THE PIRATE MENACE

Wairarapa Daily Times, 7 September 1937, Page 5

THE PIRATE MENACE

INVITATION TO POWERS REASONS OUTLINED. Press AsajiUidou Electric Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, Monday. The diplomatic correspondent of “The Times” says Italy and her five Mediterranean neighbours have been invited to the Mediterranean Conference owing to their geographical and strategic positions, and also because they signed the Submarine Convention of 1936, by which they promised that .submarines would conform to the rules governing surface vessels and especially would not sink or damage merchantmen without ensuring the safety of the passengers and crew, which code the Mediterranean pirates have flouted.

The Black Sea Powers have been invited because the Dardanelles is their threshold to the Mediterranean, their main or sole highway. Germany has been invited for many reasons, including her participation in the control scheme, and also because she had been a victim of Mediterranean lawlessness.

ITALY WILL ACCEPT. DESPITE RUSSIA’S INCLUSION. LONDON, Monday. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Rome correspondent says Signor Mussolini will undoubtedly accept the invitation, despite Italian criticism of the inclusion of Russia owing to the allegation that ,slie is aiding the Spanish Government. Italy could not stand aloof from a meeting regarding a sea in which she claims to be dominant. LESS CHANCE OF SUCCESS. FRENCH VIEWPOINT. PARIS, : Monday. The extension of the conference to double the number of countries France originally proposed lessens, in French opinion, the chances of success.