DEVELOPMENTS IN SPAIN

Evening Star, Issue 22798, 5 November 1937, Page 9

DEVELOPMENTS IN SPAIN

BRITAIN’S ATTITUDE TOWARDS FRANCO EXCHANGE OF AGENTS ARRANGED OPTIMISM IN SALAMANCA Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyrigtr LONDON, November 4. The Salamanca correspondent of 1 The Times ' says: “ Official circles at Salamanca are most optimistic about developments in the international situation, particularly with regard to the attitude of Britain, with which some form of agreement is clearly taking shape. It is realised that there is no possibility as yet of de jure recognition of General Franco on the part of Britain, nor is de facto recognition an accurate description of the arrangement which it is believed will shortly be concluded. It is understood that it would be merely a simple agreement for the exchange of agents and subagents between the two Governments, the agents armed with most of the usual diplomatic privileges and the sub-agents exercising the normal consular functions. The greatest importance is attached to such a step on the part of Britain, as it is felt that many countries are looking to Britain for a lead in the matter.” The ‘ Daily Herald’s ’ diplomatic correspondent argues that an exchange of agents means that Britain has decided to accord General Franco de facto recognition. “ The British Government, having decided that General Franco is going to win, has also decided to placate him,” it says. The British agent, according to the ‘ Herald,’ will be Sir Robert Hodgson, and General Franco’s the Duke of Berwick and Alba. Sir Robert Hodgson, adds the ‘ Herald, will be styled “ official agent,” which, it is pointed out, was his title as British Minister and title as British representative at Moscow from 1921 to 1924, when the Soviet , was recognised de facto, but not de jure. “ The British decision to recognise General Franco is monstrous and disgraceful,” says the ‘ Herald.’ “It is giving him a status he does not possess. It is also playing . into the very hands of which have deeply committed themselves in an attempt to destroy Spanish democracy.” CAPTURED BRITISH VESSELS . ORDERS FOR RELEASE. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, November 3. In the House of Commons Viscount Cranborne named seven British ships which were captured and detained in ports under the control of General Franco, and intimated that, as the result of representations, the Nationalist authorities had stated that orders had been issued for the release of all these vessels. WITHDRAWAL OF FOREIGN VOLUNTEERS NEW NON-INTERVENTION PLAN. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, November 4. (Received November 5, at 11.15 a.m.) As the result of the plenary session of tho Non-intervention Committee, Lord Plymouth is communicating to the 'British Government proposals in accordance with a resolution agreed to at the last meeting of the sub-com-mittee for transmission to .the two parties in Spain. Tjie committee, before adjourning, agreed to his asking tho British Government to treat the matter as one of urgency. The full committee approved the resolution submitted to it by the sub-committee, but the Soviet Ambassador, as before, abstained from voting in respect to those parts of the text relating to belligerent rights. The resolution provides for the immediate approach to the Spanish parties to secure their concurrence in the proposals, firstly, for the withdrawal under international supervision of all non-Spanish combatants, and secondly, for the despatch to each side in Spain of two commissions to estimate the number of volunteers, to concert the withdrawal arrangements with the Spanish authorities, and to carry out in a manner determined by the Non-intervention Committee withdrawal from both sides in accordance with the proportions of the numbers serving each side In seeking the parties’ concurrence the chairman will inform them that each of the non-intervention Powers will grant them belligerent rights according to the British plan—that is, after the withdrawals have made substantial progress and are proceeding satisfactorily. The resolution further provides, firstly, that as from a date to be determined by the Non-intervention Committee shortly before the withdrawal of non-Spanish nationals begins observation on the Franco-Spanish and Portuguese-Spanish frontiers should be restored and strengthened, simultaneously with the adoption of measures to strengthen the sea observation scheme, and, secondly, that each of the participating Governments should reaffirm its ■ existing engagements not to permit tho despatch from, or transit through or over its territories of arms or war material covered by the non-intervention agreement, or of non-Spanish nationals proposing to proceed for the purpose of taking part in the conflict. The committee also agreed to-day, pending replies from the Spanish parties, that the sub-committee should continue examinations of concrete questions in connection with the proposals, also the question of the situation arising from the abstention of Russia from acceptance of that part of them referring to belligerent rights.

THE ITALIAN VIEWPOINT (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, November 4(Received November 5, at noon.) Signor Grandi said tho Soviet attempted at the last minute to camouflage refusal with so-called abstention. It must not be thought that tho British plan was regarded as an ideal solution, but the Italian Government had seen in the plan perhaps the last possible attempt to conciliate the different viewpoints Italy’s acceptance was still conditional on unreserved acceptance by all the members; therefore the committee was not in a position to execute the plan until cither the Soviet accepted or the Powers agreed to measures for facing the serious consequences of Soviet abstention. NEGOTIATIONS CONFIRMED STATEMENT BY MR CHAMBERLAIN. LONDON, November 4. (Received November 5, at 10.5 a.mj Mr Chamberlain, in the House of Commons, confirmed the negotiations with General Franco for the appointment of agents for the discussion of questions affecting British interests and nationals. The agents will have no diplomatic status. The Government has no intention of varying its attitude towards the contending parties. Mr Attlee asked if this meant in effect de facto recognition of the insurgent Government. The Prime Minister: “ No, sir. I am advised that it makes no difference in the existing situation.” On the appointment of agents in Spain, he said, the Government had no intention of making any variation in the attitute it had consistently adopted to the contending parties. It was, however, bound to take account of its responsibilities for the protection of British nationals and commercial interests throughout Spain, including those largo areas in the north-west and south-west, as well as the Spanish zone of Morocco, of which. General Franco’s forces were now in effective occupation. Accordingly, the Government had entered into negotiations for the appointment of agents by them and General Franco respectively. ‘ NOT DIPLOMATIC RECOGNITION REASON FOR DELAY IN ANNOUNCEMENT. LONDON, November 4. (Received November 5, at 10 a.m.) The Australian Associated Press learns that the delay in announcing British and insurgent representation is due to the determintaion first to clear up the bombing of the Jean Weems. The Salamanca authorities have promised a searching inquiry and Britain is awaiting a satisfactory outcome. It is emphasised by Whitehall that representation does not mean diplomatic recognition of General Franco. The position will be similar to Abyssinia. REBELS BOMB BARBASTRO MADRID, November 4. (Received November 5, at 8 a.m.) Insurgent planes bombed Barbastro, near Lerida and machine-gunned people in the streets. Seventy were killed and many wounded. A number of buildings were destroyed. ATTACK OK FRENCH SKIP REBEL PLANE DRIVEN OFF. BARCELONA, November 4. (Received November 5, at 1.5 p.m.) A running air fight off Mataro followed an attack from the air on the French merchantman La Corse, which refused to stop when ordered to abandon ship by a three-engined waoplane, which dived down, bombed, and machine-gunned the decks, wounding some of the orew, which sent out an SOS to Barcelona, and then took to the boats. Meanwhile three Government fighters engaged , tho warplane. One Government machine was shot down, and the pilot parachuted to the sea, where he was rescued by a fisherman. Two French warships went at full speed from Barcelona, but the warplane had been driven off when they reached the La Corse, to which tho crew returned. The ship is now heading for Marseilles.