"ملف 61/11 V (D 95) مسائل متنوعة خاصة بالحجاز ونجد" [و‎‎٢‎٢‎٨] (٥٣٠/٤٧٢)

M
THIS DOCUMEHT IS THB PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT
EASTEEN (A rabia).
CONFIDENTIAL.
[E 6042/14/91]
Sir R. Graham to Sir John Sim 10.)
(No. 757.)
HIS Majesty's representative at Rome presents his compliments to the
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and has the honour to transmit herewith
copy of a note from the Italian Ministry for Foreign Affairs, dated the
4th October, 1933, respecting the restoration of the Centre Peak Light in the
Eed Sea.
Rome, October 6, 1933.
Enclosure in No. 1.
0.^1
Note verbale.
)fc (Translation.)
WITH reference to the contents of the second and third paragraphs of
. His Britannic Majesty's Embassy's note verbale No. 221 of the 6th July, 1932, the
ifc Eoyal Ministry for Foreign Affairs have the honour to bring the following to
id I {(i the notice of the Embassy :—
2. The captain of the port at Massawa has informed the Government
of the Colony of Eritrea that, according to reports received from the captains of
Italian vessels navigating in the lower Eed Sea, and particularly on the route
from Massawa to Hodeida, the safety of shipping in that zone is gravely impaired
by the discontinuance of the Centre Peak Light, more especially on account of
the currents around that island, which, by causing considerable deviations
of route, may give rise to accidents, should the discontinuance of the light be
prolonged. The captain of the port has accordingly requested that steps
be urgently taken for the restoration of the light in the interests of the safety of
shipping, particularly on the route from Massawa to Hodeida, which is
continually used by steamships and sailing vessels, both of Italian and foreign
nationality.
3. The Government of the Colony of Eritrea have acceded to this request
and taken the necessary steps for the restoration of the light, the operation of
which has been resumed as from the 1st October last.
The lighthouse zone of Massawa has already taken steps to issue the
necessary wireless notice to navigators containing particulars of the light.
4. In bringing the above to the knowledge of His Britannic Majesty's
Embassy, the Royal Ministry for Foreign Affairs need hardly add that the
presence of an Italian staff on the Island of Zebait (Centre Peak), which will
ensure the operation of the light, implies no modification of the international
juridical status of the island itself, which, together with that of the Islands of
Abu Ail and Jebel Taiz, was considered by the Italian and British Governments
in 1928 during the negotiations for the Eed Sea Lights Convention, when the
conclusion was reached that the question of the sovereignty of those islands should
remain in suspense.
Rome, October 4, 1933 (XI).
HI
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