Imperial Valley Press

THE AIR CONFERENCE
(San Diego Union)

The international aviation conference at Chicago is not attracting the attention it deserves, largely because the absence of Russia suggests the possibility that its work may be more or less nullified by a later convention. One development of interest in the meeting of 51 nations is the success of the 19 Latin-American republics in the adoption of their proposal for election of an aviation council by the "free vote" of all nations.

The proposal sponsored by Mexico and Cuba, was in answer to a fear previously expressed by the Latin-American nations that their interests were liable to be submerged by dominance of the stronger powers. Its adoption should aid in easing the strain between the United States and the South and Central American republics resulting from the Argentine situation.

Meanwhile the delegates wrestled with the question of free air right-of-way for commerce over the territory of all nations; control of competition and service; prohibition of internal traffic in one nation by planes of other nations; and the general subject of over-all regulations.

The whole purpose of the convention rests on the supposition that mutual agreement among nations on some fair apportionment of air service will save post-war rivalries which might result in economic or military warfare. Our own delegates, although realizing that the United States would have a tremendous advantage in free competition, have shown willingness to make concessions in the interest of world harmony.