GUN-RUNNING FLIGHTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26847, 11 August 1948, Page 5

GUN-RUNNING FLIGHTS

CHARGES AGAINST AUSTRALIAN “ OFFICIAL INSTRUCTIONS DEFIED ” NEW DELHI, Aug. 9. The Prime Minister of India, Mr Nehru, told Parliament that the Government was in touch with the Pakistan and United Kingdom Governments about the flight from Karachi to Hyderabad in defiance of the Indian Government instructions by the Australian, Sydney Cotton.' According to New Delhi radio, quoted by Reuter’s correspondent, Mr Nehru added that the Indian Government “ took the most serious view of Cotton’s direct contravention of international rules and of the Government’s own regulations.” Mr Nehru said the negotiations between the three Governments concerned alleged night gun-running (lights from Karachi to Hyderabad. Mr Nehru added that Cotton used five Lancastrian bombers, three bearing British markings and two Canadian markings. The Government considered it would not be in the public interest to disclose what action it took to prevent Cotton’s plane flying over Indian territory, and added that one of Cotton’s Lancastrians crashed recently. Cotton, though born in Australia, had been resident in Britain since the end of the First World War, and negotiations which had been started with the Australian Government had been dropped. The British High Commissioner's office said a plan was ready to’evacuate 400 British nationals and others from Hyderabad State if necessary. The plan also covers some Americans, Canadians, and Poles.