BIG DIPLOMATIC BATTLE

Southland Times, Issue 24002, 18 December 1939, Page 7

BIG DIPLOMATIC BATTLE

PRESSURE PUT ON URUGUAY (United Press Assn.— Telegraph Copyright) (Received December 17, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, December 16. If the secrecy shrouding the Uruguayan Foreign Office could be penetrated, it would probably reveal a battle as thrilling diplomatically as that of last Wednesday was militarily. While Britain and France are reported to have continued to strengthen the forces at the mouth of the River Plate, the Admiral Graf Spee’s crew feverishly continued their repairs. The tension was heightened this afternoon when smoke poured from the Admiral Grat Spee’s funnels and her bow swung to seaward. Meanwhile, South America’s Foreign Affairs Ministers were equally busy trying to prepare against the situation that Uruguay was facing as a result of the Admiral Graf Spee’s entry. The busiest has been the Uruguayan Foreign Minister, Senor Alberto Guani, whose time has been divided between the delicate diplomatic situation with Britain and the discussions about joint action to protect South American neutrality. Throughout the day Senor Guani has been under the strongest pressure from both Britain and Germany. The German Minister called at

midday and 5 p.m., leaving at 7.45 p.m., grim-faced and agitated. The British Minister left at 9 p.m. more cheerful than previously. He told newspapermen that the time limit expires at 6 p.m. not 8 p.m. tomorrow. During the day the Admiral Graf Spee’s commander, Captain Hans Langsdorff, high Italian and German diplomats and the Uruguayan, RearAdmiral Reute, who is of German descent and German educated, conferred with the German Legation suggesting that the Admiral Graf Spee might try to seek refuge again at an Argentine port, thus giving a further 24 hours’ delay and enabling the arrival of reported reinforcements. Hundreds of sailors worked on the Admiral Graf Spee’s decks. The shell holes on the starboard quarter were plugged inside the jagged edges and a huge hole on the port side of the bow smooth boarded with heavy planks. The anti-aircraft gun tower tom from its base has been replaced and the damaged aeroplanes discharged ashore. Pumps are working constantly. The work continued until 10.30 p.m., when the lights were extinguished. News agencies at Montevideo are agreed that Uruguay has given the Admiral Graf Spee until Sunday night to leave, but in the absence of an official Government announcement the deadline is uncertain. According to the Associated Press of America the Uruguayan Naval Board, after inspecting tiie Nazi vessel, recommended 5 p.m. Montevideo time.

The Foreign Minister, Senor Guani, refused publicly to announce the actual deadline on ethical grounds, lest he should be regarded as revealing German plans to the enemy.