EXPERTS BUSY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 251, 22 October 1937, Page 7

EXPERTS BUSY.

DETAIL MACHINERY.

British Government Given Big Task.

COMMISSION FOR SPAIN.

British Official Wireless.

(Received 11 a.m.) RUGBY, October 21. British experts are examining details of the machinery for carrying out the tasks entrusted to th<j British Government hv the Nonintervention Committee to effect the withdrawal of foreign combatants in Spain. It will first be necessary to agree on the form of commission to be sent to Spain.

Plans must also be drawn up for the transport of men to be evacuated and for their reception in the countries of birth or domicile.

The intricate arrangements this will involve will not be necessary to effect immediate token withdrawal of a specified number from both sides, which, it is suggested, should precede larger evacuation. It is believed that the non-intervention organisation already existing should be adequate for this purpose.

It is understood that -Mr. Eden gave expression to the general gratification in the Non-intervention Committee at The important contribution fount Grandi had been able to make toward reducing the gap between the opposing views and facilitating the progress of the committee's work.

More Favourable Outlook. The adjournment of the committee until Friday will enable the various Governments to give consideration to the better and more favourable complexion which the situation has assumed as the result of yesterday's meeting and of the statement of Count Grandi. The difficulties and the possibilities of disagreement in the programme which lies before the committee are obvious, but the feeling in British circles is that if progress could be made at the next meeting comparable to the advance of yesterday's sitting the problem created bv foreign intervention in Spain would be a long way on the road to solution.

Such progress is not unattainable if the spirit of accommodation, which it agreed on all sides was shown by Count Grandi's speech yesterday, continues to animate the proceedings of the committee, and tile efforts of all the members are concentrated, as they were yesterday, upon finding points of agreement rather than points of disagreement.

The development which took place yesterday in the Non-intervention Committee is warmly welcomed in London and is regarded as having resolved the deadlock.

Long Step to Final Agreement. "The Times'' says Count Crandi's speech marked a long step towards reasonable final agreement for insulating the Spanish conflict. It is now expected that there will be a small token withdrawal of foreign combatants almost immediately, which will be followed after the report of the international commission by general withdrawal, during which at a stage to be fixed, the grant of belligerent rights will become effective.

The "Daily Telegraph" says the development marks a break in the clouds. There may be room for criticism in detail, but this new Italian proposal seems to offer, if not all that could be desired, as much as could be achieved under any scheme as yet submitted.

The Labour "Daily Herald" discusses the possible reason underlying the complete and sudden change in the formal attitude of Italy, but declares that no one would be so foolish as to lose what chance there may lie of securing withdrawal of Italian troops. Their presence in Spain is the greatest of all menaces to the prospect® of democracy in Spair and peace in Kurope.

The "Daily Express" says that whatever causes have conspired to make the new situation the fact is that Kuropean tension is relieved.

The "Daily Mail'' says patience lias had its reward. The gesture by Italy will be welcomed throughout the world.

OFFICERS SUSPECTED.. TREACHERY CHARGES LAID. VALENCIA, October 21. General Asensio, who was UnderSecretary for War in the t'aballero Cabinet, and three other high Spanish Government Army officers, have been arrested on charges of treachery in connection with the fall of Malaga in February. A special Court has been inquiring into the matter.