FOREIGN VOLUNTEERS

Evening Star, Issue 22542, 9 January 1937, Page 13

FOREIGN VOLUNTEERS

Hi * •% SITUATION IN SPAIN ITALIAN ATTITUDE DEFINED RESPONSE TO ANGLO-FRENCH NOTE Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright ROME, January 7. The Italian Note, which, it is emphasised, was drawn up in contact with Germany, recalls Italy’s fruitless efforts on August 10 and September 9 to prevent subscriptions and volunteers going to Spain. It points out that the question of volunteers is within the competence of, the Non-intervention Committee, which seems the appropriate place to discuss it. Italy wonders whether the committee is worth retaining when its authority and prestige are being so rapidly undermined. The Note, comments on the change in the attitude of Britain and France regarding volunteers, and expresses the opinion that at present the. interdiction of volunteers will only favour the factious hostile to General Franco’s Government, which is insufficiently provided with foreign reinforcements. Italy, however, is ready to agree to the suggestion of Britain and France of an early date for the prohibition of volunteers going to Spain, provided that the agreement will have a general character and is accepted by all Governments and applied to all ports and points of entry into Spain. For that reason Italy is prepared to instruct the Italian representatives on the Non-intervention Committee to enable measures to be taken without delay. The reply adds: The spasmodic and partial measures which Britain and France hitherto, have applied as regards non-intervention can only produce inadequate, uncertain, and dangerous results. Italy reaffirms the conviction that only a totalitarian method of dealing with direct or indirect intervention should be adopted. If an agreement regarding volunteers is not rapidly followed by agreements banning propaganda and financial assistance, it must have dangerous, consequences, and Italy would be; .compelled to re-examine the question. The Government desires to underline the Uast observations, hoping thereby to hasten - essential measures. Accordingly, if the British Government agrees to the opportuneness of removing from Spain non-Spanish combatants, political volunteers, propagandists, and agitators, Italy is ready to support this initiative, which the Non-intervention Committee should immediately examine.

BASIS FOR FURTHER ACTION HOPES DF EARLIER END TO WAR ' (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, January' 8. (Received January 9, at noon.) The German and Italian replies to the Anglo-French Not© will be treated by the British Government as a basis for further action which, it is recognised here, is urgently demanded. At the request of Mr Eden, Herr VToermann called at the Foreign Office last evening. It is understood that Mr Eden desired to ensure that the German Government fully appreciated bow strongly Britain felt that a stop must be put to the flow to Spain of foreign volunteers. There is a growing stiffening of British view in this regard. It is firmly believed if foreign interference and propaganda can be stopped, the war may come to an' early end on more moderate terms of settlement than would otherwise be possible*. The concern that all parties share with the Government regarding the situation arising from the despatch of volunteers to Spain was again, manifested to-day by a visit by members of the Liberal Parliamentary Party to the Foreign Office, where they were received by Mr Eden. On Wednesday the Foreign Secretary saw the leaders of the Labour Party. Both deputations came to. express anxiety regarding the Spanish situation! Newspaper comment shows that the major impression left by a first reading is that the German and Italian answers provide a basis for a further advance towards the conclusion which has been accepted in principle by all. Great emphasis is laid on the need for speedy action. BLOCKADE NOT FEASIBLE A LONDON OPINION LONDON, January 7. The Foreign Secretary (Mr Eden) reported to Mr Baldwin the latest Spanish developments. The ‘ Daily Telegraph’s ’ diplomatic correspondent points out that the control which Italy and Germany suggest requires a blockade of Spain both by land and sea, which is , not considered feasible in London, but it is understood that the Government is considering the possibility of swifter action, including a conference of plenipotentiaries in London to secure a greater degree of non-intervention than is possible with the present committee, in which the ambassador's are forced continually to refer to their Governments upon technical and highly controversial points. This enables a country whjcli feels that its own aims are servable by dila torincss to exploit the committee’s machinery.

The diplomatic correspondent of 4 The Times ’ states that it is believed that if foreign interference and propaganda can be stopped the war may end early on more moderate terms than would be otherwise possible. The AngloItalian Pact, instead of encouraging further despatches of volunteers, enables franker discussions with respect to them. FRENCH OPINION ITALY AND GERMANY PLAYING FOR TIME PARIS, January 8. (Received January 9, at 10.30 a.m.) M. Blum’s ( Populaire ’ is the only newspaper taking an optimistic view of the Italo-German replies. The rest of the Press considers that Italy and Germany are merely playing for time. THE GERMAN PRESS ATTACKS BRITAIN AND FRANCE BERLIN, January 8. (Received January 9, at 10.30 a.m.) The German Press bitterly attacks France and Britain, resenting “attempts to place Germany in the dock,” and declares if France and Britain had followed the German suggestions the Spanish war would now be over. MURDER OF BELGIAN RETURN OF BODY DEMANDED (BRUSSELS, January 8. The Government has sent a Note to the Valencia Government demanding official reparations-from the Spanish Government for the murder of Baron de Borchgrave, First Secretary to the Belgian Embassy at Madrid, who disappeared just before Christmas. His body was found on December 28 in a common grave with 21 others. Identity was established by a trouser tab. He bad been shot twice in the neck. The Note demands an indemnity of £6,666 for the baron’s family and the return of the body to Belgium with full military honours and an- apology, "SPRING MANOEUVRES” NAVAL ACTIVITY AT CEUTA LONDON, January 8. The * News-Chronicle’s ’• Paris correspondent says that the report with respect to the arrival of Germans. at Ceuta reached him from an unimpeachable Spanish-Moroccan source;.. and adds that four French torpedo boats arrived at Casablanca yesterday. Three battleships .are .due to-morrow, and by , January 19 there will he assembled kij addition one cruiser, 23 destroyers, four, torpedo boats, and a number of submarines which has not been revealed., French naval • circles maintain that these are merely the usual spring manoeuvres, which last year were held off Dakar. Nevertheless, they admit that a French fleet would be availableoff the Spanish-Moroccan. coasts if a crisis arose. • GERMAN MARINES LONDON, January 8. German marines have landed at Ceuta (Spanish Morocco), where powerful fortifications have been constructed during the past six weeks under the supervision of German engineers. German warships have recently been increasingly active in visiting all the Spanish-Moroccan ports. ARMS THROUGH MEXICO UNITED STATES PLANES MEXICO CITY, January 8. The Acting Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Senor Ernesto Hidalgo), has announced that Mexico will permit the shipment to Spain of all the United States planes now in Mexico for that purpose’, in addition to 4,7 planes for which the United States issued a permit to Richard Dine ley, a munitions dealer: If these planes, as is now reported, are within an hour’s flying time of the Mexican border and enter that country before the United States cancels the permit, this action, which is a reversal of Mexico’s previous attitude, will result in the fact that the United States has permitted Mr Cuse’s shipment to clear the country. The joint Congressional resolution barring shipments is still unsigned by the Vice-President (Mr J. N. Garner), due to the failure of the Senate to authorise him to sign during the recess from Wednesday to Friday, which was the result of an oversight, but yet, makes the resolution ineffective, [As a means of co-operating with President Roosevelt in a good-neigh-bour policy, President Cardenas oh Monday ordered Customs officials to bar a shipment of United States war material through Mexican ports to Spain.]

RELEASE OF PALOS EXPIRATION OF TIME LIMIT BERLIN, January 8. The time limit for the release of the passengers and cargo taken from the Palos will expire this morning, hut there has been no indication of what steps Germany proposes after the Valencia Government’s failure to comply. No comment appears in this morning’s Berlin newspapers on the expiry .of the - ultimatum.”

NO REPLY BERLIN, January 8. (Received January 9, at 10 a.m.) : No reply has been received to tie German ultimatum regarding the Palos. The. Foreign Office Spokesman stated that apparently the Valenoian Government was ignoring it. “ That settles that for what is is worth,” he said. “ The German reprisals will he much more, striking the next time.” NORWEGIAN SHIP INTERCEPTED GIBRALTAR, January 7. The Norwegian steamer Ibis was intercepted in the Straits by a rebel gunboat, and was compelled to proceed to Algeciras,. where its cargo and papers were inspected. BANGER TO THE CAPITAL MORE ACUTE THAN EVER MADRID, January 7. The Defep.ee Committe admits that the danger to the capital is more acute than ever. Civilian evacuation has been speeded up. The rebels have resumed their advance, and claim that they have gained a further seven miles in the north-west. The Government troops claim that 10,000 Germans with the most modern equipment are leading the attack, HAND-TO-HAND FIGHTING BARCELONA, January 7. The Government forces claim to have occupied the villages of Aracues and Yerta after hand-to-hand fighting on the Huesca front. FRENCH MEDITERRANEAN FLEET A SIGNIFICANT MOVE. PARIS, January 8. (Received January 9, at 10.30 a.m.) The French Mediterranean fleet has been ordered shortly to carry out a cruise of the north coast of Africa, which is regarded as significant in view of the reported German penetration of Morocco. SHIPS HANDED OVER BERLIN, January 8. (Received January 9, at 11 a.m.) It is officially announced that Germany has handed over the ships Aragon and Marta Junquera to General Franco. The incident is considered closed with the handing over of the .vessels to the ijefeelg*