FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1933
1933 - 0108.PDF
FLIGHT, JULY 13, 1933 THE AIR LEAGUE OF PEAKING at the Annual General Meeting of the Air League of the British Empire, held on July 5, the Duke of Sutherland, the Air League's President, said : — " The Report covers a critical year for British aviation. Proposals for the abolition of bombing by pact (except for police purposes in outlying places), the strict limitation of air armaments by numbers and size of aircraft, the aboli tion of military and naval air forces as a later step, and the possibility of the international control or internationa- lisation of civil aviation, were brought before the Disarm ament Conference at Geneva. The Air League, being a national, patriotic body, would have given its whole hearted support to all of these proposals had it been con vinced that they were reasonable measures to take in the cause of disarmament. The Air League, however, re garded some of them with grave concern and considered that they prejudiced our safety while contributing nothing to the progress of disarmament. In the country's interests, therefore, the Air League sought every available means for presenting its point of view to the public, the chief medium being the columns of the Press. In its letters and articles to the newspapers and periodicals, the Air League indicated the risks that would be incurred if the disarmament proposals, as framed, were adopted as a whole. It supported the more reason able course of limiting air armaments and recommended the regulation of the use of aircraft by codified international law. It could see no security in the proposal to abolish bombing by pact ; indeed, by adopting the proposal this country would be deprived of a powerful weapon of attack against submarines in the event of another war, and its defensive measures must inevitably be weakened. Further, the abolition of military and naval aviation could be carried out only by the application of a form of control over civil aviation that would destroy a great and grow ing British export trade, kill initiative and enterprise, render negative British technical and operational skill, and cause the rapidly-expanding industry of air commerce to stagnate. Finally, we should have to rely on inter national goodwill for our security and prosperity—a thing quite unacceptable when alternative measures are avail able. " The Air League's letters to the Press revealed the fact that there are hundreds of thousands of people in this country who honestly and sincerely believe that the aboli tion of the world's military and naval aviation is both practicable and would be in the interests of humanity—if not civilisation. Many powerful organisations that sup port this view have sought ways and means of urging the Government to withdraw its right to undertake bombing in outlying places which, they claim, is obstructing the progress of air disarmament. This proves, first, that there is an urgent need for public education on air matters, and, secondly, that human nature does not change very much. " If we recall that the second Lateran Council, in the year 1139 A.D., outlawed the cross-bow as a barbarous instrument of warfare ; that gunpowder was denounced as the invention of the devil ; that breach-loading rifles were condemned on the grounds that they turned infantry into long-range assassins, one will perhaps come to the conclusion that to-day's discrimination against aircraft is only natural. But it is not enough to accept the inevit- gi SS JS5 The G.A.RA.N. THE Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators has com plete sets of books embracing all necessary reference and information for study in connection with the Second-Class Navigator's Licence. These sets are at the disposal of pilots during the summer months at a reduced fee of 2s. 6d. a week per set of 14 books. A deposit of £2 10s. is payable and will be refunded on return of the books in good condition. Those wishing to avail themselves of this facility should write to the Clerk, Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators of the British Empire, 61, Cheapside, E.C.2. The Guild has at the present time particulars of several vacancies for commercial pilots at moderate salaries, which it is unable to fill. Would members and associates who are interested please apply at once for particulars? Air Scouts' Pageant IT has been proposed to hold an air pageant, in the Stockton-on-Tees district, in aid of the Air Scout Move- THE BRITISH EMPIRE able with complacency, sure in your own minds that a wise counsel will prevail. Experiments in idealism have been made and history records the consequences. In dealing with the complex problem of air disarmament, the Air League asks for realism and moderation—as exemplified by its plea for limitation to a one-power standard set as low as can be agreed upon, followed by reductions as justified by the growth of international friendship. At the same time, an international code for the conduct oi war in and from the air must be drawn up. At the present time, no such code exists—a curious and little- known anomaly in a somewhat over-regulated world. " This policy," concluded His Grace, " has its critics, but I would ask those who criticise to answer this ques tion. Would they support proposals for the abolition of the Royal Navy and the internationalisation of all marine craft, thereby relying on international goodwill for their security and prosperity? I think you will all agree with me that air power and air transport have now become analagous to sea power and sea transport, and the ques tion is therefore pertinent. " I have dwelt at some length on the subject of air disarmament because that has become the most urgent question of the day. We do not, however, neglect any thing that can foster civil aviation. We have supported to the best of our ability the touring Air Pageants which bring aviation before the whole countryside ; we have brought our influence to bear on the establishment of more aerodromes ; we have tried to educate the few forgetful ones among the younger generation of aviators to the annovance which may be caused by low flying, and we have in the forefront of our policy the desirability of greater freedom of international air travel and the need for faster air mail services, enjoying more encouragement from a friendly Postmaster-General." In seconding the President's proposal that the Annual Report for 1932-33 should be adopted, Lord Mottistone said that he could add very little to what the chairman had said. During the past few months the necessity for a body such as the Air League to proclaim the truth about air matters, had been made apparent. He was particu larly concerned to protest against the contention that air force was an inhumane and brutal thing as compared with the kindly forces employed on land and sea. This was the reverse of the truth, for air power had saved thousands of lives which would otherwise have been sacrificed, and millions of pounds that would otherwise have been ex pended in the application of other forms of force. Instead of trying uncertain and dangerous experiments the world should try to get international agreement for the conduct of war from and in the air. Short-sighted people would contend that these agreements were of no value, but, in fact, their moral value was immense. One of the fatal errors of our late enemies was to disregard international agreements in the employment of poison gas and in their unrestricted submarine campaign. In so de fying civilised opinion they brought the U.S.A. and other countries into the war against them. The adoption of such international agreements was a far wiser course than attempts to abolish military aircraft and to place civil aviation under international control. He honestly believed that the conquest of the air by man was a great civilising power, capable of bringing great benefits to mankind It might even be that, properly and wisely regulated, i would make war less inhumane and less cruel. ment. The date as yet has not been fixed, but the two most favourable dates are September 2 and 9, and it i~ more than possible that it will be one of these days. The organisers would welcome any help in making a success of this pageant, and all those willing to assist in any way such as aerobatic feats, visitors, or in passenger carrying free or on a percentage basis, should write to the Secretan Air Scouts' Association, 143, Stokesley Crescent, Billing ham-on-Tees, Co. Durham. It may be added that all visit ing pilots would be made welcome. The Douglas Works Re-open THE DOUGLAS WORKS, Kingswood, Bristol, home o the " Douglas " motor cycle engine, which recently changed hands and closed down, has been purchased, it is understood, by William Douglas & Co., which existed prior to the formation of Douglas Motors (1932), Ltd This firm hopes to extend its activities to engines for ligh- aeroplanes. 710
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
