ITALY WILL NOT SIGN

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21718, 27 February 1936, Page 11

ITALY WILL NOT SIGN

STATEMENT ON NAVAL AGREEMENTS OBJECTION TO BRITISH IN MEDITERRANEAN (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.). (Received February 26, 10.2 p.m.) PARIS, February 25. It is reported that Signor Musso-. lini has intimated that Italy is unable to sign a naval treaty while British naval reinforcements are in the Mediterranean. It is reported from. London that, according to the diplomatic correspondent of the “Daily Mail,” the British Government intends to resist Italian introduction of political consideration to the Naval Conference. Admiral Raineri Biscia, of the Italian delegation to the conference, alter his return from Rome at the week-end, attempted to raise sanctions and the British concentration in the Mediterranean as the price of Italy’s signature. A further meeting between the British and Italian delegations will take place before the full meetings of the conference are resumed. “The Times” says that the necessity for such a further meeting may possibly indicate the emergence of further difficulties which have yet to be surmounted before the conference can attain the object for which it is assembled. NO COMMENT IN U.S. NAVAL TREATY REPORTS NARROW VALUE OF THREE ROWER PACT (Received February 26, 8.32 p.m.) NEW YORK, February 25. The Washington correspondent of the “New York Times” says that in the absence of official advices from the London Naval Conference delegation neither the State nor the Navy Department has advanced any official comment on London press reports of a proposed British, American, and German naval agreement. It is recalled, however, that America’s policy is to avoid becoming involved in European politics. As for any possible agreements reached at the Naval Conference, it is recognised, furthermore, that a three-power pact would be of relatively narrow value; and there is an inclination in some quarters to think that the proposal is in the nature of a trial balloon in the manoeuvres of the British, French, and Italian delegations.