VOLUNTEERS IN SPAIN

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22435, 23 June 1938, Page 11

VOLUNTEERS IN SPAIN

PROGRESS TOWARDS WITHDRAWAL MEETING OF POWERS IN LONDON (BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.) (Received June 22, 10 p.m.) RUGBY, June 21. The chairman’s sub-committee of the International Non-Intervention Committee met to-day, when considerable progress was made towards an agreement on the plan for the withdrawal of volunteers in Spain. The chairman (the Earl of Plymouth) reminded the committee that at its last meeting it discussed three questions—the method _of counting and classifying foreign volunteers; the date of the restoration of the international observation on the French and Spanish frontier, and the strengthening of the sea observation scheme —and agreement had been reached on the two first points, subject to unanimity being obtained later on the third. In the interval he had had further discussions with representatives on certain proposals which he believed would render the sea scheme thoroughly effective—namely, that arrangements should be made for observing officers to be permanently stationed in a limited number of the principal Spanish ports, and that the Non-Intervention Board should be given means to secure constant supervision of Spanish ports engaged in foreign trade with technical facilities for unloading war materials.

All representatives then intimated that their governments were prepared to accept the forgoing proposals for strengthening the sea observation scheme, thereby securing complete agreement on the other two questions discussed at the last meeting.

The Soviet representative stated that his Government, while not fully satisfied with the latest proposal on sea control, regarded it as a step toward its point of view and was prepared therefore in the spirit of compromise to accept it. The sub-committee then disposed of all the remaining questions in the draft resolution, embodying the committee’s plan for the withdrawal of foreign volunteers. There was also a preliminary exchange of views on the finance of the plan, and it was hoped that the decision on this question would be reached at Friday’s meeting.