrals had been invited. Clearly this was a matter for the United States Government, which had summoned the conference.