FILLING BREACH IN CONTROL SCHEME.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 153, 30 June 1937, Page 7

FILLING BREACH IN CONTROL SCHEME.

POWERS MEET.

Germany and Italy Object to Franco-British Plan. MAJORITY IN SUPPORT. British Official Wireless. (Received 1.00 p.m.) RUGBY, June 2!). The scheme under which the British anil French Governments have agreed to assume responsibilities for operation of the control scheme in respect of the whole coasts of Spain, and further agreed in principle to the appointment of neutral observers stationed on patrol ships, was submitted to the Non-Intervention Subcommittee. A report issued at the close of the meeting stated that the Belgian, Czechoslovak ian, Swedish and the Soviet representatives welcome the proposals on behalf of their Governments. The German and Italian representatives strongly objected in principle to any proposal not based on necessary equilibrium so as to ensure absolute impartiality of control. They further indicated that their Governments had decided to advise their nationals at present employed as observer officers under the observation scheme to resign their appointments. At the conclusion of the discussion all representatives undertook to refer the proposals to their Governments with a request for immediate instructions. It is thought in London that the ofl'er to agree in principle to the appointment of neutral observers on patrol ships should give suHicient guarantee of strict impartiality if the Franco-British control scheme were adopted. As to land obser\ at ion, the decrees which the Portuguese Government nas issued regarding the passage of men and materials to Spain are still in force, but Portugal desires that the gap in the control scheme caused by German and Italian withdrawal should be filled as soon as possible. An earlier cable message stated that the German Ambassador, Heir von Kibbentrojt. flew back from Berlin last night to attend the fateful meeting of the Non-Intervention Committee. .Messages from Berlin and Koine indicated that Herr von Kibbentrop and the Italian Ambassador, fount Dino Grandi, would jointly oppose the proposal 011 the ground that it would be tantamount to support for the Valencia Government. "The Times'' correspondent ill Rome says the outcome of the London meeting was nervously awaited in diplomatic circles.