NEW POLICY

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 127, 23 February 1938, Page 11

NEW POLICY

Approach For European Settlement IMMEDIATE ACTION Talks With Italy And Later Germany By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Receiver! February 22, 7 p.m.) London, February. 21. The most important factor in the Commons debate was Mr. Chamberlain’s declaration of Britain’s new foreign policy, says the Associated Press. This emerged as a direct approach for European settlement, by, firstly, talks between England and Italy, second, talks between England and Germany and, thirdly, a fourPower pact. A British official wireless message states that, amplifying his statement in the House regarding Anglo-Italian negotiations, Mr. Chamberlain announced that the British Ambassador in Rome will be instructed to come to London for the fullest instructions, so that international conversations could be opened with Count Ciauo, Italian Foreign Minister, at once. He added that he had impressed certain points on Count Grandi, the first of which was that the British Government regarded settlement of the Spanish question as essential to any agreement.

The Italian Ambassador, Count. Grandi, on the invitation of the Prime Minister, viisted No. 10 Downing Street this morning. Mr. Chamberlain was accompanied by Lord Halifax and Sir Alexander Cadogan, Deputy Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs. Referring to his conversation with the Italian Ambassador, Count Grandi, in which he had stated British essentials for an agreement, the Prime Minister, Mr. Chamberlain, said he had impressed on Count Grandi that Britain was a loyal member of the League of Nations, and would desire to obtain the League’s approval for any agreement, and if it was to be able to recommend the agreement for approval the situation in Spain must not have been materially altered during the conversations either by sending of fresh Italian reinforcements to General Franco or the failure by the Italians to implement the arrangement contemplated by the British formula. He also told Count Grandi he was confident that the Italian Government would approach the negotiations in the same spirit as Britain, namely, in perfect good faith and with a desire to reach an agreement. SUEZ CANAL Italy Clahns Right To Share In Defence

London, February 21,

The Rome correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says it is understood that a memorandum from Signor Mussolini which the Italian Ambassador, Count Grandi, handed to the Prime Minister at the week-end suggested that in view Of Italy’s newlywon empire in Africa it is imperative that she should have a share in the defence of the Suez Canal.

In the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty signed in August of last year there was special provision for the protection of the Suez Canal. Britain was granted authority to station troops there, in a specified zone, to ensure, with Egyptian co-operation, the defence of the Canal. Not more than 10,000 troops or more than 400 Royal Air Force pilots, may be maintained in the Canal zone. Authority was given for the stationing of military forces at Moascar and in the Geneifa area, and for Air Force stations to be constructed within five miles of the Port Said-Suez railway, from Kantara in the north to the junction of the Suez-Cairo and the Suez-Is-mailia railways in the south, with an extension along the Ismailia-Cairo railway to include the R.A.F. station at Abu Sueir. The necessary barracks, land, amenities, etc., will be supplied by the Egyptian Government, which has also undertaken to construct and maintain any roads, bridges, and railways necessary for strategic purposes. /The passage of air craft over the Canal and within twenty kilometresW it (except for British and Egyptian machines) is forbidden. The vulnerable position of Italy's new African Empire, if the Canal should be closed is obvious. However, the Convention signed at Constantinople in 18SS declared that the Canal should “always be free and open,.in time of'wanas in time of peace, to every vessel of commerce or of war, without distinction of flag.’’ During the Russo-Japanese War Russia sent her fleet through the Canal. In the past Britain has maintianed garrisons about the Canal at Cairo, Port Said, Alexandria and Ismailia.