NON-EXISTENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 31, 7 February 1939, Page 7

NON-EXISTENT.

SPAIN'S GOVERNMENT. Will Be Considered Defunct By Britain. UNLESS MINISTERS RETURN. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 2.30 p.m.) LOXDOX, February 6. The "Daily Mail" says that Britain regards the Loyalist Government as temporarily non-existent and wi'.l consider it defunct unless some members soon return to Spain. Its delegate, General Jurado, is the dictator of a broken and retreating army. Only General Miaja, commander of Madrid, remains when General 'jurado's command collapses. | The Loyalists deny making peace over- | tufes. They declare that Madrid will not be abandoned.

The '"Daily Mail'' diplomatic correspondent asserts that Britain and Fiance will shortly recognise General Franco's Government because Britain is taking a realistic view and recognises General Franco's military ascendancy as almost complete. She feels that now is the time for active diplomacy, which imparts meaning to Mr. Chamberlain's pledge to support France in the event of war. Nevertheless, Britain does not envis-1 age a war. and she desires to avert I further bloodshed. It is felt that the time is ripe for a negotiated peace, to which diplomacy will be directed, while it is believed that France will unhesitatingly recognise General Franco's Government. i j Minorca as a Pawn. Tn the "Xews Chronicle" Mr. Vernon i Bartlett, M.P., points out that Minorca j will be an important pawn in negotia- | tions since it could long keep an Italian I fleet at bay, but it may not be prepared ito resist at length in \ iew of the Loyalist defeat on the mainland. Mr. ,Bartlett, therefore, believes that Britain seeks to negotiate surrender to a purely Spanish force before the Italians on Majorca attack Minorca. The "Daily Telegraph" Paris correspondent reliably states that M. Leon Berard, a former Minister, is semiofficially visiting Burgos. He was given assurance that there are no fortifications on the Spanish side of the Pyrenees, and none will be built. No air bases likely I to threaten French security will remain in the vicinity of the Spanish frontier, and no military or political concessions will be made to any foreign Power either in Spain or in Spanish possessions.

HOLLAND FIRM. Will Allow No Free Passage To Foreign Troops. AGGRESSIVE NEIGHBOUR. (Received 12 noon.) THE HAGUE, February 6. Holland will*not allow free passage for troops operating against an aggressor nation under Article XVI. of the League Covenant if the aggressor is a neighbour, declared Dr. Patijn, the Foreign Minister, in a written reply in the Chamber. He added that the entry of such troops into Dutch territory would inevitably lead to collision with the aggressor, making Holland a battlefield. The idea cf Holland adopting permanent neutrality appeared undesirable and unachievable, but there was no question at present of military collaboration with Belgium. He stressed the importance of good relations with Germany and noted with satisfaction that Germany was inclined to good relations with Holland.

SURRENDER DEMANDED. INHABITANTS OF MINORCA LOXDOX, February 6. There are signs that Minorca, in the Balearic Islands, will be the next objective in the Spanish venture, says the Rome correspondent of "The Times." The majority of the Italian air force based at the neighbouring island of Majorca flew over Minorca on Saturday, dropping leaflets calling on the population to surrender. The British cook of the steamer Emerald Wings was killed and an Arab fireman was injured in an air raid by Italian bombers on the port of Cartagena, in Southern Spain. Forty were killed in the raid and CO wounded. EUROPEAN TENSION. CONTINUE WHEN WAR ENDS. Independent Cable Service. LOXDOX, February 6. The "Daily Telegraph" says the Fascist Grand Council's statement that the Italian troops will not leave Spain until General Franco has won is a reminder that the end of the civil war will not necessarily end the European tension; on the contrary, it will revive the doubts and fears which have been perplexing European capitals since the ! war began.

NO RELIEF GIVEN. CANADIANS WITH LOYALISTS. (Received 2 p.m.) TORONTO. February 6. Marking the return of 300 Canadians who fought with the Loyalists in Spain, the Mayor, Mr. Robert Day, flatly refused to reinstate any to the unemployed relief lists. He declared: "They were recruited in Canada illegally by Communists, so let the Communists give them relief."