The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1913. WHO OWNS IKE AIR?

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 38, 15 October 1913, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1913. WHO OWNS IKE AIR?

“Who owns the air?” That is the knotty problem which will come before the International Law Association, which meets at Madrid next month, says a Daily Telegraph writer. The German and other Continental jurists have contended that the air us “no man’s land,” if such an Hibernian 1 phase may pass. Their object, it is believed, was to establish their right to fly across the Channel and over British territory. The I'inglish Government would not agree to this. They I set up the notices that “trespassers! will be prosecuted,” and took ener-! ge.tic means to discourage “fly-by-nights.” Xo foreign airman has yet presented himself as a mark for the new guns. Being unable to 'get over this argument, the Germans and French are now coming round to the “national” view, seeing the advantage of keeping their neighbors from mak-j ing circular flights over their fron-l tiers. As a result, England’s contention that the air belongs to the nation underneath is coming to he accepted. The Vnited States, as might lie expected, have' annexed all the air of the West by virtue of the Monroe | Doctrine. International lawyers will find the case virtually settled in - advance, hut on them devolves the duty ! of drawing up a legal formula, by! which the air can he duly ticketed aRi German, French, or British, as the ,caso may bo.