MEXICO’S NAVY

Hokitika Guardian, 15 February 1933, Page 2

MEXICO’S NAVY

SPAIN SECURES BIG ORDER. Wojrk for 14,p[)0 men in Spanish shipyards is assured by a contract finally awarded by Mexico to Spain in' competition with Great Britain and other foreign countries. The order, consisting of four armed transports and a flotilla of coastguard vessels, lias been obtained through the good offices of the Spanish Ambassador in Mexico. Special financial arrangements have also been made by the Spanish Government, for Mexico has been conceded a credit of £1,750,000 for the payment of the ships ordered. it is calculated that the vessels will take 18 months to build. Other vessels will be ordered later, it is confidently expected. Ain opening may present itself to British firms to supply some of -the material mot actually procurable or manufactured lin Spain as a special condition announced by the Government decree provides for the importation of such material duty lree. The Mexican Government, it is stated, decided to seek the loan referred to only after long and fruitless negotiations with British and Italian shipyards, whose terms were lower than the Spanish, but whose conditions of payment were less favourable than those offered by Spain.