§ 30. Mr. Bowlesasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Aircraft Production, as representing the Minister for Civil Aviation, whether he is satisfied that the condition as to using the Shannon in the air agreement signed between Eire and the U.S.A. is not inconsistent with the Air Transit Agreement signed recently at Chicago.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Aircraft Production (Mr. Lennox-Boyd)Yes, Sir. The International Air Services Transit Agreement only provides for the reciprocal grant between contracting States of the privilege to fly across each other's territories without landing and the privilege to land for non-traffic purposes. The negotiation, by bilateral agreement, of other privileges and associated conditions, such as those embodied in the U.S.A.-Eire Agreement, is not inconsistent with the Chicago Agreements.
§ Mr. Moelwyn HughesIs the Minister not aware that this agreement seems to provide—it is rather difficult to follow—that all American machines coming to the Continent of Europe shall land on the Shannon? Is such a monopoly agreement consistent with other decisions arrived at?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydActually, this agreement does not provide any such thing. It only provides that if aircraft are to land in Eire, they shall land on the Shannon. They are quite at liberty to fly over Eire territory and to land on other points in Europe.
§ Sir O. SimmondsAre not this agreement and the method by which it is being worked wholly inconsistent with the procedure agreed by the Commonwealth Air Conference?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydAs the House knows, efforts were made by His Majesty's Government to get certain multilateral undertakings. Their failure has left the way open for bilateral arrangements of this kind.