REPLY TO ITALY

Grey River Argus, 23 March 1940, Page 8

REPLY TO ITALY

BRITAIN’S DEFENCE Of Her Blockade [British Official Wireless.] (Received March 21. 7 p.m.) RUGBY. March 20. The text of Britain’s renlv to an Italian Note of March 3rd. regarding belligerents’ rights at sea. has been issued to-day. An understanding having been reached on the particular question of the control of German sea-borne coal to Italy, the reply is diretced to the general question raised in the Italian Note. Dealing with the Italian suggestion that the British Government is exercising belligerent rights regardless of both the letter and the spirit of international law, the reply points out that this must be considered in the light of Germany’s repeated, flagrant disregard both of principles of international law and common precepts of humanity. “The Italian Government will appreciate,” the reply continues, “that If, on the one hand, the enemy are to be free to pursue with impunity practices in total disregard of restraints imposed by international iau and moral principles, and yet, al the same time, the British Government is expected at all times scrupulo |.ly to observe them t.he British Governmnt would be nlaced in a marxed disadvantage in the conduct of the war. This disadvantage is one tn which the British Government is nrepared to submit as far as humanitarian considerations are concerned. It has no intention of imitating the barbarous methods of its .opponents, .from which Italian shins and nationals have suffered. in common with those of other neutral Powers, irrespective of the nature of the origin of destination 01 the cargoes concerned: and it has at all times sought to ensure that its action conform to the accepted P ll . 11 " ciples under which it exereieps belligerent rights. But it is unable to accept disabilities that would result were the British Government to refrain from the full exercise of these rights, and. in particular, of the undoubted right of retaliation to which action of the enemv gives rise.” The reply then reiterates that the Order-in-Council of November 27th, was necessitated bv an ‘ inhuman extension by the Ge-uan Government of mine and submarine warfare against merchant shinning.” and again declares the undoubted right of reprisals. " On the Italian contention- that tne control of German exports is a violation of "the Declaration of Paris, the reply states that the British Government reserves its attitude on the ex tent of Article Two of the Declarator! of Paris, and points out that the, German method of sea warfare is a clear violation of Articles Two and Three, against which the British Government is entitled to retaliate The Italian general objection 10 the contraband control measures adopted by the British Government regarding the non-belligerent nations’ sea-borne trade is met on the broad prmcip e that it is lawful to exercise helligeient rights to enquire into the destination of cargoes passing through contraband control. The reply, after dealing with tne convenience to neutrals of the ce rt system, sets out arrangement, made in the Mediterranean to suit Italian convenience bv minimising de In a passage replying to the Italian objections to a number of the items included in the contraband list, the British Government points out that modern war necessarily brings within its ambit increasing classes 01 goods, a view which the Italian G ernment seems to accent in the war Law of 1938. which set out a res^ 1CL ‘ ed list, but provided that any othe articles may be added bv Royai decree “Furthermore, the pas_a o e continues, “on the question 01 the contraband list issued by the Brit ish Government, the Italian Go\ei ment will be aware that tms list 1. closely modelled on that adopted by the United States Government m CT previous correspondence that has alreadv taken place between! the /Governments on the measure or. the- British Government hnds lf - " e I cessary 'to take regarding mails the reply submits that the Practice actopted is bv no means inconsistent wdh the view of the Italian Government. as sc-t out 1 in. the War Law.-Mr 1 Stating the British Government aH taches great importance to omic and political relations Britain and. Italy, as set agreements of Aonl. x 338. the P ■ ” i m <-• “Thp nrcspnt teoly *vux concludes. me . have been drafted largely in. vain n, it does not convince the Italian Gov. ernment ot the continued resolve of the British Government to have mc gratest measure of raeard for Itauan ond other neutral interests that compatible with Control, wffich Adeems necessary for thej prosecution of the war. |

BRITAIN AND HOLLAND. RUGBY, March 21. Conversations which have been proceeding for some time in London between the British and Netherlands representatives on trade questions arising out of the war conditions have now been successfully concluded, and as agreement was initialled to-day. A joint commission is to be set up which will meet in London or The Hague, and will deal with any questions which may arise in the operation of the agreement. CONTRABAND CONTROL. RUGBY, March 20. On March 19, there was 29 neutral ships in the British contraband control bases. Twelve had been theie fo? four days or less. They included 15 Dutch, five Belgian, two Italian, one each Danish, Eirean, Finnish, Norwegian, Portuguese, Greek and Swedish. During the week ended March lb, the Contraband Committee considered 77 cargoes which arrived since March 9, and 2'4 outstanding from the previous week. In 44 cases, the entire cargoes were released.