BRITAIN’S REACTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26704, 25 February 1948, Page 6

BRITAIN’S REACTION

DESPATCH OF CRUISER SOUTH AMERICAN OFFICIALS CONCERNED Rec. 10 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 24. The Montevideo correspondent of the Daily Express says the news that the British cruiser Nigeria is on its way to Falkland Island waters caused consternation among Argentine and Chilean officials. Uruguayan observers believe that President Peron intended the occupation of South Shetland only as an election move and did not expect such strong reactions from Britain. Argentine public opinion, however, is solidly behind the president and received the news of the British protests with what the correspondent describes as “cannonades of words.” , , . _ . The Nigeria was expected at Port Stanley, capital of the Falkland Islands Dependencies, on February 23. It is expected that the Governor of the Falkland Islands, Mr Geoffre Miles Clifford, will embark on the cruiser which will then sail for Deception Island where the Chilean and Argentine outposts were established in defiance of British protests. The Daily Express says it is expected that the Nigeria’s captain will be instructed to be as firm as possible short of fighting. A report from Port Stanley, published by the British Sunday newspapers, says that the residents of the Falklands are united in their desire to remain British and hope the British Government will take steps to .clear up this long-standing dispute without further delay. . _ Asked in the House of Commons whether he would consider asking Australia to send a cruiser to the Falkland Islands, Mr Attlee said he appreciated Mr Chifley’s offer but the British Government did not see any necessity to ask Australia to send a ship. Last week Mr Chifley said if Britain asked for a ■ cruiser the Australian Government would consider the request, adding: "We always have a friendly interest and a desire to h6 Mr Attlee assured Mr Eden that the Government would not “be checked or chivvied out of British territories anywhere in the world.”