RUMOURS DENIED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23226, 21 December 1938, Page 13

RUMOURS DENIED

BRITAIN AND ITALY' CESSION OF TERRITORY MEDITERRANEAN QUESTIONS COMING TALKS IN ROME By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received December 20, C.30 p.m.) British Wireless LONDON, Dec. 19 In the course of answers in the House of Commons to-day to a number of questions concerned with the Mediterranean and the coining visit of the British Ministers to Koine, the Prime Minister, Mr. Chamberlain, took the oportunity to deny categorically rumours that Britain was contemplating the cession of colonial territory to Italy. He added that no such suggestion had been made by Italy. Mr. Chamberlain did not anticipate it would be possible to begin before or during his visit to Rome negotiations on boundary questions affecting British Somalilnnd and Italian Kant Africa. The Prime Minister had occasion to repent his reply of last week that any action contrary to the provisions of the Home agreement of April last would be a matter of grave concern to Britain, and he recalled again his statement that Britain could not contemplate any such possibility. He said Britain had not been consulted or informed by France of her notification to Italy that she would cede 110 French territory to Italy.

Regarding his and Viscount Halifax's conversations in Borne, however, Mr. Chamberlain declared Britain would naturally remain in close touch with Franco on that subject, as on ail other questions of common interest. Ho reiterated his refusal to say in advance what subjects were to bo discussed in Borne.

Tho Suez Canal was the subject of several answers to Questions. Mr. Chamberlain reminded the Houso that Britain and Italy had, as part of the Homo agreement, reaffirmed their intention always to respect the convention of 1888, without the consent, of all parties to which the status of the canal could not be altered.

The president of the Board of Trade, Mr. Oliver Stanley, stated that in the three years from 1935 to 1937, 46.9 per cent of tho tonnage dues for the Suez Canal were paid by British ships, and tho proportions of other principal flags were: —Italian, 17.5 per cent; German, 9.3 per cent; Dutch, 7.5 per cent; French, 5.5 per cent. REACTIONS TO SPEECH ROME AND BERLIN GOOD IMPRESSION MADE GERMANY FAVOURS PEACE LONDON. Dec. 19 Mr. Chamberlain's speech created a good impression in political circles in Borne, which . are gratified that Labour's attempts to discredit the forthcoming visit were unsuccessful. The Prime Minister's statement that he does not expect a specific agreement causes no surprise, since the coming conversations are regarded purely in the nature of a full and frank exchange of views. The Berlin spokesman said Germany favours peace as much as Mr. Chamberlain. No one in Germany thinks of attacking Britain. * "We have agreements with Franco, Poland, Hungary, Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia. Bolshevism is Public Enemy No. 1, and the only thing wo desire to keep from Europe, particularly from tho Mediterranean. We will naturally defend ourselves when attacked or when people interfere in our domestic affairs," said the spokesman.