MEDIATION IMPOSSIBLE

Evening Star, Issue 22720, 6 August 1937, Page 9

MEDIATION IMPOSSIBLE

SPANISH GiVSL WAR LOYALISTS WILL FIGHT TO BITTER EHD Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright VALENCIA, August 5. “ Spain will demand at the next meeting of the League that the Covenant be applied against aggressors,” declared Senor del Vayo, who was interviewed by dominion journalists. He described the recent fighting west of Madrid as the greatest operation in the civil war, and added: “ We are no longer fighting General Franco. We are fighting between 80,000 and 100,000 Italians and possibly 10,000 German technicians. The presence of Italians and Germans has produced a patriotic reaction among General Franco’s troops. Officers who have .come over to us said: ‘We started a military rebellion because we disagreed with your policy, but when General Franco made the Italian and German instrument we joined you. Shoot us if you like.’ ” Senor del Vayo reiterated that mediation was impossible, as the loyalists would fight to the bitter end. “Wo are certain of victory.” VALENCIA GOVERNMENT SPECIAL COUNCIL IN NORTHERN SPAIN. LONDON, August 5. The Barcelona correspondent of ‘ The Times’ reports that the Valencia Government is creating a special council to represent it in Northern Spain. It will he empowered to take urgent decisions without reference to Valencia. Its headquarters will probably be Santander. The decision is due to the isolation of the loyal territory along the Cantabrian coast from the rest of Valencia-controlled Spain. REPATRIATION OF BASQUE CHILDREN DIFFICULTY IN LOCATING PARENTS. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, August 5. (Received August 6, at 1 p.ra.) The question of the repatriation of the Basque refugee children in the United Kingdom has been discussed between the Foreign Office and the National Joint Committee for Spanish Relief, in view of reports that conditions in Bilbao shortly will be sufficiently normal for the children to return home. Matters, however, are somewhat complicated by tbe fact that many of the parents have left Bilbao and are scattered in other parts of Spain. BODIES IN LAKE SCENE OF FIERCE FIGHTING. MADRID, August 5. (Received August G, at 11.30 a.m.) The Government has decided to drain the lake in the Casa Do Campo, which was the scene of some of the fiercest fighting, and is believed to contain over 500 bodies. TAKING THE RISK BRITISH SHIP REACHES SANTANDER. LONDON, August 5. (Received August 6, at 1 p.m.) The Santander correspondent of ‘The Times’ says: “ Disregarding warnings from a British destroyer about what she insisted was a “ nonexistent danger,” the Newcastle steamship Hilmfren entered Santander, the first British vessel to arrive there for 34 days, with a cargo of foodstuffs. She was warmly welcomed. VATICAN’S ATTITUDE TO FRANCO’S GOVERNMENT ROME, August 5. (Received August 6, at 1.20 p.m.) The official Vatican spokesman, with reference to the reports of the Vatican’s recognition of General Franco’s Government, said it was true that the Vatican approved of the choice of Senor Churruca as General Franco’s representative at the Holy See. It was also true that the Pope sent to Nationalist Spain Monsignor Antoniutti, who had been instructed to attend to church interests in the territory occupied by General Franco’s troops, but neither of these representatives had been granted the diplomatic immunity automatically resulting from normal diplomatic relations. It might be said that there is recognition de facto, but not do jure, by the Vatican of the Salamanca Government. Diplomatic circles closely in contact with the Vatican believe that this distinction is made by the Church to avoid antagonising Valencia, thereby protecting Catholics under Valencia’s authority.