CALL TO MADRID REFUSED

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 127, 22 February 1939, Page 9

CALL TO MADRID REFUSED

Spanish Premier Sends Ultimatum “DOING EVERYTHING a TO PROMOTE PEACE” By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. LONDON, February 20. The Premier of republican Spain, Dr. Negrin, states the Paris’ correspondent of the British United Press, telegraphed to President Azana in Paris asking him, in the name of the republic, to go to Madrid at the earliest possible moment in order to assure the normal constitutional working of the Government. He added that public order had been fully restored and that the populace was faithful to the Government’s decisions. President Azana conferred in secret with the former Ministers, Senor Portela Valladares and Senor Jose Giral, and also with Senor Barrio, President ’of the Cortes, who approved of Senor Azana’s refusal to go to Madrid.

Senor Azana read an ultimatum to Dr. Negrin in which he stated that he was doing everything to promote peace, and added that when France recognized General Franco de jure he would resign the Presidency and become a private citizen. A message from Toulouse states that officers of the loyalist General Staff and members of the Cortes left for Valencia, determined to continue the fight for liberty. Franco’s Future Office. It is stated in well-informed circles that General Franco is handing over the Premiership to his brother-in-law, Senor Serrano Suner, at present Minister of the Interior, and that General Franco will remain head of the State and of the army, says a message from Perpignan.

The “Daily Express” understands that the Prime Minister has offered to Lord Swinton the ambassadorship to General Franco, and that if he accepts it will be announced simultaneously with recognition of General Franco. Ships Released. On the application of a representative of General Franco, the Admiralty Court released 11 Spanish merchant ships which had been arrested at various British ports under a writ granted to the Spanish Government. The application for release was not opposed. , „ According to a St. Jcan-de-Luz messfl.se, the ua.tiona.list tiuthoiities liflve closed the frontier against the entry of military refugees. Five Savoia planes dropped 50 bombs on the British-owned port of Gandia, says a Valencia message. Almeria was bombed seven times yesterday, Mr. Ernest Golding, British ProConsul at San Sebastian, and his wife, who, together with the French wife of a nationalist army officer, were arrested in connection with the consular bag incident last month, have been released on parole, states a Burgos message. _________