The sun., 1919-02-02

It is a matter OF urgent necessity to es-
tablish n system of propaganda through
out the empire In order to convince the
whole nation OF the vast Importance and
possibilities of aerial transport and to
familiarize the governments and the
local authorities with the subject. There
is evidence of the initiation of such a
system In enemy countries.
TN order to carry out these views
we therefore recommend that "A special
branch commencing on quite a modest
scale) should be formed at once for the
purposes specified under the Air Ministry
to insure that all necessary preliminary
action be taken without delay---a def
mite responsibility being imposed upon
the Air Council"
Frank Pick. one Of the members Of
the committee, In memorandum sub
mitted at the same time with the final
report of the committee, declares that
the Government must take care to avoid
any steps which might interfere with
the adoption OF an International code of
laws
The door should be left open for the
widest possible conference and the most
general acceptance" he says. There
are two other selfish reasons for THE
policy. The strategic position Of this
country In relation to the air differs
fundamentally from the strategic posi-
ton In relation to the sea. SO long as
the shores Of the North Atlantic are oc-
cupied by the leading civilized people.
so long the British position is advan-
tageous as centre Of sea power. But
II air power Is to usurp TO any degree
the place of sea power-and this seems
probable-so long as flight over land
holds appreciable advantages over flight
over sea. which is the case under condI-
tons as they exist to-day, then the
position of n country placed centrally
as regards land must be superior to
the position of a country placed CEN
trally as regards water.
The German aims of central Europe,
central Africa and the Berlin to Bag
dad approach to Asia are seen to be the
more sound and the more dangerous as
this idea Is carried to fruition The
very scattered and discontinuous char
acter of the countries constituting the
British Empire becomes an obstacle to
the development OF aerial transport and
aerial power
THE British Isles are badly placed for
aerial communication. Other nations
bar access to the great land masses
associated to form the British Empire A
clear right of way. free from restriction
across France and Italy. is essential to
effective progress in intercolonial air
communication. Our self-irterest, there
Tore as great power lies toward an in
ternational settlement of air sovereignty.
And for similar considerations our
interests as a commercial and Industrial
Deople must lie in the same direction
The right to pass across other national
territory without let or hindrance, relief
from varying terms and conditions at
taching TO flight which may be onerous
md irksome the absence of customs re-
straints or tariff restrictions and gener-
ally the absence of the apparatus for
hanpering or artificially routing trade
are all wanted. On all these grounds Il
is submitted that the case for an inter-
national settlement is strengthened"
The possibilities of commercial routes
between London and various points In
the British Isles and to the Riviera, TO
South Africa and to Russia are dis
cussed. Concerning the transatlantic
route. on which Commander Porte (the
aviator who was to fly Rodman wana-
makers seaplane america to England
when the war brokA out) reported, the
following statement Is made:
"As To the Atlantic route Commander
Porte pointed out in his report that for
some time to come n direct route from
Ireland to Newfoundland and vice versa
VIII be found impracticable He sug-
gested that the only possible solution OF
the transatlantic route at the present
time and for many years 70 come would
be to use the so-called Azores route,