1937-01-05 — Page 9

4

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 1937,"

ANGLO-ITALIAN FRIENDSHIP RESTORED

SIR ERIC DRUMMOND British Ambassador

BLACK HILL INCIDENT

Britain To Protest At Burgos

London, Jan. 3. The Ambassador to Spain, who is at Hendaye, has been instructed to call the attention of the Burgos authorities to the Incident in which the British steamship Black Hill, 2,492 tons, of Newcastle, was involved on Friday.

While on passage in ballast from. Bayonne to Santander to load iron ore for the Tyne, the Black Hill was fired on by a trawler, which is reported to have been a Spanish insurgent, vessel. 'Bixteen shots were fired. but all fell short, and the Black Hil eastly outdistanced her pursuer into Santander.

Sir Henry Chilton, in view of re- ports that the trawler belonged to the insurgent forces, will protest to the authorities at Burgos against its action- British Wireless.

KOENIGSBERG ABSOLVED

Berlin, January 3.

AGREEMENT WELCOMED

11

BY PRESS

7

Harsh Comment On Sending

Of Volunteers

DEEDS ARE MORE IMPORTANT

THAN WORDS

London, January 4.

The text of the declaration concerning assurances with re- gard to the Mediterranean which was signed in Rome on Satur- day by Count Ciano, Italian Foreign Minister,' and 'Bir Eric Drummond, British Ambassador, is prominently published, to- gether with exchange of notes between Italy and Britain. In these notes both parties disclaim any desire to modify or to see modified the present territorial disposition in the Mediterranean. Count Clano gives in addition a written assurance that "so far as Italy is concerned the integrity of the present territories of Spain shall in all circumstances remain intact and unmodi- fled."

The "Times,” commenting on the declaration, saya that the Medi- terranean tension which the nego- tistors have successfully sought to relieve was not of British creation.

Italian volunteers, and adds it is true enough that at the moment there is no international agree- ment for prohibition of sending of volunteers to Spain. But it is It is well that the tension should | equally true that the proposal for be ended. Let it be ended realis- such prohibition has been put tically without empty recrimina- forward by Great Britain and tion but with a clear and accurate | France and is being examined by The the German and Italian Govern- memory of how it arose. Rome agreement, buries the past.❘ments.

The next few days should reveal The League has failed and its failure was momentous. It failed what is in Signor Mussolini's partly because an apgressor 'was mind.--- able to count upon reasonable reluctance of its members to go to extremes. It failed partly because its pace Was the pace of the slowest.

To-day British people assent to the sweeping up of the debris of fallure without forfeiting their respect or their regret for those who fought an unequal fight for the now vanished kingdom of Abyssinia.

Referring to the exchange of Totes and particularly to the specific allusion to Spain, the "Times” says that the new Italian

A report here from the cruiser | assurance deserves special wel- "Koenigsberg" declares that the come because it definitely broad- cruiser passed the British steamer on the base on which non-inter-

"Blackhill" off Santona on Jan-vention can work constructively. uary 1, and exchanged with the latter morse signals in the custo- mary manner, stating name and nationality,

A message received here from London declares that the British

Admiralty officially announced that foreign press reports alleging that the "Blackhill", had been held up and searched by the "Koenigsberg" can in no way be

confirmed. The British Admiral-

confrma, ty's report

however. that the "Blackhül" informed the British destroyer "Fearless" that & Spanish rebel patrol boat fired about thirty shots at the "Black All" on January 1, which failed

to hit the "Blackhill." Another report here from London states

British Wireles.

TEXT OF NOTES

London, Jan. 3, The notes exchanged in Rome on 31, between Sir Eric December Drummond and Count Ciano on the integrity of "the present ter- ritories of Spain have now been made public.

The British Ambassador, in his note, hegins by recalling the Com- mons' question and answer of De- cember 18 on the guarantee given to the British Government by the Government of Italy concerning the Balearic Islands and cites Mr. of the Anthony Eden's account giving of assurances which, he pointed out, were verbal.

FRIENDSHIP RESTORED

His Majesty'e Charge d'Affaires "Morning Post" say that the in Rome, acting on instructions, diplomatic history of recent years informed the Italian Foreign Min- 'can record a few acts deserving of ister on September 12 that any such unqualified congratulation | alteration of the status quo in the ཀ་ the agreement signed on Western Mediterranean would be Baturday between Italy and Great a matter of the closest concern to Britain. By this instrument the ancient friendship which should never have been broken.

be removed.

The

restored

a

His Majesty's Government. Mr. Eden continued that taking note of this communication, the Italian Foreign Minister had assured Mr. One of the most satisfactory Ingram that the Italian Govern- features of the agreement is the ment had not either before or exchange of assurances over since the revolution in Spain Spain. If the Anglo-Italian pledge engaged in any negotiations with could serve as a model for similar General

Franco whereby the pledges with other countries status quo in the Western Mediter powerful cause of anxiety would ranean would be altered, nor would to engage in any such negotiations also in the "future, "Daily Telegraph" notes that in its immediate effects the inpst important feature of af- cord is that which maintains the territorial status qua Italian disavowal of any territorial ambi- tion in regard to Spain should prove, of help to negotiations that grow dally more urgent as dan- gerous incidents strain the tem- per and lead to reprisals. The which was en route to Bantander situation is one in which the from Bayonne with ballast, was fired at by an armed patrol boat powers must act in concert if at

Ell

that the owners of the steamer

"Blackhill" likewise confirm that the German cruiser "Koenigsberg” did not hold-up or search the ship. Transocean News Service.

REPORT TO DESTROYER

London, January 3.

•

The British ship "Blackh#l"

of unknown identity twenty miles northwest of Passages on January

the

1 according to a message received by the British destroyer "Tear lesa," which was communicated

latter at once to by the Admiralty here.

The message states that the patrol boat fired about thirty. shots which, however, falled to hit the "Blackhill" which succeed- ed in escaping. by Increased speed- Transocean News Service.

ITALIAN TROOPS FOR SPAIN

Alleged Landing At Cadiz

STARTLING FACT

The "Dally Mall' warmly wel-

FORMAL CONFIRMATION „

This assurance, the Secretary of State added, was subsequently re- armed spontaneously to the Bri- tish Naval Attache in Rome by the Italian Ministry of Marine, and the Italian Ambassader in London

bad on several occasions given to the Secretary of State similar ver-

bal assurannes.”

Bir Eric Drummond's note then proceeds: "In view of these as- surances His Majesty's Govern- ment in the United Kingdom as- cerned the integrity of the pre- sumes that so far as Italy 'is con-

sent territories of Spain shall in

comes the agreement which it says makes it clear that Britain and Italy will work jointly for peace all circumstances remain intaci The "News Chronicle" says it 15 and unmodified.. It would bow-

COUNT CIANO

Itallen Foreign Minister

join assurances respecting policy in the Mediterranean sphere.

The text of the declaration reads as follows:

GERMAN

REPRISALS

Another Merchantman Arrested

SPANISH REPORT

Valencia, Jan. 4.

The arrest, of another Spanish merchantman of Cape. Ajo at midday yesterday by the German cruiser Koenigsberg la alleged in a Foreign Offce communique,

The name of the steamer is not given," but it is reported to have been carrying six hundred tons of cargo from Bilbao to Santander and was probably within territorial waters.--

Heuter's Bulletin' Service.

VALENCIA DEFIANCE

Valencia, Jun, 4. * In face of "the extraordinary gravity" of the altuation caused by German *Warships seizing Spanish vessels, the Spanish Government has decided to take "His Majesty's Government in the necessary diplomatic steps," the United Kingdom and the Ita- | says an oficial communique;" lian Government, animated by the After referring to the radio desire to contribute "Increasingly to message received from the Ger- the interests of better, general | man

Admiral commanding in peace and security, and the bet-Spanish waters, in which the terment of relations between all naval officer states that the seized Mediterranean rowers, are resol- ship, Aragon, will be released when ved to respect the rights and in the passenger and cargo of tha terests of those powers, to recog- Palos are given up by the Spanish nise that freedom of entry into

authorities, the communique as- and exit from and transit through

serts: the Mediterranean are vital inter- esta both to the different parts of the British Empire and Italy, and that these interests are in no wise Inconsistent with each other.

FOSTERING PEACE "The British and Italian Govern- ments disclaim any desire to mo- dify or as far as they are concern- ed to see modifted the present status quo regarding national sovereignty of territory in the Me- diterranean area

"Both parties undertake to res- pect each other's rights and "in- terests in the sald area and agree to use their beat endeavours to dis- courage any activities liable to im- pair their good relations, which it is the object of the present de claration to consolidate.

"This declaration is designed to further the ends of peace and is rot directed against any other po- wer."

+

The text of notes exchanged in Rome on December 31, between the British Ambassador and the Ital lian Foreign Minister, has also been published. In theae. Count Ciano confirmed that as far as Italy is concerned the integrity of the present territories of Spain in all circumstances remain intact and unmodified.- Reuter

WELCOME IN EUROPE

Londa, Jan. 3. According to news reports reach- ing London the announcement of the signature in Rome yesterday of the Italian and British declara- tion of the Mediterranean position has been welcomed, in all parts or Europe,

The French Foreign Minister, to whom the substance of the agree- ment was communicated yesterday through the British Embassy lu Paris, later made a public state ment in which he expressed the delight of the French Government and associated it with the effort for conciliation and peace em- bodied in the declaration British Wirdess.

· EMBASSY · · LEAVES MADRID

Madrid, Jan.. 3. The British. Charge d'Afaires, a startling and deplorable fact ever, be grateful if Your Excel- Mr. Ogilvie Forbes, together with that Da the very day the Italian lency saw your way formally to the British Military Attache and #greement la published

staff, there confirm the accuracy of this as- Embassy

departed for should come from Spain news that sumption and I have accord- Valencia this morning where the 1.000 more Italian "volunteers" | ingly the honour to

British Embassy in Spain will have landed at Cadiz and proceed- whether your Excellency Could henceforth function.- "ed to the assistance of General supply me with such confirma- Reuter. Franco. In so far as this docu-ton

enquire

ment indicates a real willingness Count Clano's note, after le-

VICE-CONSUL REMAINS.

London, Jan. 3.

on the part of Bignor Mussolini to capitulating the verbal assurances Mr. Ogilvie Forbes, British co-operate in working for peace la Europe, it is no doubt to be welcomed. But how is it possible to believe that when the only practical evidence available the point is the landing of more Italian volunteers in Bpain?

on

MEREST HUMBUG · The Daily Herald" sees little. enough connection between the protestations of the new pact and the realities of Italian polley; and

Gibraltar, Jan. 4. According to unconfirmed reports received here, over five thousand Italian troops landed at Cadiz dur- ing the past three days from says that the professions of good-

as recalled by the Ambassador, Charge D'affaires, travelled to-day reads "I have consequently no from Madrid to Valencia, the seat difficulty on behalf of the Royal of the Spanish Government, to Italian Government in confirming which the British Embassy has accuracy of His Majesty's Govern- been withdrawn from the capital ment's assumption, namely, that The Vice-Consul remains in Mad- so far as Italy is concerned the rid meantime. integrity of the present, territories British" Wireless. of Spain shall in all circumstances remain intact and unmodifed.” British Wireless.........

JOINT ASSURANCES..........

.: London, Jan. 3.

DEPARTURE BY CAR

London, Jan. 3, - The British Charge d'Affaires Mr. Ogilvie Forbes left Madrid on Sunday, according to press reports, to transfer his headquarters to

Italian warships and Immediately will and friendship towards this The British and Italian Govern- entrained for Seville, halting at country are the merest humbug. | mente representatives have sign Valencia, Accompanied by Major Jerez en route where they received Deeds are more important than ed the Mediterrancan accord. The | Richards, the Military Attache, - British Ambassador." Bir・・ Eric | he left in an automobile bedecked an enthusiastic welcome from the words. rebel authorities and were lavishly It also makes a point that the Drummond, and the Italian For- with a huge British flag and ac entertained before proceeding on publication of the terms of accord eign Minister, Count Clano at companied by members of the their journey.

coincides with the arrival in Spahri | tached their signatures to the do- | Madrid police force.-- Beuter.

of a further strong contingent of cument yesterday. It consista of Transocean Hawa Servies,

*The Government has decided not to submit to the German Ad- miral's pressure and will not even reply to his message, which is couched in terms improper for a communication with a sovereign state." "

"En face of these facts the Spanish Government's view that the danger of a clash is increasing appears fully confirmed. If the causes of these disputes are not speedily removed, the Government tears the consequences may be irreparable," - the communique concludes.--

Reuter.

NO RELEASE OF ARAGON

Berlin, Jan. 3. The Spanish steamer, Aragon,„, will not be released until the ar- rested passenger steamer. Palos, is freed and the confiscated part of her cargo returned, according to a communiquée issued by a German news agency here to-day.

Meanwhile the entire German

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LONDON RUBBER MADRID: FRONTS

MARKET

U.S. Strikes

press continues to voice the great Undecided Owing To est indignation at. the alleged anti-German acts committed by the Government forces in Spain, and calls for more stringent re- prisals in that connection by the German Government,—. Keuter,

SOVIET STEAMER

STOPPED

Insurgent Warship Examines Papers

London, Jan. 4.

ACTIVE

General Offensive By Insurgents

Madrid, Jan. 4. Attention on the London rubber The insurgents have launched a exchange this morning was fixed general offensive on the Madrid very much more on the United fronts. Heavy' fighting is proceed¬ States strike situation than on the ing with successes claimed by both Daternational Rubber Restriction | sides.

Committee's

nouncement

licenses.

Majority opinion inclines to the view that the Committee's an- nouncement would be entirely Ignored by the market were it not Moscow, Jan. 4. for the coincidence that

the

"face-saving". KIL- The 'insurgents claimed to have regarding export advanced a mile towards Majada.. honda on the Madrid front after very Derce fighting, following an intensive artillery barrage.— Reuter's Bulletin. Servlez,.

NATIONALIST REPORT".

Balamanca, Jan. 3 It is reported that a Soviet United States is threatened by a Troops of the southern nation- steamer carrying a cargo of coal strike.

alist army continued their advance from Bremen to Naples was

Unsettled conditions marked this and occupied the town of Abejum-. stopped near Gibraltar by a Span-morning's market. all positionis, car and several mountains in that ish insurgent warship and es- being sharply marked down, region, thus re-establishing com- corted to Ceuta. Subsequently it though no great speculative selling munications between Porcula and was

released after. the ship's was evident. Most of the dealers papers had been inspected.

refuse to allow their confidence to. Reuter's Bulletin Service.

te shaken especially in view of the prevalent, option that the Committee may authorise as much production as ft Ukes, but whether the estates are able to produce it is quite another thing.

MADRID PLANE ·

INCIDENT

Shooting Down Of French Machine

Paris, Jan. 3. The rnystery surrounding the al- leged shooting down of an sero- plane belonging to the French Embassy in Madrid by militia gun- ners, as it was departing from the city, has bech cleared up by a statement made by a refugee Spanish physician and printed in the "Echo de Paria"

In addition to the pilot the plane was carrying the representative of

Valenzueis.

An official communique fatted here declares that the nationalists forced the reds to retire from · a system of trenches extending over. a distance of 3 kilometres by en- circling munoeuvres, capturing 15 guns arlo hnge quantities of war material from the retreating enemy.

The market may remain unde- cided until the United States strikes are "settled, when it is In the Viana de Granada sector expected the manufacturers are the nationalist cavalry - detache very likely to return to the market. I ment from Cogollos Vega,“In the -Reuter

province of Granada, made a sur- prise attack on the reds and like- wise captured a certain amount of war 'material.

EXPORT LICENCES FOR RUBBER

In the Soria sector troops of the.. second nationaljet brigade success fully repulsed a red counter-at- tack and disabled' two tanks by gun and ride fire. The attacking

London, Jan. 4 Reuter is officially able to con- frm the reports that the British reds are stated to have suffered dependencies have been advised serious casualties. The sixth the International Red Cross Dr. by cable by the British members tionalist division repelled an at- Hery, who a few days ago had suc of the International Rubber Res-tack made by the reds in the nor ceeded in obtaining photographs of triction Committee to issue export thern part of the province of Bur the mass execution of 1500 Spanish licences for rubber for six months 80s, and infleted great losses on ex-army oricers who had been hastead of for one to three months the latter. The nationalist, al "Tured" to the Ministry of the In-sa at present in order to relleve force contributed to the successce of the southern army by engaging terior under the pretext that their the shortage of near rubber

In an action in the vicinity of pensions were to be adjusted and Reuter.

Vitoria where the reds were ke paid.

wian defeated — l'ermanrenni, „Afew Service.

According to statements in the papers, Dr. Hery had the photo- graphs in his possession when leaving and in order to prevent them from reaching a foreign country the red authorities gave orders to shoot the plans down. No news of Dr. Hery have been re- ceived since- Transorcas News Baraton.

FRENCH STEAMER

SEARCHED

Paris, Jan. 3 The French steamer “"Noir"" has been held up and searched by a red Spanish warship, sccording to reports received here from San-

tander which adda, however, that the "Noir" was permitted to pra ceed on its way by the red warship after having been searched by the latter. Transe van Nowi Service.