BRITISH SHIPS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 4, 5 July 1938, Page 11

BRITISH SHIPS

REBELS SUGGEST ALMERIA

OWNERS' OPINIONS SOUGHT

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received July 5, 10.40 a.m.) RUGBY, July 4. In the absence of the Prime Minister, who has gone to Leeds to receive an honorary degree, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Johnj Simon, announced in the House of Commons that the British agent in Spain, Sir Robert Hodgson, had brought General Franco's reply in reference to the bombing of British ships. "Sir Robert Hodgson arrived in London on Thursday and since then has been engaged in consultation with the Foreign Secretary and his advisers," he said, "These consultations are still progressing, and the House will not expect me to do more at the moment than give a summary of the reply from Burgos. "The reply maintains that ports are legitimate military objectives, but strongly, disclaims any intention to single out British ships as objectives for attack. "The reply goes on to make certain proposals for according immunity from attack to a port to be agreed upon and the suggestion is made that this port might be Altneria. ' "The Burgos authorities ask for suitable guarantees concerning the nature of merchandise to be admitted through that port, and concludes by emphasising readiness to put forward proposals which may be helpful in establishing, new laws of war for the future. "I would only add that.the shipping interests concerned have been informed of the proposals in this Note, and Britain will naturally take their views into account." Answering supplementary questions, Sir John Simon suggested that they should be deferred until Mr. Chamberlain was able to attend.

The Foreign Secretary will preside at a full meeting of the Non-interven-tion Committee tomorrow at which the British plan for restoring land and sea •control of the Spanish frontiers and the withdrawal of non-Spanish combatants comes up for final approval.