CONFERENCE AT NYON

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22196, 13 September 1937, Page 9

CONFERENCE AT NYON

PROPOSALS BY FRANCE AND BRITAIN ENSURING SAFETY OF MERCHANT SHIPPING (BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.) RUGBY, September 10. Mr Anthony Eden and other principal British delegates to the Mediterranean Conference arrived at Geneva ' this morning. M. Delbos (France) and Colonel Beck (Poland) travelled by the same train. At a conference at Nyon this afternoon, M. Delbos, who presided, declared that the situation created by the recent attacks could not be permitted to continue without the gravest danger. It was impossible that navigation in the Mediterranean should remain at the mercy of pirates who respected no flag, torpedoed merchant vessels without warning and without consideration as to cargo or destination by methods which it had been hoped had been abolished and which were in direct opposition to the protocol of 1936, regarding the humanisation of submarine warfare. M Delbos and Mr Eden, who spoke later, both expressed regret at the absence of Italy and Germ R n e y ferring to the suggested reference of the question to the Nonintervention Committee, M. Delbos said that the French and Bntisn Governments found it impossible to accept the suggestion because it was necessary to act quickly. He expressed the opinion that abstentions should not prevent immediate results. Re-establishing Respect for Law Referring to the proposals which the French and British delegations were submitting to the conference, M Delbos said it had appeared necessary in order to meet the situatTon in the Mediterranean to repstablish respect for the universally "cognised principle of international w It was essential to adopt by common agreement for the period during which the danger might continue special measures to assure the free passage of merchant shipping and to prevent or punish acts impeding such free passage. "The Mediterranean is cne of the greatest arteries of world commerce" M. Delbos said. "In taking the initiative in this conference, the British and French Governments seek a double result. We expect a rapid agreement to put an end to piracy and an immediate lessening of the insupporte» ble situation which 1