SUPERVISION IN SPAIN

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 February 1937, Page 7

SUPERVISION IN SPAIN

POWERS’ NAVIES’ CORDON BRITAIN AND PORTUGAL [BY CABLE —PBESB ASSN. —COPYBIGHT.] LONDON, Febru'ary 20. According to the diplomatic correspondent of the “Morning Post,” the naval cordon round Spain will be arranged so that the British and Portuguese navies patrol the Bay of Biscay; the French and Russian navies the north-west coast of Spain; the British, French, Russian, and Portuguese navies the southern coast, and the Italian and German navies the eastern coast. The “Daily Telegraph” says it is proposed that the patrolling ships should fly a common “non-interven-tion” flag. Italy, Germany and Portugal,. Belgium, Czechoslovakia, and Greece, have all passed decrees banning volunteers for Spain on pain of imprisonment. A Portuguese communique states: “Opposed to international supervision of her internal life, this, country has nevertheless invited Britain to attach observers to her Embassy: and Consulate. - Portugal chose ‘England because of her attitude to the war in Spain and the confidence she inspires in other Powers; and because of the old alliance uniting her with Portugal.”

PORTUGUESE DECREE RUGBY, February'2o. Press reports reaching London of the laws and decrees issued by the Governments who are. parties to the non-intervention agreement, .indicate it is likely that effect will be given generally to the recommendation of the international committee., that the enrolment, departure, or transit of volunteers for the Spanish civil Avar should be prohibited, from midnight to-night. According to a Lisbon message, the Portuguese Government’s decree provides that Portuguese citizens now in the Spanish, forces must return to Portugal within one month.. The Portuguese Government has published a statement, in which it explains its objections to the scheme of supervision proposed by the international committee. It intimates tfiat, having been pressed by friendly Powers to resolve the difficulties arising from these objections, it has addressed an invitation to the British Government that observers attached to the British Embassy should verify Portugal’s fulfilment of her obligations.. :' Last night, a communique of Lord Plymouth’s committee gave promise that, following this initiative by the Portuguese Government, satisfactory arrangements will be reached.

IRISH FREE STATE. LONDON, February 19. The Dublin correspondent of “The Times” states that in the-' Dail,.' Mr Patrick Belton, leader of the Irish Christian, Front, su r porting an amendment refusing to pass the second, reading of the Non-intervention Bill until the Government had broken off diplomatic . relations with the Caballero Government of Spain, declared that more than 20,000,000 Catholics in the ’ British Empire were awaiting a lead from the Free ’State if Mr de Valera would give that lead. In its Spanish policy the Free State would have the united support of the Empire’s Catholics if there should be a crisis within the Empire. Mr de Valera explained in reply that, the Free State had a Minister accredited to the Caballero Government to safeguard the interests of the Irish nationals. The Bill passed the second, reading by 5G votes to 39. SOVIET AMBASSADOR. MOSCOW, February 19. The Soviet has recalled its Ambassador to Spain (M. Marcel Rosenberg) for “other work.” M. Leon Gaikis, counsellor at the Soviet Embassy in Valencia, succeeds him.

FIGHTING AT MADRID.

LOYALIST SUCCESSES CLAIMED. LONDON, February 20. There was hard fighting in various sectors near Madrid throughout Saturday. Senor Maija, commanding the defences of the capital, declared: “We are not only attacking, but forcing the insurgents to fight where it suits us best. The enemy formerly had the advantage of mobility, which we have neutralised. Our columns on the south Jarama front and at Lamaranosa are advancing slowly, but nevertheless effectively.”

The Madrid correspondent of “The Times” states: The war strain is beginning to tell on the populace. The food problem is going from bad to worse. The whole south-eastern Madrid battlefront is aflame, loyalists launching persistent counter-attacks. Everywhere on the southern front the rebel advance has been checked or forced back. A tribunal of thei Popular Front acquitted S 3 persons captured in a raid on Angel Mountain, accepting them as socialists who had to fight against their will. The public cheered the verdict. The accused joined the Popular Front after one of them broadcast tho result of the trial to the .front, telling his comrades that they would be treated with equal clemency if they surrendered.”

CONSCRIPTION DECREE. (Recd. February 22, 3.15 p.m.) VALENCIA, February 21. Premier Caballero has signed a decree for the conscription of all men aged’ between 23 and 27. At Algeciras, 2500 Moorish troops landed from Ceuta. Three thousand arrived at Malaga in order to participate in the advance upon Almeria. BRITISH UNEMPLOYED. LURED INTO SPAIN. LONDON, February 19. The Avila, correspondent of the “Daily Mail” says that Moscow leaders operating through “puppets" in England stand charged with treachery by 35 British prisoners, captured on the Jarama front by General Franco’s

forces. The correspondent adds that the prisoners’ depositions show how unemployed men were inveigled to Spain by the promise of work. The centre of the web, it is stated, was the British Communist party’s headquarters at Coverit Garden. Each prisoner said he visited the headquarters before being drafted-, abroad. Some were handed week-end tickets' and. pound, notes They came from London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Prestonpans, and. were drafted to France in parties of 20. They were met at Boulogne and were given money and sent to Perpignan by rail, thence by motor and coach to the frontier, stopping a few days at Barcelona, Valencia, Albacete or Madrigueras. Some were drilled, but most of them had no drilling. ” , • The first intimation of their real destination was when they were given arms at Madrigueras and sent to join Saklatvala’s (British) battalion in the International Brigade under an Englishman named Wintrihgham. The battalion lost half its numbers in killed and wounded. Those who protested when they realised that they had to fight instead of work were shot. Others were warned of a similar fate. The men (were driven to slaughter like cattle. When General Franco’s troops captured them they were wandering about not knowing: where they were.

U.S.A. NEUTRALITY. WASHINGTON, February 21. The Senate foreign relations committee has recommended the Senate to adopt the Pittman permanent neut-• rality resolution, providing for an embargo on arms and munitions, as soon as the President proclaims it, during war or civil Avar anywhere in the world. \ The resolution also provides for the prohibition of loans to all belligerents. American vessels would be prohibited from carrying goods likely to involve the United States in conflict; restrictions would be placed on the use of American ports by belligerents’ submarines and armed merchantmen, at the discretion of the President; and it Avould be unlawful for United States citizens to travel on; vessels or aircraft belonging to belligerents. American ships would be forbidden to carry armaments of any kind, apart from small arms, ivhich the President might authorise officers to carry for keeping discipline. > Senator K. Pittmaih explaining the measure, said that every provision was simply to permit a definite control of United States citizens, and to attempt to prevent them from being killed by unnecessarily going to places affected by war and committing acts. of the kind specified. y ■