JOINT ACTION BY THREE POWERS

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24815, 4 March 1946, Page 5

JOINT ACTION BY THREE POWERS

Reuter’s Paris correspondent reports that the French Cabinet has agreed to the principles expressed in the United States Note to England and France, particularly those regarding recognition cl an interim government which might result from a Republican upru . ig in Spain. The British Government has accepted the United States Note, which proposes a tripartite statement by Britain. France, and the United States aganst the Franco regime in Spain. Tie statement would be issued simultaneously in London. Paris, and Washington within the next few days. -he British Ambassador to Washington (Lord Halifax) has seen the United States Secretary of State (Mr James Byrnes) to clear up points of the American Note.

The declaration, under the present proposals, will probably invite General Franco to resign. It will demand free elections and an amnesty for political prisoners, and will offer joint support for a broad-based “caretaker” Government.

Three Spanish Republican leaders — Senor Jose Giral, President of the Spanish Republican Government in

exile, Senor Jose Irla, President of Catalonia, and Senor Antonio Aquirre, President of the Basque Governmenthave issued a manifesto promising popular elections in Spain as soon as possible after the restoration of the Republic. The exiled leaders declared their opposition to any negotiations with parties which do not accept “a completely Republican regime.” The Exchange Telegraph Agency says that trade unionists in Amsterdam and Bucharest, and members of EAM in Athens, have passed resolutions stigmatising the Franco regime and demanding that their governments should break off relations with Spain. The Helsinki radio reports that the Finnish Cabinet will shortly examine the question of a rupture of diplomatic relations with Spain. Five thousand students paraded the business section of Oslo, shouting. “Down with Franco.” An aeroplane dropped leaflets urging the rupture of Norwegian relations with Spain. The Madrid correspondent of the Associated Press reports that the Spanish Communist Party has issued a leaflet calling for strikes and the closing of shops in protest against the Franco regime. Tne leaflets went through the postal service in plain envelopes.