POWERS AND SPAIN

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 June 1938, Page 7

POWERS AND SPAIN

BRITAIN’S TRUCE PROPOSAL UNFAVOURABLE RECEPTION [BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] LONDON, June 3. The British Government is conferring with its representatives in Spain about measures to prevent attacks on British shipping, says the Australian Associated Press. Mr Chamberlain is seeking a truce between the rebels and the Loyalists. ’lhe French are ready to help; but the Italians and- Germans, believing that an ultimate victory for General Franco is certain, are less inclined to suggest this plan. The Spaniards are even more difficult to persuade. General Franco considers that he will soon be able to make his own terms, and the majority of the Loyalists want to fight to the last ditch. Herr Hitler is conferring daily’ with Field-Marshal Goering, Admiral Raeder (Naval Chief of Staff), General von Brauchitsch (Army Chief of Staff), and other high officers, says the Berlin correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph.” Although the press is still concentrating its guns on Czechoslovakia, political circles believe that Herr Hitler and his advisers are more concerned about the Spanish situation and the unexpected resistance of the Government forces.

MINISTER’S STATEMENT [BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.] RUGBY, June 3. The bombing of British ships in Spanish waters, and the horrors of bombardment from the air of the Spanish civilian population, were raised in the debate on the adjournment of the Commons for -the Whitsun recess. Mr. Butler, replying, said following the recent heavy bombardments Britain delivered a very strong protest and asked France and the Vatican to co-operate in representations to Burgos. Britain was at the same time urgently considering other* methods and actions for preventing the terrible bombing which all civilised people deplored. Britain believed that much could be done by the force of public opinion, and was therefore considering the question of asking certain foreign Governments to join in establishing a small independent commission which could hold itself in readiness to proceed to the scene of an aerial bombardment, and make an impartial investigation. As to the bombing of British ships, Britain received a reply from General Franco which said the suggestion that British ships had been deliberately selected for attack was devoid of any foundation whatever. Mr. Butler added he had. information that Burgos was interesting itself in this matter, and making full inquiry into the circumstances of the attacks of which Britain had complained. He hoped the nature of the reply indicated that Burgos realised the very serious view Britain; dook of the bombing of British ships. Mr. Butler also mentioned that Britain was investigating the possibility of providing safety zones for British ships in Spanish ports. Speaking of the non-intervention, committee, Mr. Butler said the committee was nearer an agreement on the British plan than it had ever been before.

MR. JORDAN’S SPEECH (Recd. June 4, 8 a.m.). LONDON, June 3. Mr. Mander asked the Prime Minister whether he would consider the publication of a White Paper, giving the text of Mr. Jordan’s speech in the League discussions on Spain, as it embodied an Imperial viewpoint different from the British Government’s. Mr. Butler replied that it would ap-. peai- in due course in the League of Nations Journal, wherein members could study it. BRITISH ENGINEERS’ LEVY (Rec. June 4, 11 a.m.) LONDON, June 3. After the President of the Amalgamated Engineers’ Union dramatically produced a belt of German machinegun cartridges, captured from the Franco forces, the conference decided on a voluntary levy to supply motor lorries to the Spanish ' Government. Members will be invited to contribute a shilling a month, to raise £50,000. APPEAL TO N.Z. WELLINGTON, June 3. The New Zealand Spanish Medical Aid Committee has received a cablegram from Barcelona giving details of the results of the rebel bombing of the town of Granollers. The message declares: “This has been made possible by lack of decision on the ■‘part of the British and French Governments to protest against the massacre perpetrated against the civilian population of Alicante last week. Had an immediate energetic protest been made the crime at Granollers might have been avoided.” The cablegram states that the people of Spain appeal to their friends in democratic countries to exert all their influence on their governments to force them to protest, and adds: “The indecision and complacency of the Bri- * tish Government has been responsible -for the loss of another British ship, the Penthames, which was sunk in Valencia harbour by Fascist aeroplanes.”