Evening star., 1939-02-26
Netherlands Agent
Seeks Plane Route
To Philippines
Ridder Van Rippord
Also to Ask Extension Of
Transatlantic Service
By BLAIR ROLES.

by BLAIR BOLLES.
From Ridder van Rippard, for
mer Netherlands Minister to the
United States, who is here as the
special agent Of the K. L. M. (Royal
Dutch Airline), the State Depart
ment expects soon to receive sug-
gestions that the impending trans
Atlantic air service be extended to
the Netherlands and that COM
mercial planes Of the Netherlands
be granted landing rights in the
Philippines.
Informed sources stated yester-
day that DR.. Rippard awaits only
the return to the United States of
DR.. Loudon, the present Dutch
Minister assigned to Washington,
for the opening of his conversa-
tions with State Department off,
cials. DR.. Loudon now is in Cuba,
but he is expected here before the
weeks end. Protocol dictates that
Mr.. Rippard act officially only with
the Minister present.
Despite Mr.. Rippard's label as an
international business agent, he is
in effect a Dutch government repre-
sentative. Before Minister De With,
DR.. Loudons predecessor, left WASH
ington a year ago, he arranged with
the State Department for the con-
versations about the Philippines
which Mr.. Rippard will now pursue.
Mr.. Rippard represented the Neither
lands as Minister here from 1914
to 1917.
Delicate Political Problem.
A delicate political problem is
tossed at the State Department in
the question of landing privileges
in the islands, privileges which the
Dutch have sought for three years.
Behind all the conversations will
be thoughts about Japan and Ger
many. Furthermore, the admission
of the Netherlands planes to the
Philippines would establish a pre-
cedent, for no foreigners now enjoy
such right in any United States
possession. But the service would
bring Manila much nearer in time
to Australia and to swift steamship
service to Europe.
The Philippine question is said to
rank ahead of the transatlantic
service in urgency with DR.. Rip
pard, although officially it is sug-
gested that the latter interest is
more pressing with the Dutch visi-
tor. Plane service from Baltimore
to France, via the Azores, will soon
commence. Holland is equipped
with seaplane base which could
act as terminus of an extended
overseas service. The base is Schell-
ingwonde, on the Zuider Zee, 2 miles
from Amsterdam.
The political tension caused by
the Netherlands Philippines ques-
ton arises, for one thing, from the
fact that granting the Dutch the
privilege they seek would open the
way for the japanese to make the
same request. Another factor in
American uneasiness is the possi-
bility of German control of the
Netherlands and the Netherlands
possessions. which, of course. would
mean control of Netherlands air.
ways.
The Government is represented
as being in no mood to aid the ad-
vance of Japanese and German Far
Eastern aspirations through the
Philippines.
Pan-American's Viewpoint.
A more urgent domestic considera-
ton before the State Department is
the uneasiness of the United States
owned Pan-American Airways at the
thought of foreign competition for
its Philippine service. Distractions
in other parts of the world have held
back n-Americans perfection of
Its service in the islands since it
lnaugurated the clipper schedule be-
tween California and Manila.
The Netherland Indies Airways,
which is associated with K. L. NJ,
made an experimental flight from
Sourabaya, in Java, to Manila and
back in 1896 to demonstrate the
feasibility of its proposal. The re-
turn trip was made in one day, via
Samarlnda, in Borneo.
At that time, the Dutch were ne
gotiating for landing privileges in
Australia and Indo-China. These
rights were recently granted. and
now Dutch airships- reach Saigon
and Sydney. BY air the trip from
Manila to Sydney could be COM
pleted in six days. Steamers require
almost two weeks. The air trip
from Manila to the Indies would
bring travellers from the Philippines
in quick contact with the fast Dutch
steamers plying between Europe and
the Orient.
The Dutch operate a swift semi
weekly air service to the Indies from
Amsterdam, competing with British
service to the Orient. Speculation
about possible aftermaths of admit
ting the Dutch to the Philippines
includes the thought that the. Brit
ish might request landing privileges
in Hawaii. That would make pos
sible a round-the-world service for
the British, with Hawaii reached
from Asia and Canats reached
from Hawaii.
At least 78 new apartment build