BRITAIN HOLDS ALBANIA GUILTY OF CORFU MINING

Grey River Argus, 22 March 1947, Page 5

BRITAIN HOLDS ALBANIA GUILTY OF CORFU MINING

(Rec. 9.55). NEW YORK, March 20. Because of Albania’s “unexplained hatred” of Britain, and because previous negotiations between the two countries have failed, it would be uselessl for Britain and Albania to try, by direct discussion, to reach a settlement of the dispute concerning the laying of mines in the Corfu Channel, said Sir A. Cadogan, British delegate to the Security Council. Sir A. Cadogan was addressing the Security Council meeting called to receive the report of a sub-committee appointed to consider the evidence by Britain supporting its charges that Albania laid the mines in the channel leading to the damage of two British destroyers, and the death of 44 British sailors on October 22; and an Albanian rebuttal. The sub-com-mittee was divided in its conclusions. Colombia said it was ready to declare mines were at least laid with Albania’s knowledge, but unless there were unanimity in the Council, it would recommend that the dispute be referred to the International Court. Poland felt that the charges were not sustained, and recommended that the direct negotiations be resumed. Commenting on Poland’s finding, Sir A. Cadogan said it was impossible' to believe the “Polish fantasy” that Albania did not know about the moored mines, some of which were found within 450 yards of the Albanian coast.

Sir A. Cadogan moved; “That the Security Council find that an unnotified minefield was laid in Corfu channel by the Albanian Government, or with its connivance, and recommends that the British and Albanian Governments settle the dispute on the basis of Albania’s guilt. In the event cf failure to reach a settlement favourable to either party, either party should be permitted again to approach the Security Council”. An adjournment was called for after three and a-half hours of discussion without a vote being taken on the motion.