SITUATION IN SPAIN

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 January 1939, Page 7

SITUATION IN SPAIN

GRAVE DANGER OF FAMINE

MR. ATTLEE'S REQUEST

[BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.!

RUGBY. January 18.

Mr Attlee (Labour Leader), in a letter to Mr Chamberlain requested that Parliament be immediately summoned, in view of the gravity of the situation in Spain, where he fears there is grave danger of famine, making it necessary in his view “to concert measures of relief in co-opera-tion with other countries.” Mr Chamberlain, replying to Mr Attlee, says he has given careful consideration to the report which was apparently based on the view that the time had come when the policy of nonintervention should bo reversed, and the embargo on the supply of arms and munitions to the Spanish Government bo removed. In the Government’s opinion, such a course would inevitably lead to an extension of the conflict, with consequences which could not accurately be foreseen, hut. would admittedly be grave. “The Government is not, as at present, advised, prepared to adopt such a course, and in these circumstances, it sees no advantage in anticipating the day on which Parliament is due to meet, in less than a fortnight. “As regards the question of the danger of famine in Republican Spain, the Government has recently been in consultation with other Governments, particularly with America, with a view to the possibility of concerting international help on the large scale contemplated by the Spanish Government, and set out in the report prepared by Sir Denys Bray and Mr Webster. As a result, it seems clear there is at present no chance of a scheme being organised on this basis, and such scheme would in any case take a very long time to organise effectively. We have, however, already joined with other Governments in helping to finance the work of unofficial organisations already in the field, and we propose to continue this policy.

“The Government will continue to watch the situation in Spain as it develops, and if in its view, circumstances should demand an alteration in the date, it will not hesitate to recommend Mr Speaker to call the House together at short notice.” LOYALIST CLAIM.

(Received January 19, 8 a.m. BARCELONA, January 18.

Fighting a desperate rearguard action, the Republicans temporarily slowed down Franco’s advance, and claim to be holding ground all along the new line of defences flung around the capital.

Nationalist warplanes continue the pitiless machine-gunning of troop convoys and the refugee-packed roads.

MASSACRE ALLEGED.

LONDON, January 18

The Spanish Press Agency states that prominent citizens at Barcelona issued a protest to the world against the massacre of several hundred refugees in the village square of Santa Coloma, by the Italian troops, Littorio Division. “The crime is unsurpassed even in these barbarous times,” they said.

TARRAGONA SHOOTINGS

(Rood. Jan. 19, 2.30 p.m.). LONDON, January IS.

The “Daily Herald’s” Barcelona correspondent says that three flags fly from the Town Hall at Tarragona, Franco’s red-gold standard, the Italian Legionary colours, and the Swastika, while within sits a Court Martial disposing of suspected hostiles. Nineteen men and three women have already been shot, including the Town Clerk, aged 70, a life-long Republican.

AIR RAID PERPETRATORS

(Recd. Jan. 19, 2.30 p.m.).

GENEVA, January IS.

Senor Delvayo declared to the League Council, despite the continued bombings of civilians by Italians and Germans, the Republicans did not intend reprisals. Italians and Germans were solely responsible for the massacres from the air, which he refused to believe that the Spaniards were capable of against their own people. Intervention would become more vital than ever. The Republican Army was one hundred per cent. Spanish, but there was a record arrival of Italian and German materials and experts during November and December.