Tangler Problem Settled

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 409, 18 July 1928, Page 9

Tangler Problem Settled

POWERS’ FRIENDLY NEGOTIATIONS

Britain , France , Spain and Italy

British Official Wireless. Received 12.15 p.m. RUGBY, Tuesday. THE British, Italian and Spanish Ambassadors in Paris, and the Secretary-General of the French Ministry for Foreign Affairs, accompanied by their respective experts, met this afternoon at the Ministry for Foreign AfTairsJn Paris to initial the agreement prepared by experts, tvhich constitutes the text of the new Tangier Statute.

The negotiations leading np to today’s act have been of a protracted nature, but have been conducted in the most friendly spirit, revealing a common desire to ensure the development and prosperity of Tangier, with due regard to the varied interests of the Powers.

It will be recalled that although the ■ scheme for the internationalisation of | Tangier, set out in the Convention of 1923 worked well, the refusal of Italy to accede to it was a source of some difficulty, and it was recognised that the Administration could not be fully effective until the Italians took their share in it. The demands of Spain also were not fully met under the Convention, and after discussions between the interested Powers, it was agreed that France and Spain should evolve a scheme satisfactory to both parties, and that such a scheme should be submitted to a conference of experts, representing France, Spain, Italy and Britain.

This conference has been sitting in Paris for some time, and has accepted the arrangement whereby the FrenchSpanish revision of the Convention with the object of strengthening the provisions against sedition, and re-

bellion. determining the personnel of the gendarmerie, and general administration, were also agreed to. Many difficult questions of finance and judicial reform were also finally settled.