NEWS OF THE WEEK
MUCH may be hoped of the Civil Aviation Conference which has just opened at Chicago, but the realisation of all the hopes is too much to expect,—unless, indeed, the American Gogernment displays disinterestedness and breadth of mind. America is in advance of the rest of the world in the field of civil aviation, largely because of the scope that exists for air-travel in so vast a national area, and so far as the American private companies are concerned their undisguised desire is for the maintenance of private rather than State ownership of air-lines, and for unrestricted competition both between nation and nation and company and company. The British plan, which on most grounds is obviously preferable, is for a large measure of international regulation, involving equitable participation by all countries concerned in the operation of various air-routes, allocation to each route of a number of machines commensurate with the expected volume of travel, in short for maintaining that friendly co-operation between States which has existed between the United Nations throughout the war. If the American Government is prepared to back this proposal, or something like it, in fate of the opposition of the American companies, a satisfactory agreement embracing the whole world may be reached. But that, on the whole, is improbable. There is little doubt that a useful convention can be drafted laying down international standards of airworthiness, establishing the principle of sovereignty of the air, subject to the right of innocent passage, and possibly finding a way to prevent the encouragement of unfair competition by concealed subsidies. But SO far as Europe is concerned something more than this is needed. Germany will in all likelihood be allowed no civil aviation at all, certainly no international aviation, and arrangements providing for flights over, and landings in, so vital an area in Central Europe will be essential. If an Allied body is charged with. these tasks it may well be charged with others more extensive in the same sphere.
