BRITAIN ID SPAIN

Evening Star, Issue 22802, 10 November 1937, Page 9

BRITAIN ID SPAIN

APPOINTMENT OF AGENTS NO QUESTION OF RECOGNITION OF GENERAL FRANCO Press Association —By Telegrapn—Copyright LONDON, November 8. In the House of Commons, Mr C. R. Attlee asked whether Mr Eden had consulted other Powers, especially France, with regard to agents in Spain. Mr Eden replied: “ France made no representations against the step, though we informed them some time ago.” Mr A. Y. Alexander (Lab.) moving the adjournment later in the evening, said: “The decision to exchange missions with General Franco goes far towards recognition, and is likely to prejudice the situation in Spain and endanger British interests. The Government’s policy has been one of a long series of diplomatic retreats. General Franco has only to seize a few more ships to get recognition, with an Ambassador in Britain.” Mr Eden interrupted Mr Alexander to say that the Government gave General Franco no recognition whatever. Mr Alexander replied that world opinion regarded the action as at least a move in that direction. PROTEST BY LOYALISTS LONDON, November 9. The Australian Associated Press correspondent understands that the Spanish Ambassador called on Mr Eden and protested vigorously against the British negotiations with General Franco. PROTEST FROM FRANCE UNLIKELY NO REASON FOR SUSPICION. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, November 9. (Received November 10, at 11 a.tn.) The debate in the House of Commons on the motion for the adjournment concluded with a division, resulting; For the Government, 241; against the Government, 107. In winding up the debate, which was devoted to a discussion on the Government’s statement on the exchange of trade agents with General Franco, Mr Eden emphasised that the exchange involved no breach of non-intervention. He deprecated the attempt by one Opposition member to create suspicion regarding the negotiations with General Franco. It was very unlikely, he said, that France would make representations against the proposed move because its representation in General Franco’s territory had been better than Britain’s. Britain’s relations with France were, and he was confident they would continue to be, so close and so intimate that there was no question of a matter of this kind, . important, to Britain’s trading and not of great international significance, having the effect suggested. TRADE WORTH PROTECTING LONDON, November 9. (Received November 10, at. 10 a.m.) Mr Eden, in the House of Commons, referring to the appointment of agents, said British trade with General Franco’s Spain was worth £2,000,000 from January to September. It was worth normal steps to protect it. The task of the agents was limited to trade.