MINISTERS FLEE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 55, 7 March 1939, Page 9

MINISTERS FLEE.

CABINET DISPERSED.

General Miaja Accepts The Presidency.

COUNCIL'S MANIFESTO.

United Press Association—Copyright.

(Received 9.30 a.m.)

LONDON, March 6. The Madrid Government under Dr

fr™' ST?? U re I ,orted to have fled iiom Madid, savs tlm r;i>,.„u '"> Rt V» me Gibraltar corcZTany.' 4 °' ** Tele^ph

General r»' V l C ° nncil besides m rtv <t °t V? I>roseutin S th e People's Ed auio v J ;; lii,n Bestei, ° a,,d se ™- SocSfi. « ' re P the (Left w' Be i l ° r M1 = uel San "Andree 2, >\f C 1" ) ' 8e » or WenUnJm?l i U °o < Sociali *t Workers' Union) and Senor Gonzales Marin (Anarcho-syndicalist Workers' Con federation).

General Casado, broadcasting, announced that General Miaja had accepted the presidency of the Defence Council. He declared that it was not a Nationalist rising at Cartagena, but a Republican Fleet rebellion against Dr. Ne<nhi's unpopular commands.

Addressing Spaniards in the Franco zone, General Casado emphasised that their Republican brothers sought peace based on conciliation, independence and liberty. They desired the nation to be free of foreign influence and unfettered by the imperial ambitions of others.

"Will Fight to the Death."

"In your hands lies the peace which Spain badly needs, or war which would place the country at the service of invaders. If you offer peace, our hearts will generously respond, but if you continue war, we will fight to the death."

General Casado continued: "We shall | resist until we receive a guarantee of a peace ensuring the, independence of Spain and avoidance of reprisals. Either we shall all be saved or we shall all sink. The die is cast."

The Army Council issued a manifesto declaring that the situation was intolerable, inasmuch as the people lacked guidance and organisation and suffered from the absurd inactivity of the Negrin Government.

The manifesto violently attacked the Negrin Government's "proved incapacity," adding: "The gravity of the moment compels .us no longer to obey this handful of men in whom we have no further confidence."

The manifesto also declared that the Negrin Government was preparing to flee abroad, but steps were taken to prevent that. "We cannot allow a privileged few quietly to escape abroad," it adds. "Negrin said, 'Let us stand or fall together.' Very well, so let it be. We shall resist to the utmost limit."

The manifesto added that the council had assumed full responsibility for the administration of Republican Spain and was exercising supreme authority.

The famous Republican Army leaders, General Enrique Lister and Colonel Juan Modesto, are reported to have reached Central Spain.

Berlin received the news of Dr. Negrin's fall with pleasure, indicating the belief that the new Government is preparing to capitulate, believing that better terms will be offered General Casado than would have been given to Dr. Negrin. (