A DIFFICULT CHOICE

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 155, 29 December 1936, Page 7

A DIFFICULT CHOICE

GERMANY'S DECISION

REPORTED ITALIAN REPLY

LONDON, December 27,

The diplomatic correspondent of "The Times" says that the AngloFrench request to Berlin, Rome, Lisbon, and Moscow urges an agreement to enforce a simultaneous prohibition on the enlistment of nationals on either side in Spain after an agreed date in the first half of Jahuary. The only acknowledgment so far received in London is that of Count Ciano, the Italian Foreign Minister, that he was unable to reply immediately.

The Berlin correspondent of "The Times" says it is intimated at Berehtesgaden, where Herr Hitler is staying, that the communication is unlikely to be considered until after the holidays. Meanwhile German leaders will have .had in mind the difficult choice presented by a survey of the situation by General Faupel, German representative with General Franco, who has not disguised the fact that military experts believe the present scale of support to General Franco is insufficient to decide the issue, and that aqcordingly supporters of the insurgents must either withdraw or enter into far more extensive commitments.

The Rome correspondent of "The Times" says it is believed that Count Ciano explained to Sir Eric Drummond, British Ambassador, that Italy raised the point of volunteers in August, when she insisted that really efficacious non-intervention should cover every type of assistance. A more definite reply will be made when Signor Mussolini has studied the matter, but the suggestion is not rated highly as it is considered that an agreement will be difficult to enforce and may become masked one-sided intervention. Newspapers approvingly print unfavourable German Press comment.

A message from Rome states that the Italian airman, Count Rossi, has left Majorca. It is expected that one of the points of the Anglo-Italian Pact will be Italy's reaffirmation of her, intention to evacuate the Balearic Islands.