14 APRIL 1928, Page 2

The first phase of the conversations about the proposed modifications

of the Tangier Statute ended last week, when it was announced that the British, French, Italian and Spanish experts had reached a unanimous agreement. The next step will be to consider the special Italian demands. The Paris correspondent of the Times says' there is no foundation for the report that Italy wishes to open up the whole Mediterranean question. He believes that the Italian demands are confined to the administra- tion of Tangier. France will, of course, remain the predominant partner at Tangier, but this predominance is quite reconcilable with the acceptance of reasonable demands &OM Italy.