NO REPLY RECEIVED FROM ALBANIA

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5280, 17 December 1946, Page 5

NO REPLY RECEIVED FROM ALBANIA

(Press Assn-

MINING OF DESTROYERS BRITAIN SEEKS APOLOGY AND REPARATION

-Rec. 9.80 p.m.)

LONDON, Dec. 16. Albania has not yet answered Britam's strong demand for an ttpology and reparation for the iiiining of the destroyers Saumarez and Volage in Corfu Channel on October 22, says- the diplomatic correspondent of the Daily Tfelegraph. Possibly Albania intends to let the matte'r go to the Security Council, which is already dealing* with a$i accusation against her of helping i uerillas in attacks against Greek lomtory. Aeeording to Moscow radio, the Albanian Government has sent a X'ote to the Secretary-General of the United Nations Mr. Trygve Lie, list:ng 21 alleged frontier incidents beiween September 10 and November 20 in which Greek troops are said to have crossed the border and .ittacked Albanian guards. The British Note stated that expert exaxnination of two of 22 mines wept from Corfu Channel showed that they were of German manufaciiire, were free from marine growth, :ind still had grease on the mooring cables. It was obvious that the mines !.ad been laid only a very short time before the destroyers Saumarez and Volage were damaged. The Albanian Government had either laid the mineiield or knew it had been laid, stated fl e Note, and had thus committed a fiagrant breach of international law l»y menacing shipping using the channel, which was recog-nised as a coute for international navigation. The Note demanded an apology for :he unprovoked attacks, including the dielling of the eruisers Orion and Superb on May 15, and assurances hat there would not be a repetition. 't demanded reparations for the :1am age to Saumarez and Volage and full compensation for the relations >f the men lcilled.