Montreux, July 9.
France has come to the assistance of Soviet Russia which is seeking, at the Dardanelles Conference now in session here, to close the Straits to all belligerents' except when pursuing League obligations, tion of the late Henry Oppenheimer began at Christie's to-day when his drawings by old masters were put up for auction.
Leonardo da Vinci's drawing! entitled "Rider on Rearing Horse" which measures 5% inches by about 5 Inches fetched 4,100 guineas. Nine small sketches by Fra Bartolomeo were sold for just under £1,500.
Seven pen and wash drawings by: Antonio Canaletto attracted keen lized £2,165. One of "Ascension 'Day' secured for the British Museum for 800 guineas—Wireless through Reuter.
'A compromise amendment whereby Ruslan worships will also have the right to enter and leave the Black Sea under regional pacts and mutual assistance pacts concluded within the framework. of the Covenant of the League of Nations, is being prepared by M. J. Paul-Boncour, French Minis ter without Portfolio and chief French delegate at, the conference, which is discussing Turkey's request for a revision of the Straits Convention.
Fears that differences between Great Britain and Soviet Russia would cause-a breakdown of the Dardanelles "Conference have been. allayed as the result of an interview yesterday afternoon between Maxim Litvinoff, Soviet Foreign Com= missar and chief delegate, and Lord Stanley, chief British representative.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.