ITALIAN PACT

Hokitika Guardian, 21 June 1938, Page 5

ITALIAN PACT

BRITISH DECISION AWAITING ITALIAN WITHDRAWAL (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright). LONDON, June 20. The “Daily Telegraph” says tne British Cabinet has rejected the Italian request tor ratification of the Britisii-ltalian pact without awaiting the withdrawal of Italian volunteers from Spain. This follows a reported suggestion by the Italian Foreign Minister (Count Ciuno) to the British Ambassador (the Earl of Perth) that Italy would welcome a modification of the pact. He sought a relaxation of tne clause in the agreement preventing! its implementation until the Italian j volunteers had withdrawn from Spain. | Count Ciano had claimed that Itarv 'was not responsible for the fact that,l J Spain remained an obstacle, but that the delays had been due to the slowness of the International Non-Inter- , volition Committee and obstruction of other countries, especially France. The Britisii-ltalian agreement was signed on April 16. In addition to J the usual protocol and attached in- ' struments. it contained three separate agreements embodied in an exchange of letters between the two Govern- I ments. ' j The situation regarding Spain and j Abyssinia as a result ‘of the exchange of letters is stated in the agreement as follows:. — “The Italian Government confirms its adherence to the United Kingdom formula for the proiiortion.nl evacuation and promises to give practical and real application to it, at the moment and on the conditions to be determined .b.v tbe NonIntervention Committee on the basis of that formula. “It undertakes that, if this evaeu- , ation lias not "been completed at the close of the Spanish civil war. all remaining Italian volunteers will forth- . with leave Spanish territory and all Italian war material will simultaneous- , y be withdrawn.

“In taking note of these assurances regarding Italian policy on the subject of Spain, the British Government takes occasion to repeat that it regards a settlement of the Spanish question of tbe entry into force of tbe Angio-Ttalian agreement.” ' ITALIAN CONFER. (Received this day at 1.45 p.m.) LONDON. June 20. The “Telegraph's” Rome correspondent- says Lord Berth called on Count Ciano. Their conversation was the outcome of a mutual desire for Hie creation of favourable conditions, whereby Britain would implement the Anglo-Italian agreement. '