TANGIER INCIDENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 6 December 1940, Page 5

TANGIER INCIDENTS

BRITISH REPRESENTATIONS [British Official Wireless] RUGBY, 4th December. Local representations have been made to the Spanish Ambassador by the British Minister in Tangier relating to a recent incident in which certain Italians removed or defaced notices and photographs exhibited outside the British post office. It is announced that certain assurances which were asked for have been received, and that the defaced notices have been restored. In the House of Commons, the Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mr Butler, said the Ambassador in Madrid had been instructed to leave the Spanish Government in no doubt regarding the attitude of the British Government toward any further unilateral Spanish action in Tangier. Those instructions were sent to the Ambassador after the Spanish Government took over control of what was previously the international zone. Mr Butler also said that the Ambassador had expressed his disapproval that two Italian submarines were still in Tangier, and had asked the Spanish Government how long they were likely to remain there for repairs. The Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs was fully aware of the importance which the British Government attached to this question.