U.K. Goes To Madrid About Gibraltar

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31188, 12 October 1966, Page 17

U.K. Goes To Madrid About Gibraltar

(N.ZPA. Reuter—Copyright) LONDON, October 11. Britain’s proposal to take the d ispute with Spain over Gibraltar to the World Court will be sent to Madrid for consideration, diplomats said today.

The Deputy Foreign Minister, Mr George Thomson, yesterday pressed a Spanish delegation headed by the Marques de Santa Cruz to accept the proposal.

The delegation told a meeting with top British Foreign Office officials last night that it would communicate the proposal to the Spanish Government. It also gave an extensive explanation of Spain’s deci-

sion to close its customs post on the only land entrance to Gibraltar and to prohibit movements of vehicles and merchandise across the border, the diplomats said. One of the main reasons was that Britain had altered the situation on the neutral isthmus connecting the Rock of Gibraltar with the Spanish ; mainland. -I Spain says the isthmus is

part of its territory and was not ceded to Britain with the rock under the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht. But Britain has claimed sovereignty over the British part of the neutral area, which contains Gibraltar airfield. The British delegation said today that if Spain accepted its proposal then the two nations should try to agree on what legal issues to take to the court.

If Spain was willing to do so, Britain would soon offer a preliminary draft. Britain has repeatedly said it has no doubt about its sovereignty over Gibraltar.