13 JULY 1944, Page 12

SIR,—Both your contributor Mr. Spaight and your correspondent Frank Reiss

ate of the opinion that any attempt to form an integrat International Air Force, as distinct from a force composed of units co tributed by national air forces, will not secure the agreement of the major Powers. I am not here concerned to disagree with this opinios but would like to point out that, if that is the case, the question is settled and it is no use considering any alternative It is important that those who consider this question should realise the essential nature Of World air police idea ; and that is, that it is part of a system of order world government in which disputants cannot be judges in their oily case and are to be prevented from taking the law into their own hands.

This pre-supposes conditions under which nations cannot, require, of be allowed to have, national airforces. While the major Powers reta1e national air forces what possible use can there be of attempting to forro ail international force? If any serious dispute, or desire for war by one Power or group, ariles, the armed nations-will group themselves into no camps, regardless of any formal plan to contribute- units, made 'before' hand. Recalcitrant or aggressor Powers would obviously withdraw the remaining Powers, regarding themselves as upholding the police force, would utilise their national air forces, each according to his own judgemerg. Whether or not some units were-attached to a world air force. °pinto will differ on whether plans- for world government ,and International

olice Forces are ultimately practical, desirable or wholly utopian, but e fundamental difference between a central world authority with full ontrol of its police force and a mere grouping and re-grouping of major owers and their air forces, should be clearly understood.—Yours