SECURITY IN MEDITERRANEAN.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 September 1936, Page 7

SECURITY IN MEDITERRANEAN.

BRITISH POLICY ANNOUNCED.

NO THREATS TO POWERS.

(By Telegraph-Press Assn.--Copyrigh)

(British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Sept. 22,

The First Lord of the. Admiralty (Sir Samuel Hoare), who arrived backin England this morning at the end of an inspection of the naval bases and units in the Mediterranean, spoke this afternoon of the problems of the Mediterranean.

[ "We have no new Mediterranean policy," he said. "Our position to-day is exactly what it has always been, namely, to live in the most friendly relations possible with all the other Mediterranean Powers, and secondly, to make secure our communications across one of the great Imperial highways. We hope in future that we shall be in the best possible relations with all the Mediterranean Powers, including Italy, but that does not absolve us from making our own communications as safe as we possibly can. "The air problem has obviously made a difference, not such as to revolutionise our policy, but enough to cause us to adapt ourselves to the new conditi ms. We have to make the fullest possible use of our own power." More Attention to Cyprus. Regarding Cyprus, Sir Samuel said: "I have always felt that we have not given half enough attention to Syprus. The military future of Cyprus is still being considered, but I am quite sure that Cyprus should have a better harbour for the general development of the island.''

During his tour Sir Samuel Hoare visited Gibraltar, Malta, Haifa and the two Cyprus ports of Limasol and Famagusta.

Italy Suspicious Received Wednesday, 9.20 p.m. LONDON, Sept. 23. The Morning Post's Rome correspondent says that Sir Samuel Hoare's statement that Britain has no new Mediterranean policy is disbelieved here. Authoritative Italian circles point out that until the autumn of 1934 the British Mediterranean policy ran parallel with Italy's. It was based on friendship, whereas now it is based on non-friendship arising out of the Abyssinian war. It is also asked: How can Britain expect Italian co-operation in one part of Europe while Britain is preparing Mediterranean encirclement which can only be directed against Italy?