Rome, May 11, Italy's geographical, strategic, and economic position in the Mediterranean will have to change because it is contrary to the natural rights Of nations, Admiral Domenico Cavagnari, Under-Secretary of State for the Navy, declared today in a speech in the Senate.
Outlining Italy's naval power, the Admiral stated that the country's fourth 35,000-ton battleship, the Roma, would be launched in June, Twelve light cruisers at present under construction will enter into service in two successive groups at pre-arranged dates, When the old Submarine construction programme has been completed, a new one will be undertaken immediately, Continuing his speech, Admiral Cavagnari said that international conventions which should form the basis of the laws of war are never perfect and allow for arbitrary procedures which do not take into account the interests of non-belligerents, In conclusion, he stressed that "the serious disturbance brought to international sea trafic by the control of France and Great Britain is particularly felt by states on the shores of the Mediterranean, especially Italy.—Havas.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.