ANGLO-FRENCH DECISION

Grey River Argus, 20 September 1937, Page 5

ANGLO-FRENCH DECISION

NAVAL PATROL ENDS New Patrol Extended [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] GENEVA, September 17. England, France, Bulgaria, Egypt, Greece, Rumania, Turkey, Russia, and Yugoslavia signed a new antipiracy accord, extending the Nyon Agreement, to firing on pirate aeroI planes and surface vessels. Italy will be invited to join. GENEVA, September IS. England, France, Bulgaria, Egypt, Greece, Rumania, Turkey, Russia, and Yugoslavia have signed a new antipiracy accord extending the Nyon agreement to firing on pirate aeroplanes and surface vessels. Italy will be invited to join the scheme. The Nyon agreement establishes a new rule for aerial warfare at sea. Any aeroplane attacking a vessel without warning and not providing for the crew’s safety will be treated as a pirate. As it is impossible for aircraft to comply with these conditions the agreement effectively bans aerial attacks against merchantmen. LONDON, September 17.

England and France have decided to discontinue the non-intervention naval patrol of the Spanish coast, aS the destroyers engaged in this service are needed for the more urgent and important work of combating piracy in the Mediterranean. Earl Plymouth conveyed this decision to members of the Non-Inter-vention Committee, in a circular letter, which indicated that control would be continued by observers aboard neutral ships entering Spanish ports, while French control will be continued on the Franco-Spanish frontier. Portugal also promised to maintain control on her frontier. Speculation is now arising whether the abandonment of the patrol will mean the disappearance of the NonIntervention scheme, with a possibility, in view of Mussolini’s reported intention to send more troops to Spain, of France opening the frontier. Britain, this morning, was regaled with another scare story, that Italy warned Britain and. France not to interfere in the Mediterranean with Italian shipping, or warships of any category. Associated Press inquiries at Whitehall discredit the story. It is pointed out that there is nothing in the Nyon Agreement directed against lawful movements of ships and warships. Britain does not propose to reply to Italy’s rejection of participation with the'Nyon Powers, who are remaining firm in the intention to carry out the plan, though willing to consider any suggestions Mussolini cares to offer. Rome officially denied that any warning has been addressed to Britain or France, and the report is I without foundation. The Prime Minister, whose Scottish holiday has been twice interrupted by brief visits to London for discussing the international situation, will return to London to-night, in accordance with the original plans. No meeting of the Cabinet has been called, but most Ministers are within easy reach and available for consultation.

GENEVA DISCUSSION. SPANISH GOVERNMENT DELEGATE’S SPEECH. GENEVA, September 18. Delegates packed the hall of the League Assembly to hear Senor Negrin, of Spain, who made a dramatic speech. He said he warned the Assembly that Italy and Germany had no intention of leaving Spain when the war was over. He made a vigorous attack on the Non-Intervention policy. He demanded the right to buy arms and munitions for Republican Spain. Senor Negrin also urged that the League should recognise tnere was Italian and German aggression and to extend the Nyon Patrol Agreement to include Spanish ships, also to demand the withdrawal of foreign volunteers from Spain. He added: “With our words carefully weighed, we solemnly declare Italy is preparing to send to Spain an army twice as large as it has there now.” Senor Negrin asked the Assembly to refer the Spanish situation to a political commission. The French Foreign Minister, M. Delbos, in a quiet speech, admitted the Non-Intervention Committee had not given results he hoped for. He strongly appealed to all Nations to collaborate in defence of peace and urged that international treaties be respected. Senor Negrin declared the Republicans in Spain could finish the war in three months if the foreign volunteers were withdrawn. He added: “The original rebel army ceased to interest us more than six months ago. Civil war has become war of invasion. Only the incorrigibly innocent believe Italians or Germans could be seduced from Spain by the offer of compensations elsewhere, as Spain offers them unique opportunities for carrying out European designs, notably the Balearies, Ceuta, and the Pyrennean frontier.” The Norwegian, Doctor Koht, suggested that he thought it was dillicut. Could not the League invite the parties to accept an armistice, pending a referendum on the lines of Mr. Jordan’s suggestion on September 16. PARIS, Septemoer 17.

Senor Lugo Caballero, the former Prime Minister of Spain, staged today: “If the League refuses action in favour of Republican Spain, we shall ask the international unions to introduce direct action in their respective countries to force the democracies to fight Fascism.” ST. JEAN DE LUZ September 16. It is reported that Madame de la Ferriere, the Paris journalist, who figured in the shooting of the French Ambassador to Rome (the Compte de Chambrun) in March, was arrested in the mountains near the Spanish frontier. She was attempting to enter Spain without a passport. GIBRALTAR SEAPLANE BASE. GIBRALTAR, September 18. The authorities here have ordered the evacuation of all factories on the western beach between Gibraltar fortress and the neutral ground within three months, so as to enable the construction of a projected base and an aerodrome. PLANE FROM GIJON. BOMBS BRITISH DESTROYER. LONDON, September 18. An aeroplane flew out from Gijon,