SPANISH APOLOGY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 147, 18 December 1943, Page 6

SPANISH APOLOGY

INCIDENT AT SARAGOSSA

RUGBY, December 16.

The terms of the British reply to the Spanish Note about the Saragossa incident were made known to the HousV of Commons by the Under-Secretary of the Foreign Office, Mr. George Hall. The British Vice-.Consiilate. was en|tered by men in Falangist uniform, who assaulted the Vice-Consul and a woman assistant. Mr. Hall said that the British Ambassador, Sir Samuel Hoare, at once made a vigorous protest, demanding an apology and punishment of the culprits. . ■ ; The Ministry of Foreign Affairs replied, expressing regret and stating that urgent instructions had been given not only as regards punishment of the culprits, but also prevention -of the repetition of such incidents. The Spanish Note proceeded, however, to claim that jthe incidents were to be attributed neither to the Falangist Party nor to I the Spanish Government, and that the directors of a political party, whether in power or not. could not be made responsible for every act carried out by any of its members. fr The Ambassador had been instructed to reply that the British Government, while noting the expression of regret and that the guilty will be punished, cannot accept the, disclaimer of responsibility or the view that the| Spanish Government was not respon-j sible for the protection of the Vice-j Consulate against rufflians wearing uniforms of an official party.—B.O.W.