AVIATION PLANS

Waikato Times, Volume 195, Issue 22513, 23 November 1944, Page 6

AVIATION PLANS

I INTERNATIONAL BODY | DRAFT OF AGREEMENT ’CONTROVERSIAL PROBLEM i (United Press Assn. —Eiee. Tel. Copyright. NEW YORK, Nov. 22 I The partial draft for an interna- : tional air transport agreement, rej leased by Britain, the United States : and Canada, covers such items as : organisation, cabotage and freedom | of transit, but leaves untouched the question of the division of traffic on ; which the British have been adamj ant, reports the Associated Press correspondent in Chicago. The New York Times correspondent in Chicago says the plan represents a victory for American policy, favouring an international air body with purely advisory and consultative functions except in the technical field, as against the British-Canadian demand for an authority with broad regulatory powers over economic problems. Some controversial problems between Britain and America 1 which have been left out of the document will be further discussed by Britain, America and Canada. The correspondent says that, in spite of the incomplete nature of the agreement, it is officially regarded as representing an important step forward from the 17th century idea of | trade monopolies and wars between I the great Powers for the control of sea commerce to the 20th century concept of international collabora- | tion for peace and security. Much Criticism Expected Delegates who did not participate I in the tripartite talks have studied i the partial draft, and considerable debate and criticism are expected at the plenary session of the world conference today. Some changes are likely to be made in the draft, but it will probably be approved. The tripartite talks will continue in an effort to solve the problems of quotas, frequencies of service and other related questions so that the conference can end on Saturday. If these questions are still unsolved, a special drafting committee will carry on the work under the interim council already agreed on. The provisions of the agreement are as follows: 1. The acceptance of the principle of agreement aimed to avoid friction and to forward the co-operation between nations and peoples on which world peace depends. 2. The establishment of an international air administration, comprising an assembly on which each nation will have equal representation, and the creation of a board of 15 members, seven of whom would be named by countries of chief importance in air transport. 3. The prohibition of discrimination among States and acceptance of the principle that civil air transport will not be used as an instrument of national policy in international relations. Retention of Rights 5. Each country has the right to designate the route to be flown within its territory by aircraft of another State. (The American proposal for the free transit of private I and commercial planes was omitted, [ indicating that the United States had | yielded to pressure from other countries.) 6. The granting of exclusive privileges is forbidden to any country or air line. (This would abrogate exclusive agreements between PanAmerican Airways and some other j countries and between the British and I some other countries.) i 7. Meteorological services should be made available to all signatory I States. 8. Air matters directly affecting I world security should be left to the general organisation established by j the nations of the world in order to i preserve peace. ! 9. Two or more member countries | are permitted to operate joint air transport and to pool air services on any routes in any region. 10. The world organisation board is authorised to recommend any member States to form joint organisations to operate air services. 11. Technical agreements should be drawn up to supersede the Paris convention of 1919 and the Havana agreement of 1928. 12. Appeals from decisions of the board of directors should be referred to the international permanent court, which should be an arbitral body. 13. Each member country is called on to forbid operations through its air spaces by a country which does not conform to the agreement. 14. Freight and passenger rates should be fixed by associations of air 'lines, and operations should be grouped regionally with a review of the powers granted to regional boards.