PEACE FOR SPAIN?

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 February 1939, Page 7

PEACE FOR SPAIN?

GOVT. SURRENDER OFFER

PRESIDENT & PREMIER DIFFER [by CABLE —PREBB ABBN. —COPYBIGHT.] LONDON, February 6. The special correspondent of the “Daily Mail” at Perpignan says that the Republican Government is making peace overtures. The Prime Minister (Senor Negrin) has charged the Foreign Minister (Senor del Vayo) with the mission of conveying terms to the British and French Governments. Reported meetings between the British Charge d’Affairs, the French Ambassador, and Senor del Vayo are denied; but it is believed that Senor Negrin’s proposals embrace the immediate cessation of hostilities and the signing of a treaty for the maintenance of the integrity of the Spanish State.

The “Daily Mail” adds that the President (Senor Azana), before departing for France, is reported to have urged the Government, to surrender unconditionally. Other reports attribute to the Com-mander-in-Chief (General Miaja) the urging of the Government not to transfer the entire defences-to the Madrid zone, as he could carry on there while the Government sued for peace by mediation. FRANCO’S REJECTION., (Recd. February 7, 8 a.m.) PARIS, February 6. “Le Poque” states that Franco re ; jected the peace proposals that Senor Negrin offered through Mr. Stevenson, British Minister to Spain. Franco is demanding complete capitulation. The Republicans are refusing, and suggested a plebiscite. A meeting of Repub-

lican Ministers and leaders was summoned, resulting in a Cabinet split. Negrin and Delvayo opposing capitulation.

Havas Agency reports \that Negrin six Ministers and several officials, travelling in eight motor cars, one ..of which was bullet-pitted, entered France after handing over their revolvers and machine guns on the frontier.

Havas Agency interprets President Azana’s earlier departure to France as an indication of a complete breach with Negrin, regarding tlie method of further resistance.

SHAMBLES AT FIGUERAS

LONDON, February 6

The Figueras correspondent of the “Daily Herald” says that a great trail of death runs to France. One hundred and fifty bombing aeroplanes have

been swiftly annihilating weary refugees and retreating Loyalists. Figueras is a great cemetery. The hospital

has been demolished and the railway station is a shambles of 300 dead. The

river is full of bodies. The Leperthus correspondent says that squads of 15 to 30 bombers, attacking simultaneously, and surpassing even Guernica, destroyed a dozen villages crowded with refugees. General Franco’s troops, when Seode Urgel fell, marched 150 officers and men into the square and machine? gunned them as Anarchists. Many hours’ street fighting preceded the fall of Gerona. The troops blew up bridges as they retreated. The Perpignan correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says that rebel aeroplanes throughout .the night and day were bombing refugees ,on the route from Gerona to Figueras. Figueras was bombed for five hours. Scores of buildings were wrecked. Sqven hundred bodies are lying in the ruins. A Government communique states that 300 were killed and .800. wounded in the continuous air raids.

REFUGEES’ . SUFFERINGS

(Received February 7, 8 a.m.)

PARIS, February 6

The French have removed all barricades, allowing unrestricted entry to thousands of troops marching in formation. Refugees, including some women and. childen on lorries, are. pouring ov”er the frontier.

Terrible sufferings continue to characterise the evacuation. The snowcovered roads to : the ’ frontier are solidly packed by fugitives of . all

classes and ages.,. .One. legless man was pushed in a chair from Barcelona by a friend.

English women,, working at. Cerbere, on behalf of the National Committee for Spanish Relief, complain that no arrangements have been made for feeding and watering thousands. There have been many deaths from starvation and exposure, even when they crossed the frontier. Observers eulogise the courage and discipline of the refugees.

All the Republican Ministers have entered France.

RETREAT CONTINUED. LONDON, February 5. The Leperthus correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph" says that the 117th Loyalist Brigade, which tried to stem the rebel'-advance to Berga, is falling back to Puigcerda. The Anarchist Derruti column is also retreating there.

■ After the fall of Seo de Urgel 12,000 Loyalist troops, without munitions and alniost without food, are cut off in the triangle between Andorra,, Seo de Urgel, and Sort. A message from Paris states that 85 Loyalist aeroplanes have landed safely in France. France has established dressing stations along the frontier and has taken at least 85,000 refugees. A Hendaye message states that 1800 Republican militiamen deserted and crossed the frontier at Iran. They joined up with the Nationalists. The Paris correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says that the International Child Refugees Committee is increasing the number of children fed from 60,000 to 600,000. It is believed an entire Republican Division, the commander of which declared they would fight to the last man. ha's been wiped out on the hills near Seodeurgels, when defending the approaches to Puigcerda. CROWDING INTO FRANCE. (Received February 7, 1 p.m.) PERPIGNAN, February 6. One hundred and twenty thousand refugees, including soldiers, have entered France, without disturbance,

and are still coming in at the rate ol 6000 hourly. The French authorities have secured, the release i of, a number of political and military, prisoners'. Colonel Martin, who' is negotiating ll'or the evacuation .of wounded to France, ordered the garrison of 30,000 troops at Puigcerda to. resist to the last man, but'they, began evacuation when, they learned that the invaders were ten miles distant. The captors of Seoreurgel reached the border of Andorra, where frontier guards greeted them. REBEL. PLANES BUSY. BURGOS, February 6. Rebel planes are steadily .bombing and machine-gunning the last Loyalist aerodromes in Catalonia. They bombed the port of Laselva, . and claim, that.'many ships were sunk.

REASSURANCES, TOTRANCE;

(Recd. February 7,2 p.m.) LONDON, February 6.

The “Telegraph’s” Paris correspondent say.s: It is reliably stated that M. Leon Berard, ex-Minister, who is semi-officialy visiting Burgos,. was given an assurance by Senor Jordona. that there will be no fortifications on. the Spanish side of the Pyrenees, and none will be built. No air bases, likely to threaten French security, 'will remain in the vicinity, of the Spanish frontier. No militairy.’ or political concessions will be made to. any foreign. Power, either in Spain or in Spanish possessions. RAID ON CARTAGENA. '• u ' W’ CARTAGENA', February'6? An Italian bombing raid killed 40, including two’, shafnen from a British ship, and wounded 60. CANADIAN “COMMUNISTS.” - • (Recd.(, February 7,2 p.m.) , ■ • \' ? TORONTO, February 6. Marking the return of 300 Canadians from the Loyalists in Spain, the Mayor (Mr. Robert-Day) flatly refused to re-. instate any to the unemployment relief lists. 7 , eclare d that they were recruited in Canada, illegally, by the Communists. “Let the Communists give them relief,” he said.