POINTS FOR DISCUSSION

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 59, 7 September 1937, Page 11

POINTS FOR DISCUSSION

MUCH CONJECTURE

ALTERNATIVE METHODS

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received! September 7, 1 p.m.)

RUGBY, September 6.

It will be noted that all the Mediterranean Powers to be invited to the Mediterranean Conference.;signed the submarine1' convention1 agreed .;to last yearwhereby they promised that their submarines would conform to the rules governing, surface, vessels and in particular wo.uld not-, sink or damage a merchant vessel 'without having first seen to the Safety of the passengers and crew: ' ■-, ','''■. ..V••..■■' v '■*'< ■.-

Great importance is attached in London to the coming conference, and there is much-conjecture as to the measures whidi:::will?;be ; reached. Newspapers are disinclined to assume that a convoy systenVwill be adopted, expert British opinion having; hitherto opposed it as impracticable for a varying: stream of shipping; through tha Mediterranean. Much attention1 is given to alternative methods of dealing with the menace.

"The Times" 'diplomatic correspondent says' that these include registration of all submarines in. the Mediterranean, a declaration that all submarines of the nations represented will keep to certain strict zones, undertaking that they1 will keep off shipping routes that would be adequately defined, and a declaration that warships of certain Powers would defend each .other's merchantmen. Although lately the submarine menace has been more acute, the danger of attack from the air will, it is recognised, also have to be considered and countered.