MEDITERRANEAN SEA

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 63, 11 September 1937, Page 9

MEDITERRANEAN SEA

AIM OF ! NYON DISCUSSIONS

POWERS' CONFERENCE OPENS

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received September 11, 11.50 a.m.)

RUGBY, September 10,

The conference on the safety of shipping in the Mediterranean opened at Nyon this afternoon, with the French Foreign Minister. M. Delbos, in the chair.

M. Delbos declared that the situation which had been created by recent attacks could not be permitted to continue without the gravest danger. It was impossible that the navigation of the Mediterranean should remain at the mercy of pirates which respected no flag and torpedoed merchant vessels without warning or 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. The chairman and the British Foreign Secretary, Mr. Eden, who spoke later, both expressed regret at the absence of Italy and Germany from the conference table.

Referring to the suggested reference of the question to the London Non-intervention Committee, M. Delbos said that the French and British Governments had found it impossible to accept the suggestion because it was necessary to act quickly. He expressed the opinion that the abstentions should not prevent immediate results. Respect For a Recognised Law Referring to the proposals which the French and British delegations are submitting to the conference, M. Delbos said it had appeared necessary, in order to meet the situation in the Mediterranean,, to re-establish respect for a universally recognised principle of international law and to adopt by common agreement for a period during which danger might continue special measures to assure the free passage of merchant shipping, and to prevent and punish acts impeding such free passage. "The Mediterranean is one of the great arteries of world commerce," he said. "It plays -a decisive part in the lives of; the countries represented here, who have equal rights to navigate it freely. For some of us liberty of communication in this sea is a vital element of security. No one, therefore, has the right to take liberties to the detriment of the community. 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 insupportable situation which exists at the present lime in the Mediterranean and involves risk of further and more grave incidents. We also hope for more. We hope for quick success, through collaboration by all, for the creation of a better atmosphere; which in the last few weeks has become far too heavy. We also hope to create more favourable conditions in which to discuss wider European problems \n a spirit of collaboration." Later the British Foreign Secretary proposed that the cony fcrence be organised as a technical committee. This ended the public session. ;