§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has been advised of any restrictions by Soviet authorities on civil flights to Berlin; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WhitneyThe Russians have recently notified the three Allied powers in the Berlin air safety centre of Soviet air exercise activities in the areas of the three Berlin air corridors. Similar Soviet exercises have taken place in the past. In order to ensure adequate air traffic separation, Allied aircraft have been requested on such occasions to fly at higher altitudes along the air corridors to arid from Berlin. The allies have expressed their dissatisfaction to the Soviet authorities at such requests.
Flight schedules have not been affected. The movement of aircraft to and from Berlin along the air corridors remains the responsibility of the three Western Allies and the Soviet Union in accordance with long-standing quadripartite agreements and practices.