The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-09-08
Freedom Of Air
Agreement Results
in Unique Situation

London. Sept. 6--The air conven-
ton recently signed in Paris Is per
haps one of the most interesting or
the agreements which have been
made by the powers taking part in
the peace conference. says an air
ministry announcement.
The admission by a state of foreign
aircraft to the air over its territory
and to its aerodromes, even though
carefully safcguarded, marks an
epoch in international arrangements
10 which no parallel can be found.
1t is true that visiting ship enters
the territory OF state, bat this Is
only at the actual frontier, whilst in
ternational motoring Is confined to a
negligible quantity OF tourist traffic.
In all other cases the means OF
conveying goods or passengers across
a state have been controlled by the
state or its nationals. both with re-
spect to rolling stock and roads.
Experience alone will show how
far. apart from commercial develop
rsent, .psretraasssart will affect the re-
lations between state and state In ad-
vaneing international comfy but
there is little doubt that its poten-
tialities in this direction are very
great.
The formation Of the inter-all!ed
air commission, and its inclusion IN
the organization of the, peace con-
ference. was due principally to the
initiative OF the air ministry. who
realized that the independent nego~
tiations on the subject of air traffic
which were In progress last January
between England and France only
touched the fringe OF very large
question It was considered essen
tiai that code OF international air
law, world wide in It's scope. should
be drawn up. and that in the draft
ing OF il our dominions. our allies
and as many as possible of the neutral
states should participate.
The new code OF international air
law il presented as a convention in
which are employed the general prin-
ciples. technical details being rele-
gated to annexes In the framing of
ii the commission found no difficulty
in deciding the vexed question of
sovereignty in the air---a point which
created so much difficulty In 1910.
The first article OF the convention
recognizes specifically the principles
OF sovereignty, and it's tone through :
out Is to regard the admission OF
foreign aircraft az a concession
rather than right.
Nevertheless. provided that the
of the convention are OBJ
served, the contracting states under
take in time OF peace TO accord free
dom of innocent passage" to the
aircraft of the other contra cting
states. any restrictive regulations
being applied without distinction of
nationality.
The principle Of sovereignty Il fur
Their recognized by the right accorded
to a state to declare prohibited areas
for military reasons or in the inter-
ests OF public safety. and 1t will be
interesting to see how far. in Wow
Of the development of aerial photog-
ranhy, a state will find 1t worth while
10 declare prohibited areas for milf
tary reasons.
A separate chapter Of the conven
ton deals with the international com
mission for air navigation. which Ia
being established as part OF the or
ganixation Of the 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 Domintons and OF India. and
one representative OF each of the other
contracting states. While the Brit
ish empire as whole. win have six
Or possibly seven representatives. its
voting power win be the same a. that
Of ono OF the principal states. The
voting In 70 arranged that the Ave
great states, II Unanimous, will al
ways - IN Z majority.
The convention only contemplatas
flying In time OF peace. and its pro-
Visions do not affect the freedom of
action Of the contracting states either
~ oslh9rsnte or - reutralA