ITALY ACCUSED

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 198, 7 September 1937, Page 7

ITALY ACCUSED

-Press Assn-

Submarine Piracy SOVIET BOMBSHELL Rome Denies Charge ; Re jects Compensation Claim CONFERENCE SETBACK

(Bv TeleKtaph -

- Copyright.)

(Received 7, 1.20 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 6. Just as the Powers were making 1 headway toward the Mediterranean piracy confcrence, the Soviet dropped a bombsheli by presenting a formal protest to Rome alleging that units of the Italian Navy were responsible for the sinking of the Russian ships Timiryazev and Blagov. The Note, which was presented to Count Ciano, Italian Foreign Minister, demands immediate compensation for the lives lost and property damaged and also seeks the punishment of the officers allegedly responsible. An official Italian eommunique indicates that tlie Government "promptly and decidedly rejected all responsibility for the sinking of the Russian ships. Italy therefure rejects the demands for reparation and punishment." A spokesman added that Italy was not surprised at Moscow's gesture, which "is undoubtedly intended to sabotage the Mediterranean confercnce. ' ' Political circles in Rome believe that Italy may refuse to sit at the same conference table as the Soviet members. The Daily Telegraph 's diplomatic correspondent says it is believed that the British delegation to the conference will press for the appointment' of an expert committee to consider the purely technical problems. If general agreement is not obtained, he adds, Britian will bo obliged to apply protective measqres in the Mediterranean in co-operation with other Powers willing to help. Greece is the first nation to reply accepting the invitation to attend the conference. Count Ciano states that Italy will reply as soon as possible, A Berlin message states that Germany is expected to accept, although she i? reluctant to confer with the Soviet, contending that the Soviet 's activities against non-intervention in Spain should convince other Powers that Russia is only a disturbing factor to all efiorts to localise the Spanish conflict. A Moscow message reports that, unloss Russia is satisfled with the outcomo of the conference, Soviet warships will probably be sent to the Mediterranean to proteet Russian merchantmen, It is , predieted that M. Litvinoff would not liesitato at the confereu,e'e to aceuse Italy of the responsibility for the sinking of the Soviet ships.