§ 51. Viscount CURZONasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is in a position to make any statement as to the stoppage or threatened stoppage of civil air traffic into Germany by the German Government; what are the grounds for this; and what is the attitude of the British Government upon this question?
§ Mr. LEACHThe German Government recently represented that they would not be prepared to renew, after 30th June, their permission for the flight over German territory of aircraft of Imperial Airways, Limited, which were not "civil" aircraft within the meaning of the Regulations (known as the "Nine Rules") imposed an Germany by the Allied Powers to differentiate between "civil" and "military" aircraft. As the outcome of conversations on the question, however, the German Government have now agreed to renew for a further period of three months from 30th June the facilities which they had previously accorded for the operation of British air services over German territory.
§ Viscount CURZONAre we to understand that at the end of three months they will again prohibit flying over Germany
§ Mr. LEACHThe matter will certainly come up again before the expiry of the three months. What will happen then, it is not possible to prophesy.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs not the trouble that, under the Treaty, 2454 we are imposing Regulations on Germany which prevent the development of her civil aviation. Would it not be better to get that modified so that our air companies could operate without fear of stoppage all the time?
§ Sir H. BRITTAINDo these facilities commence at once?