MINORCANS AGREE 10 OCCUPATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 34, 10 February 1939, Page 7

MINORCANS AGREE 10 OCCUPATION.

REBELS TAKE OVER. France And Britain Take Hand In Peace Terms. STRICT NEUTRALITY WANTED. United Press Association. —Copyright. (Received 11 a.m.) LONDON, February 9. An official message from Burgos states that General Franco's forces landed at Minorca and dominate the island. The Associated , Press- says that tfjl.S. Devonshire left Minorca carrying 430 refugees, presumably strong, active loyalists. The Devonshire is awaiting instructions regarding the landing of the refugees. It is understood General Franco asked: Britain to convey his representative to Minorca and the Devonshire was placed at his disposal after reference to France. Britain was not represented at the talks, which are believed, to have occurred on the Devonshire between Colonel \ san Luis, military Governor of Majorca and the .Minorcans. ... ; Later it was officially announced from Burgos that' an all-Spanish force, which, sailed from Barcelona 'last night, has occupied' nearly all Minorca. • Two battalions of infantry and two batteries of artillery and other units landed at dawn on the weet coast. '-. Simultaneously the Ciudadela. garrison, on the east coast, rose under a colonel and, joined by civilians, seized the east island. The Government forces are reported to be disbanding, and numerous ! refugees; are escaping in fishing boats • to France. . ' Terms of Surrender. France agreed to afford refuge to the 450 Minorcans aboard H.M.S. Devonshire, which is due at Marseilles on Friday. ; ; ;...'. ..'..• The "Dailv Telegraph" diplomatic correspondent says the\- Minorcans acrreed to. a peaceful occupation, provided that all "black-listed" persons were taken to safety. It appears that the negotiations were completed without consultation with the Italian and German commanders at Majorca, who until the eleventh hour envisaged the establishment of bases. . . . : .It is reported that bombing had begun in Minorca before the Devon- , ehirc's visit. v Sir.Robert Hodgson, British agent at Burgos, 'is leaving London to-morrow for Burgos, fully briefed, .on British aims... • • ' ..■•. ■'-..':. Every'step will be taken in close co; :' V operation with France, with the object of reaching .an understanding with ; General Franco that will enable Britain and France to recommend the Loyalists .■to 6ue for peace on terms that Britain and France twill be able to guarantee. If the new Spain gives assurances of ; strict neutrality, as the old Spain did, Britain and France' will feel able greatly to assist reconstruction. ';.' In well-informed quarters in Paris the opinion is held that diplomatic "■ recognition of General Franco's Government will be accorded at an early date. ; \The "Temps"'significantly a6ks; "Can '.'■ it even be'asked whether the Republi- '■■ can Government has not virtually /ceased to .exist?" v-' ' '.. .'. LAST STAND. J LOYALIST TROOPS. ■■ ■ ■ . ■j' • . 1 "Shadow" Cabinet Meets On : , Frontier. , ; , STILL TALK .OF RESISTANCE. United Press Association. —Copyright. " . (Received 11.30 a.m.) ■ ' .;•',;' ''-'LONDON, February 9. GraHiering.'for the last .time on Catalonian ■ soil, the skeleton of the Loyalist' Cabinet met in a ;ti'ny house in Leperthus earlyvthis morning, after ifhich Senor del Vayo, Foreign Minister,'announced the conditions under ■ l which they would make peace'. 1

He declared that the Government was Trilling to'halt the war provided safety of-all was assured, that foreigners would, leave Spain immediately, and that Spaniards be allowed' to choose their own form of Government by means of the plebiscite., •...-'•■. He added that everything was.not lost. . The southern zone had not surrendered.' He was not asking for a separate peace. ' t General Rojo, in order to hold up the rebels to allow the meeting to "be held, threw the last two corps of the Bbro v;Army across the Perthus Road, south from La-Junguera. *'It was the last „■< stand of the eastern army, which is now "'retreating to France. , •.'■ , A Paris message says that the President Don Manuel Azana, arrived there ■and immediately held a conference of at. the Spanish Embassy. .v;" After.' the conference the Embassy denied that General Miaja had .made contact with General Franco with a viftv -.. to negotiating for surrender, in Central Spain, it was added that there is no question of unconditional surrender. 'y The Loyalists are disbanding at Leper:thus. The rebels reached the frontier at 2.05 p.m. and raised Franco's flag. . '.Dr. Negrin departed at noon and is 'attempting to reach Valencia to join | General Miaja. _ A'Perpignan message says tlie position . Hi the Madrid zone is obscure. Although General. Miaja ie reported to have declared his determination to continue resistance, a message rom Paris states that he applied' for a French passport . and safe conduct, indicating that, the | jcentral zone.is preparing to capitulate.