FUTURE OF TANGIER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19417, 27 August 1926, Page 11

FUTURE OF TANGIER.

LATEST SPANISH MOVE. NOTE SENT TO ITALY, WHERE BRITAIN STANDS. PERIL OF A MANDATE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received 9.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z. LONDON, Aug. 26. A message fronl Rome states that the newspapers in the Italian capital say the Spanish Government has presented a Note regarding Tangier to the Foreign Ministry. This is reported to be based on a suggestion made by the Prime Minister of Italy, Signor Mussolini, that the problems of Tangier and the League of Nations require to be expressed with greater precision and definiteness. In explaining the official attitude of Britain on the Tangier problem the diplomatic correspondent of t'he Telegraph says: It is proposed that France, Spain and Italy shall first endeavour to reach a common denominator in the proposed settlement. If and when an agreement has been reached it would be submitted to the British Government, which wonld then survey the matter from the standpoint of Britain in consultation with the Imperial Defence Committee, the Admiralty and the Governments of the Dominions. In fact, continues the correspondent, the issue might appropriately be discussed at the Imperial Conference. It is now recognised that were the League of Nations to grant a mandate to Spain it would be no better a safeguard for the neutrality of the enclave, and therefore for the freedom of the Straits of Gibraltar, than would its annexation with paper guarantees. Britain must retain her right by treaty to be reckonedamong the lawful guardians of Tangier. Neutrality, or any other solution, would be fraught with peril to the British Navy and to interEmpire communications. There is a suggestion from Paris that France might be willing to transfer to Spain her predominant position in the administration of Tangier by allowing a Spaniard to occupy the presidency of the committee of control and another Spanish representative to fill the position of Administrator, which is now occupied by a Frenchman. In return some modification of the Spanish zone might be considered. Italian claims could be satisfied as under the present regime.