1938-02-10 — Page 7

THE CHINA MAIL, FEBRUARY 10, 1938.

Page

ANGLO-ITALIAN DISCUSSION GIVES HOPE OF PROGRESS Optimistic View In London: Civil War Solution

VOLUNTEER

PERCENTAGE

CONTROVERSY

London, To-day.

BUTENKO-

MYSTERY

DEMAND

Moscow, To-day.

The Soviet has strongly pro- tested to Rumania in connection with the disappearance of M. Bu- tenko, charge d'affaires in Buch- arest, on Feb. 8, and has demand- ed an immediate investigation and severe punishment of the guilty.

Official circles in Moscow allege that the diplomat was the victim of a political crime by a Fascist organisation.Reuter.

The initiative of the Prime Minister, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, in attempting to bring about an improvement in Anglo-Italian relations, ap- pears to be meeting with a considerable mea- sure of success. Comment on the outcome of the conversations which have been taking place between British statesmen and the Italian Ambassador, Count Dino Grandi, strikes a very optimistic note. Apparently no further mention is being made of

Italian anti-British broadcasts, although a few LEGION OF

weeks back their cessation was being made a

CHINA FOREIGN

preliminary condition on the part of Britain for AIRMEN

resumption of friendly talks between the two countries.

Mainly responsible for this im- proved outlook is the decision of Italy to co-operate in finding a prac-| tical solution of the problem of withdrawal of foreign volunteers from Spain.

L

Italy has approved of the British plan for withdrawal, although agreement still has not been reach- ed on the question as to whether withdrawal of 50 per cent. of for- eign volunteers on both sides can be regarded as constituting "sub- stantial" withdrawal, which has been made a condition for the grant- ing of belligerent rights.

PERCENTAGE ISSUE

The original British plan foresaw withdrawal of 75 per cent. of for- eign volunteers, while the had demanded 90 per cent.

BRITAIN TO MAKE NEW PROPOSALS

London, To-day. new British proposal for overcoming non-interven- tion difficulties, was present- ed by the Foreign Secretary, Mr. Anthony Eden, to the French Ambassador, M. Charles Corbin, yesterday evening following a lengthy telephone talk with the Foreign Minister in Paris, M. Yvon Delbos.

The proposal, Soviet

details of which have not yet been revealed, is stat- ed to have been approved by the Italy had at first suggested that British Cabinet yesterday, and will the question of percentage be made be placed before the chairman's dependent upon the report of the committee of the non-intervention technical committee on the estimat-committee at its next meeting. ed number of foreign fighters in Spain, but has now agreed to with- drawal of 50 per cent., while Bri- tain is still insisting on

60

per cent. and the Soviet on 70 per cent.

ROME RESERVE

Rome, To-day.

IN BACKGROUND-

General opinion is that the ques- tion of exact percentage of foreign volunteers fighting in Spain to be withdrawn before rights of belli- gerency are granted, will be more or less pushed into the background. It is known that- Mr. Eden was Extreme reserve is being main-engaged in a lengthy conversation tained by official quarters regard-with the Soviet Ambassador on ing latest developments in the Tuesday night on

the percentage efforts at an Anglo-Italian rap- | question.—Trans-Ocean. prochement.

Attention is drawn in Rome to what are described as “purely malicious" press reports, which may". ^“sabotage the Anglo-Italian talks."

war

One report in particular is that the Italian army will hold games on the Libyan-Egyptian frontier in the summer.

Italy's attitude, says "Giornale d'Italia," will be one of watchful waiting.

"Where there are roses they will bloom," says the paper, "and Italy is waiting until the blooming takes place. Trans-Ocean,

NO MEETING OF NON-INTERVENTION COMMITTEE

London, To-day. Contrary to expectations, no meet- ing of the Chairman's sub-commit- tee of the Non-Intervention Com- mittee will be held this week. Pró- bably Lord Plymouth will summon a meeting in the course of next week.--British Wireless.

Peiping, To-day.

EDEN DISSOCIATES BRITAIN FROM DUTCH MOVE

London, To-day.

The Foreign Secretary was asked in the Commons whether he was aware of the proposal recently made by the Dutch Government to the three Scandinavian Govern- ments that they should join with the British and French Govern- ments in recognising the Italian conquest of Ethiopia and whether the Dutch Government acted with the approval and authority of His Majesty's Government.

Mr. Eden replied: "I under- China now has the services of a

stood that towards the end of last year, the Netherlands Government Foreign Legion, judging from consulted the Governments of the figures issued by the headquarters other Oslo Convention Powers on of General Terauchi, the Japanese agreement on the terms of the let- the possibility of reaching an commander-in-chief.

ters of credence of their repre- There are 651 foreigners fight-sentatives in Rome and that, before ing for China, consisting of 57 taking any final step, the Nether- lands Government had intended to British, 152 Americans, 124 consult both His Majesty's Govern- French, 315 Russians and five ment and the French Government. others.

DUTCH INITIATIVE The initiative in this matter lay Bulk of the foreigners are en-exclusively with the Netherlands gaged in aviation, the Chinese Government and the reply, there Government promising bonuses fore, to the second part of the ques“ ranging from $1,000 to £2,000 for tion is in the negative.” each Japanese plane brought down. He added that the Netherlands: Legion casualties hitherto have Government had recently informed been one Frenchman, one Russian His Majesty's Government official- and one American, all of them ly of the initiative taken by them killed-Reuter.

in this matter. British Wireless.

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