WITHDRAWAL OF VOLUNTEERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 45, 22 August 1938, Page 9

WITHDRAWAL OF VOLUNTEERS

PROVISIONAL ACCEPTANCE

DEMAND FOR BELLIGERENT RIGHTS FIRST

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received August 22, noon.)

RUGBY, August 21

world obvious proof of its effective collaboration in the laudable efforts of the Committee, it is disposed as from now to increase to 10,000 the number of foreigners to be withdrawn immediately, subject to reasonable and fair measures of reciprocity on the part of the Red faction and to proper guarantees that neither should return to Spain, and on, the basis of the prior granting of belligerent rights."

The Note makes an offer, which it describes as an extraordinary concession, to respect the establishment of two safety ports in the enemy zone and also takes the opportunity to offer co-operation with the object of defending these ports and limiting as far as may be practicable the conception of military objectives in relation to aerial bombardments. The Note also suggests regulations j for this difficult problem with a view to causing the least possible damage both to neutral nations and to the Spanish civilian population. The Note claims to have demonstrated by these concessions the Burgos Government's sincere desire to assist the Non-Intervention Committee in the great task imposed upon it of ensuring that the Spanish problem shall not disturb the peace of Europe, and proceeds to make suggestions for an improvement of the Committee's plan. CLAIMED AS RIGHT. It is recalled that in the Note of November 18, 1937, the granting of belligerent rights was deemed to be a right, and after a repetition of arguments in support pf this claim, the Note says: "The Burgos Government cannot, however great its willingness for conciliation, agree to granting of belligerent rights in the form proposed. It demands as a prior condition to the withdrawal plain that this right which is a consecration of an undoubted fact should be granted in, all its fullness and not subject to conditions, since there is no question of a favour capjable of discussion but of a well-found-■ed right without previous recognition '. of which, * free from any restriction, the Burgos Government would lack sufficient personality to enter into an agreement such as the one now offered it and would find itself subject to obligations without receiving any adequate equivalent." The Note sets out reasons in support of the contention that a proportional withdrawal of volunteers as proposed by the Committee is impracticable and suggests the withdrawal from both sides of an equal number of foreign volunteers as the sole practicable procedure. There would thereby be attained, it is claimed, an identical elimination of foreign volunteers on both sides, although it would be necessary to strengthen this withdrawal with guarantees such as do not figure in the Committee's present plan. The Note expresses the view that the proposed closing of frontiers should be permanent and without any condition which might limit it, and that vigilance on the frontiers should be strengthened in order to avoid the infringements which have occurred in the past. SEA CONTROL SCHEME. The Note is critical in particular of the sea control scheme and suggests the transference of control from Spanish ports to the ports of departure of shipping, adding that the best solution of this problem would be full recognition of the rights of belligerency, so that the two sides, as the interested parties, would control, oh their own behalf, all contraband with a zeal that nothing could surpass.

The Note raises objections to the tentative proposal for air observation. The tßurgos Government also reserves the right to formulate other observations of detail which it considers would be useless to mention until it sees a satisfactory solution of the fundamental observations it has put forward in a past Note. '<■

"If, as cannot be doubted^" states the Note, "the nations represented on the Non-intervention Committee aim at obviating the danger of conflict extending to other countries, National Spain will give to this* end, as it is at present doing, all facilities compatible with its rights which cannot be waived."

Finally, the Note declares that National Spain has "solemnly reiterated its former affirmation that it is fighting for the greatness and independence of the country and does not consent, and never will consent, to the slightest mortgage on its soil or on its economic life, and that it will defend at all times to the last handful its territory, protectorates, and colonies if anyone dares to make an attempt against them."

General Franco's Note in reply to the proposal for the withdrawal of volunteers from Spain has been published. It recalls that the Nationalists accepted in principle the November proposal for the withdrawal of an equal number of foreign volunteers on each side and proposed to start with a figure of 3000. "The new proposal having been adopted by the Non-intervention Committee at its plenary session on July 5," continues the Note, "the Burgos Government repeats its acceptance in principle of the withdrawal of foreign volunteers and, as authentic evidence of the practical worth of the said declaration and its desire to offer the /