FRANCO REGIME

Evening Star, Issue 25676, 27 December 1945, Page 5

FRANCO REGIME

BRITAIN AND U.S. MISLIKE IT BUT NOT PREPARED FOR BREAK (Rec. 11.50 a.m.) LONDON, Dee. 26,. It is officially confirmed that Britain replied last week to the French Note on relations with Spain. - (Reuter's diplomatic correspondent says'the reply, it is believed, did not recommend breaking off diplomatic relations at present, on the ground that a. diplomatic break would rally Spanish opinion behind Franco. It is believed that the British reply made no secret of the Government’s dislike for the Fiaoco regime, or its desire to see a r n plnced by a stable democratic Government at the earliest moment.

A Paris message says the French News Agency announced that Britain and America have accepted the French proposal for ■ tripartite negotiations to discuss policies jn relation to France’s Spanish Government. The arinitmoement, citing no source, said the British and American Ambassadors delivered the replies of their countries to M. Bidauli last Monday, The American reply is reported to have st it-cl that the United States had no sympathy for the Franco regime, but it did not mention breaking off relations. The British reply is reported to have said that Britain was willing to tieg itiate With France, but “for reasons of principle,” was unwilling to intervene iu Spanish internal affairs.