§ Sir F. SYKESasked the Secretary of State for Air (1) whether, seeing that the Persian Government are signatories to the International Air Convention for Civil Flying and have contested the rights of British civil aircraft under that Convention to fly over Persian territory, he will say what steps are being taken to secure an interpretation of the Convention clauses governing this matter;
(2) whether the Persian Government have contested the right of erection and maintenance of British civil aerodromes in Persian territory; whether the erection and maintenance of these aerodromes were entered into under agreement with the Persian Government; and, if so, what period of maintenance and use was covered by such agreement;
(3), whether the Imperial Airways Company's service between Iraq and India 1270W cannot begin on the date anticipated owing to prohibition by the Persian Government; and whether it has been made clear to the Persian Government that the proposed flights over Persian territory are for civil purposes only, and that His Majesty's Government have no intention of departing from international law governing military flights, under which the flight of British belligerent aircraft over Persia is definitely prohibited and the flight of military aircraft in times of peace is subject in every case to the specific permission of the Persian Government?
§ Sir S. HOARENegotiations through the normal diplomatic channels are still proceeding, and accordingly I should prefer not to make any statement at this stage.