SPANISH WARNING

Evening Star, Issue 25750, 25 March 1946, Page 5

SPANISH WARNING

France Inciting to War

"Slave of the Slavic Moloch"

[(Rec. 11.55 a.m.) LONDON, March 24. The Spanish Government to-day warned Britain and America of the " danger " of the French militarypreparations allegedly taking place on the frontier between the two countries, says the Associated Press . Madrid correspondent. The Spanish Government rejected in advance responsibility for any consequences of the alleged preparations. It is understood that these representations were presented verbally by the Spanish Ambassadors, in London and Washington to the British Foreign Office and the American State Department. The British and American Governments were informed, too, that Spain would in no way provoke any action, but at the same time was watching French activity and making the necessary preparations on her own side. The Madrid newspaper, ' A.8.C.,' in a front-page editorial headed "Terrorism Schools in France," asserts: "The Thorez Government, the flagbearer and perhaps the slave of the Slavic Moloch, is mobilising guerrillas against Spain while organising a war which would turn over the south-western part of Europe to Moscow." Reuter's Madrid correspondent reports that the arrest of 27 " Spanish Republican saboteurs " has led to allegations here that they are part of a group of 40 armed Spanish " maquisards " said to have entered Spain after receiving commando training in guerrilla warfare and sabotage at special schools in France. The group of 40, of whom 13 are still at large, were allegedly supplied with arms and ammunition from a secret dump on the Spanish side of the frontier. They later split up into two smaller parties in an effort to evade the Spanish civil guards hunting for them. The Associated Press Lisbpn correspondent says that despite pressure by Franco to have him removed from Portugal, Don Juan has had his permit extended for a further six months' stay. Don Juan's spokesman said: "We know Franco has been putting pressure on Portugal against Don Juan's presence here —but Portugal is a free country."