GERMAN COAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 March 1940, Page 7

GERMAN COAL

RELEASE OF CARGOES FOR ITALY

BUT FURTHER SHIPMENTS BANNED. REMAINING SHIPS TO RETURN IN BALLAST. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. March 9. The British Ambassador in Rome. Sir Percy Lorraine, visited the Italian Foreign Secretary, Count Ciano, today and informed him that the British Government had decided to release, together with their cargoes of coal. 13 Italian ships which were recently detained in the British control bases.

The Italian ships which are still at Rotterdam and other neutral ports will return in ballast to Italy without coal, and no further Italian vessels will subsequently carry German coal from neutral ports. Official circles -in London point out by way of explanation of the British Government’s action that in the course of the exchanges which had been proceeding between the British and Italian Governments it emerged that the Italian Government had been under a misapprehension regarding details of the time-limit governing the export of German coal. The British Government, therefore, in view of its complete satisfaction in the genuineness of the misapprehension, agreed to release the 13 Italian ships. BASIS OF AGREEMENT LOADING AT DUTCH PORTS TO CEASE. (Received This Day, 10.5 a.m.) ROME, March 10. The British Ambassador, Sir Percy Loraine, explained to Count Ciano last evening the British decision to release cargoes was made on the understanding that no more Italian ships ■would load German coal at Dutch ports. Authoritative circles say the British coal decision has made a' good impression. It will certainly facilitate better Italian-British relations and may help towards an arrangement of mutual advantage. SHIPS RELEASED. (Received This Day, 10.5 a.m.) LONDON, March 10. Three Italian coal ships left a contraband control base for Italy this morning.