REPORTS NOT CONFIRMED

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21989, 13 January 1937, Page 9

REPORTS NOT CONFIRMED

LANDING OF GERMANS AT CEUTA FRANCE READY TO ACT IMMEDIATELY (UJUTED PIIKSS A.SSOCIATIOH—COPYRIGHT.) (Received January 12, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, January 11. It is stated in London that the British Government is unable to confirm from its own sources the information contained in the French reports of the landing of German troops in Spanish Morocco. The Spanish insurgents have had the assistance of German technicians in considerable numbers in the improvement of the fortification of Ceuta, which is owned in full sovereignty by Spain. Indications tending to suggest that the admission of Germans into the Spanish zone in greater numbers may have been contemplated lend interest to the declaration by the Government of Tetuan to the French Consul which 'is cited in messages from Paris. According to this source the insurgent authorities understand the grave international consequences which would follow the admission of a foreign contingent into any part of Morocco. According to a message from Paris, the French Consul in Tetuan (M. Serres) attended a conference with Colonel Beigbeder, the High Commissioner for the Spanish zone, who said that no constituted unit of Germans had landed in Morocco and none was expected. The Paris correspondent of the "Manchester Guardian" says the communique on the French Consul's visit to Colonel Beigbeder concludes: "The statements that Colonel Beigbeder made to the consul show that the authorities in Tetuan are aware that grave international consequences would result from the landing of foreign contingents in any part of Morocco." The sentence shows that France is ready for immediate action if German, or other troops landed in the Spanish zone. Already 100,000 troops have been concentrated in the northern area of French Morocco. Meanwhile France has not pressed for the removal of foreign troops, which are insufficient in number to constitute a menace; but France has clearly intimated that she will not tolerate further infringements of the treaties between France and Spain. A Berlin message says that although attacks on France continue, official diplomatic correspondence adopts a milder tone, emphasising that Germany does not desire to exploit the Spanish war for territorial and imperialistic ends. Germany proposes to end the Spanish war as soon as possible,- avoid international complications in the Mediterranean, and the danger of a degeneration of international relations.