FRANCO'S PLEA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 160, 8 July 1937, Page 7

FRANCO'S PLEA.

NOTE TO POWERS.

Demand for Belligerent

Rights.

ECONOMIC THREATS

United Press Association.—Copyright.

(Received 9.30 a.m.) PARIS, July 7.

The leader of the Spanish insurgent*, General Franco, has sent a >ote to the Powers demanding recognition as a belligerent under international law and threatening to close Spain against those "who show themselves our enemies."

Also General Franco accuses Britain and France of intervention.

v^ Jle * oiti . sa . vs: "The sacrifices Nationalist Spain is making in defence of western civilisation l,y freeing her territory from Communism and establishing national unity entitles her to demand respect and to speak clearlv to the world and especially to Britain'and rraiice. who have, either by action or inaction, intervened in favour of those who are seeking to Bolshevise and destroy Spain.

'"We have presented powerful and unanswerable reasons for demanding recognition as belligerent*, but we see the justice of our cause distorted and disfigured while silence is preserved regarding tlie. criminal genius presiding over the (invprnment and the entire life of Red Spain." Status Quo in Mediterranean. The Xote continues: "Xone of the countries which are morally supporting us seek territorial advantages at our expense, or an alteration of the status quo in the Mediterranean. If the other nations—forgetting their future interests—do not satisfy the demands of Nationalist Spain and if they replv to her proofs of friendship with injustice and illwill. they must not be surprised if to-morrow our international and economic policy closes its doors to those who show their enmity to us in our hour of need."

Official circles in Koine describe General Franco's Note as a "noble document." They approve the threat of economic reprisals. which they consider especially aimed at Britain. They believe that British rearmament will be heavily handicapped if unable to obtain iron ore from Bilbao. Reports received in Berlin that Britain is seeking to make contact with General Franco is welcomed at the Wilhelmstiasse, where it is stated that Germany would be glad if other nations would have the same frank and friendly relations with General Franco as Germany lias. In spite of General Franco's Note the impression is growing in France that he is realising that the military, naval economic power of Britain and France will ultimately be more important to Spain's future than Italian and German self-interested support.

ILL-TIMED THREAT.

BRITISH VIEW OF NOTE.

London, July 7. General Franco's demand is regarded by Whitehall as an ill-timed threat.

The British view, according to the "Daily Telegraph." is that the granting of belligerent rights can be considered only when Tion-Spanish aid is eliminated.

France regards the question as a political one and considers that the situation must be regarded from the point of view of the Mediterranean interests at stake. France intends to open the frontier unless effective naval control and the supervision of the Portuguese land frontier are enforced.

The Spanish Embassy in London states that its Government does not favour the granting of belligerent rights.

Evidence is accumulating that General Franco is prepared to dismiss the foreign troops from Spain provided that the Valencia Government acts similarly, but difficulty is likely to arise through Russia's insistence that the Moors also must lie withdrawn.

Competent observers estimate that the trained and armed Spanish forces with Oneral Franco total 000,000, and those ■of the Government 500,000.