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saying that the British Government do not contemplate any change in their policy, which has been to secure that the peaceful development of the islands and the welfare of their Arab in- habitants shall not be disturbed by attempts to subject them to a foreign domination.
SOVIET UNION.
In the middle of February, there was reported to be an acute grain shortage. The peasants refused to sell their grain, partly from dread of poor harvests this year, and partly because they were unable to make use of the money paid for the grain, the industrial goods, of which they stood in great need, being then unobtainable.
German reports of 20th February, which stated that foodstuffs were rationed in Moscow and other large towns, were denied the next day by the Soviet semi-official Press. There is, however, no doubt that there has been a serious food shortage.
TANGIER.
An agreement between France and Spain was signed in Paris on 3rd March, by M. Briand and Señor Quinones de Leon, the Spanish Ambassador.
This agreement provides for a re-arrangement of some of the regulations imposed by the agreement of 1923, and for the better working of the regime put in force thereby. There is no question of revising the work of 1923. One of the chief items of the 1923 settlement was the composition of the Tangier Police Force. This body was to have consisted of French and Spaniards in equal numbers under the command of a Belgian Officer, but this Officer never arrived. Under the new agreement a Spanish Officer is to be nominated as Inspector General of Police, and a French Assistant will be appointed to his staff. The force will be temporarily strengthened.
In conformity with the procedure agreed to in November 1926, the French and Spanish Governments will now invite the British and Italian Governments to take part in the subsequent negotiations. A meeting will probably be held shortly in Paris to examine the Franco-Spanish proposals and the part which Italy would be willing to take in the Tangier administration. When an agreement has been reached between the British, French, Spanish, and Italian Governments it will be submitted to the other Powers for approval.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
The sixth Pan-American Conference which concluded its sessions at Havana on 20th February, has left unchanged the relations between the United States and the countries of Central America.
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The main issue, the modern interpretation of the Monroe doctrine which serves to justify the policy pursued by the Washington Administration, was scarcely touched on despite several resolutions put forward on the subject of intervention by one state in the affairs of another. The Dominican Republic and Mexico adopted a resolution understood to have been drafted by the American Association of International Law, providing that "No state may in the future, directly or indirectly, nor by reason of any motive, occupy even temporarily any portion of the territory of another state. The consent given to the occupying state by the state occupied will not legitimize the occupation and the occupant will be responsible for all occurrences resulting from the occupation not only with the state occupied, but to third parties as well." From Argentine came the resolution that a state cannot interfere in the internal affairs or in the external affairs of another state," while Haiti sought to define intervention as
any action carried out by a state, whether by means of diplomatic pressure or by armed force, in order to force its will upon that of another state.'
None of these resolutions came to anything. The opposition was not well organised, but the general failure to join in action which was bound to be displeasing to Washington was no doubt chiefly due to fear of the financial domination of the United States, Argentine being the only South American power to associate herself openly with the protests of the Central American Group. The personal prestige and diplomatic ability of Mr. Hughes, who served as Secretary of State under President Harding, was also an important factor in what may be regarded, from the United States point of view, as the successful issue of the Conference. On the other hand, the attitude adopted by Argentine on this question and the very definite stand taken by her delegate on the subject of tariff barriers are an indication of the tendency on the part of the larger nations of South America to assert themselves more vigorously than at any previous Pan-American Conferences.
Following suggestions in the United States Press for a joint guarantee of the freedom of the seas by Great Britain and the United States, Senator Borah introduced a resolution into the Senate on 21st February, urging the restatement and codification of the laws governing the conduct of belligerents and neutrals at sea during war. He said that the chaotic state of maritime law constituted an incentive to great Naval armament, the seas being left subject to no definite rules save those of force.
YUGOSLAVIA.
The political crisis which had lasted since 8th February came to an end on 23rd February, when M. Vukitchevitch at length succeeded in forming a new Cabinet. In the interval several unsuccessful attempts to form a Cabinet had been made by various
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