GRAVE POSITION IN SPAIN

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 99, 20 January 1939, Page 9

GRAVE POSITION IN SPAIN

Demand For Calling Of

Parliament

ITALO-GERMAN HELP FOR REBELS

Chamberlain Refuses To

Alter Policy

(British Official Wireless.)

RUGBY, January 13

The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. C. R. Attlee, in a letter to Mr. Chamberlain today, requested, that Parliament should be immediately summoned, in view of the gravity of the situation in Spain, where he fears there is grave danger of •famine, making it necessary, in his view, “to concert measures of relief in co-operation with other countries.”

Mr. Attlee’s letter declared: “The continued use of Italian and German troops and munitions to ensure the Italian intention that general Franco should be victorious) proves that non-intervention is now only a method by which the republicans are prevented from defending themselves against the aggression of a foreign Power.”

Mr. Chamberlain, replying, says he has given careful consideration to the request, which apparently was based on the view that the time had come when the policy of non-intervention should be reversed and the embargo on the supply of arms and munitions to the Spanish Government removed. In the Government’s opinion, such a course would inevitably lead to the extension of the conflict, with consequences which could not be accurately foreseen, but which would admittedly be grave. “The Government is not, as at present advised, prepared to adopt such a course, and, in these circumstances, it sees no advantage in anticipating the day on which Parliament is due to meet in less than a fortnight. International Help. “As regards the question of the danger of famine in republican Spain, the Government has recently been in consultation with other Governments, particularly with America, with a view to the possibility of concerting international help on the large scale contemplated by the Spanish Government and set out In the Bray-Webster report. , , .. “As a result, it seems clear that there is a present no chance of a scheme being organized on this basis, and such a scheme would, in any case, take a very long time to organize effectively. “We have, however, already joined with other Governments in helping to finance the work of unofficial organizations already in the field, and we propose to continue this policy. The Government will continue to watch the situation in Spain as it develops, and if, in its view, the circumstances should demand an alteration in the date it, will not hesitate to recommend Mr. Speaker to call the House together at short notice.” DEMONSTRATIONS IN

WHITEHALL British Labour Urges Opening Of Frontier LONDON, January 18.

The National Executive of the Labour Party passed a resolution protesting against the Italo-German violation of the non-intervention policy and urging the opening of the Spanish-French frontier and the removal of the embargo on the sale of arms to the republicans.

Mounted police used batons to disperse a crowd of pro-loyalist demonstrators which was attempting to break the cordon and enter Downing Street.

After the demonstration, two were permitted to present a petition at No. 10, urging the sending of arms to Spain.