Paris, Mar. 5.
Diplomatic circles reported here to-day that Italy was demanding two of the 32 seats on the board of directors of the Suez Canal Company as one of the Italian terms of a reconciliation pact with Britain.
The only chance of Italy's obtaining seats on the board, diplomats here said, was by buying enough shares in the company to be entitled to one or more seats. The board is expected to discuss the political situation on Monday with reference to the effect on the present European situation on the canal.
Two seats on the board formerly owned by French nationals are now open, but through an agreement with Egypt in 1936, both seats were reserved for Egyptians.—United Press.
—Havas.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.