CONSTERNATION IN SPAIN

Evening Star, Issue 25089, 2 February 1944, Page 5

CONSTERNATION IN SPAIN

SUSPENSION OF OIL SHIPMENTS RELATIONS WITH AXIS MAY BE REVISED (Rec. 11.10 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 1. Fallowing the United, States Government's decision to suspend oil shipments to Spain, the Spanish radio announced that the consumption of liquid fuel throughout Spain was restricted "in the face of'unforseen circumstances." American oil experts calculate that Spain has stocks, including military'reserves, to last barely two months. America's decision to suspend oil shipments is reported' to have caused consternation in Madrid. A neutral diplomat who reached Tangier yesterday told the ' Daily Express ' correspondent that the Foreign Ministry in Madrid is in a state of confusion. He added that most of the neutral diplomats believe that General Franco intends to sharply revise his relationship with the Axis now that he knows that the Allies mean business. This diplomat disclosed that Spain has already agreed to Britain's request to remove all Germans from Algeriras, which overlooks Gibraltar, and that Spain will break with the Axis this week. He added that the move was being forced by increasing pressure from Britain and the United States, and he knew that Spain would yield to Allied insistence. Reuter's diplomatic correspondent, however, says reports that Spain is about to break with the Axis gain no credence in London. There is no evidence available here pointing to any readiness on the part of Spain to take such a step in the near future, he says. According to Tokio radio, Hans von Moltke, the German Ambassador to Spain, assured General Jordana (Foreign Minister) last' Saturday that Germany will supply Spain with the materials needed if Britain and America impose an embargo. The American Office of War Information points out that von Moltke, who was appointed Ambassador to Spain in January last year, died two months later.

BRITAIN IN AGREEMENT

LONDON, January 31. The 'British Ambassador in Spain, Sir Samuel Hoare, had a very frank conversation with General Franco during the last few days, in which he declared that Britain was in full agreement with America's decision to suspend oil shipments to Spain, say the diplomatic correspondents of the morning papers. Sir Samuel reiterated the British views on the detention of Italian ships, the presence of Spanish volunteers in Russia and the activities of German agents and anti-British elements in Spain.

IReuter's Madrid correspondent says that the Spanish Ambassador in London, the Duke of Alba, arrived in Madrid by air. The Rome radio, commenting on the Spanish situation, says: " Spam must sulbmit or fight. She has an example of the American republics and Argentina, and it is her turn to bend the knee or die. There can be no doubt which course Falangist Spain will follow."