ITERVENTION IN SPAIN

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21986, 9 January 1937, Page 13

ITERVENTION IN SPAIN

Stopping Flow Of Volunteers rE plies to joint NOTE V ' __ GERMAN AND ITALIAN ■ PROPOSAL - ICSHED IWKS ASSOCIATION CORYRIGUT.) (Received January 8, 7.5 p.m.) LONDON, January 7. -The German reply to the joint British and French note about the proposed ban on the sending of trohmteers to Spam, which the German News Agency states was drafted with the agreement of Italy makes three conditions for cooperation in further non-interven-tion efforts in Spain:— (1) All other participating nations must adopt the same attitude. , (2) Other questions connected with', indirect intervention shall, immediately be taken up. .' (3) All the participating governments must agree unconditionally to . effective control carried out on the spot. . • ■ The reply, in the opening sentences, expresses Germany’s astonishment that the British and French Governments have regarded it as necessary to address, for the second time,•a" special direct appeal to the governments represented on the Non-intervention ‘ Committee, apart from the proceedings of that body, -which, moreover, is already discussing the prohibition of foreign volunteers in Spanish battles. It is not apparent how these' discussions ctmld be furthered by the individual governments taking separate diplomatic action. If, however, it is believed that the committee’s pro- ' cedure is inadequate for a discussion -of the Spanish question, it would be ; better in the interests of clarity and • unity-to refrain altogether from the of the committee’s method. ..“The German Government,’ it states, “must remonstrate against the • -fact that the new French and British step. creates the impression that is responsible for the > .‘problem of foreign volunteers in ‘' Spain, or that Germany has not • realised its importance. Germany, . therefore,*'again notes that it ancf c the ’ltalian Government .were the '■! powers who demanded from the beginning .the prevention of foreign ’participants in Spain leaving their countries, and that on the contrary it was the French and '■! British Governments who declined . ’.prohibition.” * to' The reply adds: “After an unhin-. ■ dered stream of Bolshevist, elements •this been poured in for many months 1 it is indeed difficult avoid the ; impression' that prohibition would iriow benefit only the Bolshevik ’ ; party in Spain, which obviously has teen strengthened by foreign volunteers. However, as Germany , .throughout has supported the prevention of volunteers to Spain, she , is, still willing Jo support all measures for furthering the aim.” , The note then announces the three conditions, adding that Ger- ’ - Mflny will instruct her representa- , fives on the Non-Intervention Committee to carry on further negotiations on that basis. If no agreement - is.-'-.possible on the prevention of volunteers or other forms of indirect intervention, Germany reserves the ■ tight: to re-examine her attitude to . 1 the. question of volunteers. ■Germany believes that the. best .-solution of the problem would be . the removal of all non-Spanish partibipants in the battles, including political agitators and propagandists, from} Spain, in order to restore the conditions existing in August, 1936. The Italian Note . The Italian note, which, it is emphasised, was drawn up-in contact : with: Germany and was inspired by , the same conception of the problem, recalls Italy’s fruitless efforts on August 8 and September 18 to pre- . Vent ■ subscriptions and volunteers being sent to Spain. The note states ■ that the question of volunteers is' .within the competence of the Non- ;■ Intervention. Committee, which i Seems the appropriate place to dis- ; , cpSs.it, ‘ ..V Italy wonders whether the com,ln?ttee is worth retaining when its ;; .?%T°rity and prestige are being so - rapidly undermined. The note comHmnts ,pn ’ the change of the British and; French attitude to volunteers, I and - expresses' the opinion that at :] ■'present the interdiction of volun- ' ? ee ! r f would only favour the factions -a- hostile to General Franco’s, Govern■';,cl®nt, which is insufficiently prowith foreign reinforcements. H it.- ’ however, is ready to agree to I- of France and Britain r® r an early date for the prohibition ■/f Pf.yplunteers to Spain, provided the shall have a general character, be accepted by all gov- : , V r opi en ts, an( j be applied to all V. ports.and- points of entry to Spain. 'Vlirr r ' lB Prepared to instruct the ; y,vitaiian representatives on the Non- ■■ intervention Committee to this end ..ooahle the measures to be taken delay. reply adds that the spasmodic • Partial measures which Britain France have hitherto applied to M)teryention can only produce equate, uncertain, and dangerresults. Italy reaffirms her conon that only a totalitarian dealing with direct and J intervention should be the .agreement on volun"■"H £^ r - ls . not rapidly followed by banning propaganda and ° ia * assistance it must be danlrl consequences, and be compelled to ,ret.b 6 question. The GovernfSires to underline the last a Ji. ons ’ hoping thereby to f i 6 : esse ntial measures. Acif the governments agree o PP°rt unen ess of removing '( p^n ! non-Spanish combaPphtical volunteers, propaWmStT 8 ’ agitators, Italy is ready bhis initiative, which the fvontion Committee should ? examine.