NO STATEMENT YET

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 242, 9 July 1938, Page 11

NO STATEMENT YET

Bombing Of British Ships

TALKS WITH BURGOS NOT COMPLETE

Further Reply Awaited

By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright RUGBY, July 7.

The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. C. R. Attlee) asked the Prime Minister in the House of Commons to-day whether he could now make a full statement in reference to General Franco’s reply to the •British Note on the bombing of British ships in Spanish ports. Mr. Chamberlain said that he was not in a position to do so, since the consultations were not yet complete. tie added: “The British Government has found it necessary to ask Burgos to explain the exact meaning which it attaches to the disclaimer of its intention to make deliberate attacks on British ships.

“Britain has frequently expressed its view that? the deliberate bombing and sinking of merchantmen has never been permitted by international law, still less the machinegunning of their bridges and decks.

"I might add,” he said, “that Burgos has intimated its intention to make practical proposals with the object of humanising warfare as far as possible, and I need hardly say that Britain will give any such, proposals the most sympathetic consideration. Views of Shipowners. “The Chancellor of the Exchequer has already informed the House of Burgos’s suggestion for the establishment under certain restrictive conditions of a safe port at Almeria. Preliminary examination of this suggestion has revealed certain difficulties, such as deficiencies in the facilities afforded by such plan for the discharge of vessels, communications with the rest of Spain, and other factors. The position at the moment is that the Government has under consideration the views of British shipping interests on the subject. “Reply to the inquiry which we have addressed to Burgos must of necessity take several days, but I will keep the House informed of any further developments.”

Mr. Attlee asked Mr. Chamberlain whether there was not danger that the proposal for a special safe port might be taken as an admission of the right to bomb ships in other ports. Mr. Chamberlain replied: “I think that is a consideration which must be kept in mind.” He added that Sir Robert Hodgson, British agent in Spain, was remaining in London until the Government received a further reply from Burgos. Asked whether the .Spanish Government was being consulted, about, these proposals, particularly that regarding the safe port, Mr. Chamberlain replied: “They have not got to that stage yet.”

“NO WITHDRAWAL OF VOLUNTEERS”

Spanish Premier’s View

(Received July 8, 8.45 p.m.)

Barcelona, July 8.

The newspaper “L’Avan Guardia," mouthpiece of M. Negrin, Spanish: Government Premier, says that there will he no withdrawal of volunteers while Germany and Italy continue their intervention. He asks, asuming that infantrymen are withdrawn, what guarantee there will be that foreign aircraft and artillery do not continue assistance. 1 REBEL ADVANCE Burgos, July 7. After the capture of Villaviejar and Nues, the rebel troops are within 13 miles of Sagunto.