'Weak and Flabby'

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 203, 13 September 1937, Page 7

'Weak and Flabby'

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PIRACY CONTROL Soviet Delegate Objects to Modified Plans THE DICTATORS CONSULT

(By Tolegraph—

— CopyrigbL.'

(Received 13, 9.50 a.m.) GENEVA, Sept. 12. It is reported that M. Litvinoff (Russia) protested against the Nyon agreement on action against piracy in tlie Mediterranean on the ground that it was not strong enough. He described it as wcak and flabby and tlierefore only agreed to refer it to Moscow for finai approval. A Rome message says: Authorilative quavters state that Italy will consult Germany before agrceing, but if Germany approves the agreement Italy may agree in principle, with possible adjustment of the area which Italian ships will have to control. It is understood, says a Nuremberg message, that the German attitude is disinclination to become involved more than neeessary in Mediterranean com-

plications, but at the same time to maintain solidarity with Italy. ' The draft proposal adopted at Nyon, reports a supplementary British official Wireless message, will now be referred to the Governments of the States participating and to the Italian Government, which has been asked if it is prepared to join in the measureg laid down for ensuring the safety of merchant shipping from lawless attack. The German Government a/so has been informed of the conference's work in accordance with the assurance given by the convening Governments in acknowledging the German and Italian replies to the original invitations. It now geems likely that the confCrence will be able to conclude its labours on Monday, by which time the Governments concerned should have been able to instruct tbeir delegates. Press messages from Nyon say that, according to the agreement reaehed, each nation will police its own territorial waters, while Italy will be invited to co-operate with France and Britain in assuming the policing of the Mediterranean as a whole, which will be carried out by the latter two nations alone if Italy refuses. The idea of zones, the eastern ones of which wOuld have been assigned to the smaller Mediterranean Powers and Russia, has been abandoned.