NYON CONFERENCE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 11 September 1937, Page 10

NYON CONFERENCE

ZONE PATROL AGREED TO IDENTITY 01 PIRATES ON EVERY ur M. LITVINOFF OUTSPOKEN | Unilerl I’ AnHorialion TplcKrapli-Copvrichtl i Receiver! II Hi Septcmlior, 2 p.m.) LONDON, 10th September. The Nyon conference, it is under.stood, agreed to the proposal for patrolline prescribed Mediterranean /.ones, one of which should he olVered to Italy. The Anglo-French zone would be west of Malta, with the other participating powers responsible for specified sections. M. LitvinolY (Russia) speaking at the conference said: “The only states which can avoid participating in the discussions are those which could assure themselves against piracy, either because they are themselves responsible or in extreme intimacy with the pirates. Everyone knows the object of this piracy, and the identity of the Stale pursuing it. That State's name is on every lip. although it cannot be pronounced here." M. Litvinoff added: “The Soviet cannot remain inactive in the hope that its legitimate rights will perhaps be defended by the international organisation, but the Soviet is ready to participate in collective measures for the defence of States which arc not guaranteed against piracy." immediateTaction ADVOCATED AGAINST PIRACY IN MEDITERRANEAN PRESENT INSUPPORTABLE POSITION [British Ollicial Wireless] (Received lltn September, 2.10 p.m.) RUGBY, 10th September. •Mr Anthony Eden, British Foreign Minister, and other principal British delegates to the Mediterranean Conference, arrived at Geneva this morning. M. Delbos, French Foreign Minister, and Dr. Beck, Polish Foreign Minister, travelled in the same train. At the Conference at Nyon this afternoon, M. Delbos, who presided, declared that the situation created by the recent submarine attacks could not be permitted to continue without the gravest danger. It was impossible that the navigation of the Mediterranean should remain at the mercy of pirates which respected no flag and torpedoed merchant vessels without warning and without consideration as to their cargo or destination by methods -which it had been hoped had been abolished and which were in direct opposition to the protocol of 1936 regarding the humanisation of submarine warfare. M. Delbos and Mr Eden, who spoke later, both expressed regret at the absence of Italy and Germany. Referring to the suggested reference of the question to the Non-Interven-tion Committee, M. Delbos said that the French and British Governments had found it impossible to accept the suggestion because it was necessary to act quickly. He expressed the opinion that the abstentions should not prevent immediate results. Referring to the proposals which the French and British delegations were submitting to the conference, M. Delbos said that it had appeared necessary, in order to meet the situation in the Mediterranean, to re-establish respect for the universally recognised principle of international law. and to adopt Dy common agreement for the period during which the danger might continue special measures to assure the free passage of merchant shipping and to prevent and punish acts impeding such free passage. “The Mediterranean is one of the greatest arteries of world commerce.” continued M. Delbos. “In taking the initiative in this conference, the British and French Governments seek a double result. We expect a rapid agreement to put an end to the piracy and the immediate lessening of the insupportable situation which exists at the present time in the Mediterranean and involves the risk of further more grave inci dents. We also hope for quick success through collaboration by all for the creation of a better atmosphere, which in the last few weeks has become fgr too heavy. We also hope to create more favourable conditions in which to discuss wider European problems In a spirit of collaboration ” concluded the speaker. Later the British Foreign Secretary proposed that the conference be organised as a technical committee. This ended the public session. It is generally believed that the proposals upon which, the British and French delegates are said to have reached complete agreement, provide for the widest measure of international naval co-operation whereby the warships of contracting parties will be available for the defence of all shipping subjected to attacks in the Mediterranean. In London there is no disposition to read into the absence of Italy and Germany from to-day’s meeting an unwillingness to co-operate m the measures upon which the conference may eventually decide, and it is regarded as probable that the conference, before breaking up will devise a suitable procedure by which the absent powers will Pe able to associate themselves with its conclusion and co-oper-ate in the action to which they give rise. The conference will meet again in committee to-morrow at Nyon.