SPANISH REPUBLICANS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 34, 10 February 1939, Page 9

SPANISH REPUBLICANS

"ALL NOT LOST YET"

MADRID POSITION OBSCURE

(By Telegraph—Press Association —CopvrlehM (Received February 10, 11.15 a.m.) LONDON, February 9. A message from Perpignan states that, gathering for the last time on Catalonian soil, the skeleton republican Cabinet met in a tiny house in Le Perthus early this morning, after which Senor Del Vayo, the Foreign Minister, announced the conditions under which the republicans would make peace. He declared that the Government was willing to end the war provided safety was assured for all foreigners to leave Spain immediately and all Spaniards were allowed to choose their own form of government by means of a plebiscite. He added that everything was not yet lost. The southern zone had not surrendered and was not asking for a separate peace. General Rojo, in order to hold up the nationalists and allow the Cabinet meeting to be held, threw the last two corps of the Ebro army across the Le Perthus road south of La Junquera. This was the last stand of the eastern army, which is now retreating to France. ( . • The position in the Madrid zone is obscure althoiigh General Miaja is reported to have declared his determination to continue his resistance. A message from Paris states that he applied for a French passport of safe conduct indicating that the central zone was preparing to capitulate. The Paris correspondent of the "Daily Mail" says that General Miaja is already reported to have opened peace talks, seeking conditions under which the armies in Madrid and central Spain would lay down their arms. The republican Premier, Dr. Negrin, is still in Spain, but only by five yards. He is now installed with other members of the Government in a house on the Spanish side of the main street of Le Perthus, says a special eorrespqndent of the "Daily Mail" on the scene. Dr. Negrin admitted that events were now moving fast, but declared that he was determined to be the last Catalan to quit the country. President Azana arrived in Paris and immediately had a conference with republicans at the Spanish Embassy. After the conference it was denied that General Miaja had made contact with General Franco with a view to 'negotiating for the surrender of Central Spain. It was added that there was no question of unconditional surrender.