POLAND AND SPAIN

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 April 1946, Page 6

POLAND AND SPAIN

TRUMAN SAYS CHARGES ARE POLITICAL SUPPORT FOR FULL HEARING NEW YORK, April 11. President Truman stated that he considers Poland's charges against Spain to be political, but he declined to elaborate upon the political implications he saw in them. A State Department spokesman indicated that the United States will support a full hearing by the Security Council of Poland’s allegation that the Franco regime'is creating a haven in Spain for fugitive German scientists working on atomic weapons. The United States will of course reserve any decision on future moves until all the facts have been presented. Britain is expected to make a similar stand, with both Britain and America taking the position that the continuance of the ' Franco is Spain’s domestic problem? The French representative on the Council (M. Bonnet) received instructions to support Poland’s move on Spain. There will therefore be at least six votes favouring placing the matter’ on the agenda—Poland, America, Britain, France, Russia and Australia. I nternational Situations The Associated Press says that diplomatic ‘officials see international and political situations affected by Poland’s move as follows: —

First, a division between Britain and America on the one hand and Russia on the other. The Polish charges may put Britain and America on the defensive since they have already stated that they do not favour action by the United Nations against General Franco, even although they have stated with equal force that they wish the Spanish people to get rid of him.

The second question is that of Spanish domestic politics. The question is who would replace General Franco? It seems reasonably certain that the British and American “goslow" policy results from apprehension that an outright Communist go T vernment might move into Madrid in the turmoil that would follow General Franco’s ousting. The third effect is on French domestic politics. France must do something about General Franco, and has delayed her proposed action in the hope of persuading Britain and America to take joint action. Poland’s manoeuvre forces the issue and France must now choose whether to go along with Britain and America or with Russia and Poland. Senor Ferdinand de Los Rios, official representative of the Spanish Republican Government, stated that he has submitted documents to the United Nations which the Spanish Republicans want considered by the Security Council during consideration of Poland’s complaints against the Franco regime. He hopes to be permitted to attend the Security Council as a Spanish observer. “Threat to France”

Senor Rios declared that the document showed that Franco’s Spain was threatening France with 450,000 troops poised on the closed FrenchSpanish border. “Spain now has an army superior to France’s numerically, and perhaps also in quantity of armament,” Senor Rios said. “Spanish Republicans believe that collective severance of diplomatic relations with Spain by all the United Nations would bring about General Franco’s downfall,” he said. The Spanish Republican Government is at present recognised only by Poland and Mexico.

LABOUR FEDERATION’S DEMAND (Rec. noon) PARIS, April I. 2 - Mr. William Green, President o/theAmerican Federation of Labour told the French Union Congress that tne A F.L. is demanding that the United States State Department should break off relations with Franco’s Spam.