BRITAIN AND FRANCE

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22108, 2 June 1937, Page 9

BRITAIN AND FRANCE

* CLOSE COOPERATION PLANNED PREVENTING REPETITION OF BOMBING GUARANTEES TO BE SOUGHT FROM LOYALISTS (TTNITED PRESS ASSOCIATIOH —COPYRIGHT.) (Received June 1, 9 p.m.) LONDON, May 31. The Paris correspondent of "The Times" says official circles indicate that France will refrain from action until the facts and implications under international law are established. Meanwhile it is intended to act in the closest co-operation with Britain. The British Ambassador (Sir Eric Phipps) has already consulted the Premier (M. Leon Blum), who has conferred with the Russian and Spanish Ambassadors. It is generally felt that even if the Spanish aircraft were at fault, the shelling of Almeria was an inexcusably savage reprisal. The "Daily Mail" says the British and French Governments are in active communication* by telephone, to avert further developments. They are also co-operating in an attempt to obtain an undertaking from the Spanish Government that there will be no repetition of the bombing of warships. The Foreign Secretary (Mr R. A. Eden) sent a message to Valencia emphasising that international peace might be gravely strained by a recurrence of the bombing. His message was sent after an hour's interview with the German Ambassador (Herr von Ribbentrop), who said Germany did not intend to continue the reprisals. Mr Eden said he hoped he would br able to obtain a guarantee against a recurrence, which would satisfy Italy and Germany, and make it possible to maintain the work of the Non-intervention Committee. SERIOUS VIEW IN BRITAIN, "MOST UNFORTUNATE FOR EUROPE" MAXIMUM RESTRAINT DEEMED NECESSARY (BBITISB OJFICIAI WJMHSS.) RUGBY, May 31. The view that the news of the bombing of the German battleship Deutschland at Iviza had caused profound regret in British official circles was expressed to the German Ambassador (Herr von Ribbentrop) by the Foreign Secretary (Mr R. A. Eden). . . There is a feeling that the incident has come at a most unfortunate time for Europe in general, when certain optimism was permissible as a result of the relief of the tension which was noticeable in recent weeks. This feeling of dismay has not been lessened by the policy of retaliation which was immediately adopted by the German Government, and which is deplored here. There is the strongest conviction in London that what the general interest demands above all is the maximum restraint on every country's part. The German representative has sent a letter to the chairman of the Non-intervention Committee containing c statement on the bombing of the Deutschland. The sub-committee met to consider further the question of the security of warships of Powers participating in the observation scheme In British circles the view is taken that there is no question of any change in Germany's attitude to the principle of non-intervention which she still supports, and hopes are expressed that the interruption of her association with the International Committee's work and the naval control scheme will be purely temporary. The bombing of the Deutschland was the subject of a private question in the House of Commons to which the Foreign Secretary replied; "I am not yet in receipt of the full reports in regard to the incident, and I should prefer to make no further statement at present. I have asked the German Charge d'Affaires to represent to his Government the earnest hope of His Majesty's Government that the German Government would take no such action as would render the present grave situation graver still." NO HOPE OF LEAGUE ACTION UNITY OF FRONT URGED IN MADRID (Received June 1, 11.30 p.m.) MADRID, June 1. The newspapers are most indig nant over the shelling of Almeria. Not a single paper expresses any hope for action by the League of Nations or by France and Britain. They therefore call for unity of the Popular Front against the Fascist invaders.