§ 5. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether permission is still being refused to British aeroplanes to fly over Persian territory on the Cairo-Karachi air route; if so, what steps are being taken to remove the difficulties; and if he will state the reasons put forward by the Persian Government for the prohibition?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONNo reason has been given by the Persian Government for their recent decision not to open a route along the southern coast of Persia to international air traffic. They have, however, stated that, should the Persian Parliament eventually approve the International Air Convention of 1919, to which the Persian Government acceded in 1920, they will be prepared to fix another line for international traffic, but that, in that event, the internal situation and frontier considerations will lead them to choose a line across Central Persia. I have no further statement to make regarding the present negotiations on the subject with the Persian Government.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYThe hon. Gentleman has not answered the first part of the question. I presume he means that permission is still being refused for this important air line Is the matter being considered from the point of view of an alternative route, not dependent on Persia at all but on the shores of the Red Sea?