DIPLOMATS BUSY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20123, 18 December 1939, Page 5

DIPLOMATS BUSY

BATTLE OF WORDS:

DELICATE SITUATION

NEUTRALITY PROBLEMS AGITATED GERMAN CHEERFUL BRITON (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Dec 18, 9 a.m.) NEW YORK. Dec. 10. If the iecrecy shrouding the Uruguay.i.i Foreign. Office could be penetrated, it would probably reveal a battle as thrilling diplomatically as that of last Wednesday was navaliy. While Britain and France are reported to have continued to strengthen their forces at the mouth of the F;!o De I.a Plata, the Graf von Spec’s cretv feverishly continued repairs. The tension was heightened in the afternoon when smoke poured from the funnels and her bow was swung to the seaward. Meanwhile. Rout i Americas’ Foreign /-flairs Ministers were equally busy trying to prepare against a situation that Uruguay was facing as a result of the Graf von Spee’s entry. The busiest has been the Uruguayan Foreign Minister, Dr. Guani, who has been divided between a delicate diplomatic situation with Britain and discussions concerning the joint action to protect South American neutrality. Strong Pressure Throughout the day Dr. Guani was under the strongest pressure from both Britain and Germ iny. The German Minister called at midday and at 5 p.m. 'caving at 7.45 p.m. looking grim faced and agitated. The British Minister left at 9 p.m. looking more cheerful than he appeared previously He told newspapermen that the linn limit expires at 6 p.m and not at 8 p.m. to-morrow During the day Captain. Langsdorff. and high Italian and German diplomats and the Uruguayan Rear-Ad-miral Reute, who is of German descent and was educated in Germany, conferred with the German Legation, suggesting that the Graf Spee miglv try to seek refuge again at an Argentine port, thus giving n furt hnv 24 hours of delay and enabling the arrival of reported reinforcements. Shell Holes Plugged Hundreds of sailors worked on the Graf von Spee's decks. The shell holes in the starboard quarter were plugged inside. The jagged edges of tne nugc bole on the oort side of the bow were smoothed and boarded with heavy planks. The anti-aircraft gun tower, which was torn from its base, has been -replaced and the damaged aeroplanes have been discharged. Ashore the pumps are working constantly. Work continued until 10.30 p.m. when the lignts were extinguished. Anticipating a sequel to last Wednesday, thousands of Uruguayans are spending the week-end on the coast. Six New York businessmen are seeking the State Department's approval to hire' an aeroplane at a

cost of Z IOOO each to fly to Uruguay tc watch the battle.