CHILEAN AND ARGENTINE NAVY OFF THE FALKLAND ISLANDS

Chronicle (Levin), 17 February 1948, Page 5

CHILEAN AND ARGENTINE NAVY OFF THE FALKLAND ISLANDS

(N.Z.PJL.-

—Reuter.

, Covyright) -

Received. Tuesday,, 10i30 a.m. LONDON, February 16. Argentine and Chilean naval forces. were now operating in, British waters in the Falkland Islands-' dependencieS with a deelared object of forcing their claims to the sovereignty, the Minister of State, Mr. Hector McNeill, told s the. House of Commons. They had also landed parties and were purported to have estahlished military commands on British territory. Both Governmenta had refused to submit their, claims to internaticnal • arbitration. , ..

"Despite our willingness to have the question settled legaliy, ostentatious naval and other demonstrations. are being made and it is not to be* supposed that we shaTI ovdfjook the challenge to o.ur authority. Steps are being taken to ensure that ihe Governor of the Falkland islands reeeives the support he needs." , M-r. McNeill added that the Iact that the Argentine and Chilean Governments refused to submit their claims to an lnternational court could only be regarded as evidence that they had no confidence in their ability to dispute Britain's iegal tltle- to the area, which :he British Government considers is well founded, ■ Reuter's Johannesburg correspondent says it is reliably reported that the cruiser, Nigeria sailed for the Falkland Islands in connection with the dispute. Reuter's Santiago correspondent says that unofficial sources close to the Chilean Government, commenting on Mr. McNeill's speech, said Britain's attitude is too strong and out of proportion to the events, whieh wefe still in the negoti'ation stage. Chile was keeping the door open to friendly settlement. }