§ Major POLEasked the Secretary of State for India whether he has received any representation from the Netherlands Government in respect of the facilities provided by the authorities in India for the machines working the Dutch air-mail route to the East Indies; what steps the Government of India have taken to investigate this matter; and what action has been taken, or it is proposed shall be taken, to meet these complaints?
§ Mr. BENNRequests were received from the Netherlands Government for facilities to be granted in India for certain trial flights with a view to the eventual institution of a regular service. The Government of India agreed to grant facilities for trial flights during 1929, but regretted their inability to permit the use of the Indian air route for a permanent service until the necessary ground organisation was complete. The position has been fully explained to the Netherlands Government. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs has just received a communication from the Netherlands Minister in London ask- 981W ing that facilities for further trial flights should be granted in 1930. This request involves consultation with the Government of India, and immediate consideration is being given thereto.