Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-09-14
NEW AIR CONTRACT
UNIQUE IN HISTORY
Convention Recently Signed at
Paris Full of Novel
Features.
RECOGNITION OF SOVEREIGNTY
State May Declare Certain Pro-
hibited Areas-Five Powers
Will Control.
RECOGNITION OF SOVEREIGNTY
fnv Universal Service !

LONDON. Sept. 13.-The Air Conven-
ton recently signed in Paris is per-
haps one OF the most interesting OF
the agreements which have been made
by the powers taking part in the peace
conference. says an Air Ministry an
nounccment.
The admission b. State OF foreign
aircraft 70 the air over its territory
carefully safeEuarded. marks an epoch
IN international arrangements TO which
no paral!e can be found II is true
tory OF state. but this is only at
the actua! frontier. whist interna
tiQnal motoring Is confined - a ncg!i-
In all other cases the means OF con-
vc?inS goods or passengers across a
State have been controlled b. the
stat. or its nationals. both with re-
spect 10 rolling stock and roads.
Great PotentinlttIes Shown.
Experience alone will show how far.
apart from commercial development,
air transpor. will affect the relations
hetween state and state in advancing
little doubt that its potentialtics in
this direction are very great.
Air Commission. and its inclusion. in
the organization Of the peace confer
ence. was due principally to the I'M
tia,ive OF the Air Ministry. who real
on the subject OF air traffic which
were in progress last January between
England and France only touched the
vas conSide-cd essential that a code
Of international air law, world wide
in it's scope, should be drawn up. and
ions. our allies and is ny as pos
sible o. the neutral States should par
ticipate.
soverciSnt! Recognized In Code.
Tho nov code OF International air
Law is presented as convention in
cipics. technical details being rclcEated
to anncxcs In the framing OF il tho
commission found no difficulty in dec!d-
ing the vcxed question Of sovereignty
in the ARA point which created SO
much difficulty in 1910. The first article
Of the convention recognizes spccif-
Cally tho principles OF sovereignty. and
it's tone throughout is to regard the ad-
mission of foreign aircraft as conccs-
sion ather than right.
Nevertheless. provided that the con-
di;ions Of the convention are observed.
the contracting States undertake in
time OF peace 10 accord freedom of Gin
nocent passage 10 the aircraft of the
other contracting States. any restrictive
regulations being applied without dis
tinction OF nationality.
Prohibited Areas Recognized.
The principle of sovereignty is further
recognize by the right accorded TO a
State to declare prohibited areas for
military reasons or in the interests of
public safety and il will be interesting
10 see how far. in view OF the develop
ment of aerial photography. a State
Will find il worth while to declare pro-
hibited areas for military reasons.
Five Powers Control.
separate chapter OF tho convention
deals with the International Commits
sion for Air Navigation. which is being
established as part of the organization
Of tho league of nations. and consists
Of two representatives OF the United
States. France. italy and Japan. one
representative of Great Britain and one
of each OF the British dominons and
OF India and one representative Of
each offthe other contracting states.
While the British empire as a whole
will have six or possibly seven repre-
sentatives, it's voting power will he the
sa me as that of the principal States.
The voting Is SO arranged that the five
great States, If unanimous. will always
be in a 1ajority.
The convention only contcmplatcs fy-
ing in time of neacc and its provisions
do not affect the freedom of action of
the contracting States either bel
ligcrcntS as ncutrdlS.