Rome, Sept. 19.
Although Italy still maintains a non-committal attitude towards the anti-piracy agreement, the path is believed cleared for a compromise as a result of two interviews to-day between Count Ciano, Italian Foreign Minister, and the British and French Charge d'Affaires.
Although the conversations showed that Italy had not yet offered cooperation, nevertheless the visits of the Charges caused satisfaction in Rome as indicating that Britain and France wish to overcome the anti-piracy deadlock.
It is suggested that there will be more talk of Italy haviog to humiliate herself by applying to the Nyon Conference for a concession on parity. Fears that Italy might be ignored in the patrol scheme have also been dissipated.
The Charges d'Affaires, according toa communique, asked for further information on the significance of the Italian Note of September 14, which gave rise to contradictory interpretations regarding the acceptance or otherwise, on the part of Italy, of collaboration in the Mediterranean patrol, Count Ciano made it clear that the Italian Government, in raising the question of parity of rights, intended to establish that a position equal to that of the fleets of France and Britain must be reserved for the Italian fleet li it was to be enabled to participate in the naval measures.
The German Government, the statement added, had been informed of Italy's attitude—Reuter.
Messina, Sept. 22.
More Italian troops have sailed for Tripoli to reinforce the Libyan gar-risen for the defence of the Mediterranean. The latest contingent, the second in two days, sailed in the s. Lombardia, The Liguria left with the first batch, which comprised 231 officers and 2,791 men.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.