ITALY AND JUGO-SLAVIA.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17133, 21 June 1927, Page 5

ITALY AND JUGO-SLAVIA.

BRITAIN’S PART. PEACEMAKING AND NO CRITICISM. Answering many questions in the British Parliament regarding relations between Italy and Jugo-Slavia on the subject of Albania, Sir Austen Chamberlain, the Foreign Secretary, said that the terms of the Treaty of Tirana, signed in November last, were not communicated to him before publication. “But," he pointed out, “Signor Mussolini caused me to be informed on the day before, publication that he had signed a treaty of non-aggression and arbitration with Albania, comprising a guarantee of her independence, which would be registered with the League of Nations in due course. To such a treaty I had, naturally, no criticism to offer.” The British Government had nothing to do with its inception, its negotiation or its terms. The treaty caused considerable excitement in Jugo-Slavia, which had its reaction in Italy and produced a state of some tension between the two Governments. The British Government had no direct interest in the question, but had dene its best, being on friendly relations with both Governments, to allay suspicion and to facilitate direct conversations between the parties with a view to setting all outstanding difficulties. Sir Austen went on — “We believe that it is by such direct conversations that a friendly settlement, will be most easily'reached, and I certainly should not advise, in this or any other case, that recourse should be had to League intervention before the parties have met and discussed their differences. “As a result of the communication made by the Italian Government to the British, French, German, and other Governments, in which our attention was called to certain military preparations stated to be proceeding in Jugoslavia, it has been agreed among the Powers concerned that it is unnecessary—and would, indeed, be useless at this date —to conduct an inquiry into the past, but that, should fresh occasion arise while the conversations are in progress, representatives of Great Britain, France, and Germany will be available to carry out an immediate inquiry.

“Throughout I have acted in agreement with the French and German, as well as with the Italian and Serbo-Groal-Slovene (Jugo-Slavian) Governments, and my sole aim, which I am confident is recognised both by the Italian and Jugoslav Governments has been to dissipate possible causes of friction and to permit of full and frank discussions between Rome and Belgrade. “His Majesty’s Government has no intention of taking sides for or against either party.” He thought that the publication of papers might prejudice the success of conversations between the two Governments by reviving controversies which he hoped were past.