VITAL QUESTION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22243, 18 October 1935, Page 11

VITAL QUESTION

BRITAIN AND ITALY FLEET IN MEDITERRANEAN DECISION TO RETAIN ROME'S TROOPS IN LIBYA By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON, Oct. 1G The Sun-Herald news, service says it is understood that the British Cabinet has decided that the British Fleet shall remain in the Mediterranean until the crisis ends. It learns that Signor Mussolini offered to withdraw his troops from Libya if Britain demobilised her Fleet in the Mediterranean. M. Laval, in conversation with the British Ambassador in Paris yesterday made a similar appeal.

The British reply is emphatic and in addition Signor Mussolini will be informed that the large concentration of Italian troops in Libya is a gesture against Britain which cannot be regarded as a precautionary measure against the British Navy. It is stated in London that the report that the question of naval forces in the Mediterranean was mentioned in the course of the interview between the British Ambassador in Paris. Sir George Clerk, and M. Laval is correct. It is understood that the object was to ascertain whether the situation would be improved by a reduction of Britain's strength to one nearer to that which obtained before precautionary measures were taken in the face of the provocative attitude of the Italian press.

Some reference, it is believed, was rnado to a suggestion, originally attributed to the head of the Italian Government, which connected the question with a reduction of Italian reinforcements in Libya. The matter was merely touched upon in general conversation, and it is stated that the suggestion that M. Laval had proposed terms of a settlement in this or any other connection is untrue. M. Laval denied to-day that he had made any proposals to Italy in the past few days.