SPANISH WAR

Hokitika Guardian, 9 July 1937, Page 5

SPANISH WAR

FRANCO’S DEMAND UNAPPROVED BY BRITAIN. (United Press Association—By Electric Tele&raph—Copyright). ' LONDON, July 7. | Regarding General Franco’s demand to he recognised by the Powers as a belligerent, the Spanish Embassy at London, stated that the Spanish Government is not in favour of. granting belligerent rights. The British view of -General Franco’s demand for recognition, according to the “Daily Telegraph,” is thatgranting belligerent rights can he considered only when the non-Spanish aid is eliminated. General Franco’s demands are regarded as an ill-timed threat. The “Daily Telegraph” states France ; regards the (Question of recognising ( General FranCo as a belligerent as be- \ ing a political question. She considers the situation must be regarded from the viewpoint of Mediterranean interests at stake. She does not intend -opening the frontier unless there is effective naval control and supervision on the Portuguese land frontier is enforced. RUSSIAN OBJECTION. LONDON, July 7. i A difficulty is likely to arise a? to recognition of General Franco through Russia insisting that ‘Moors must be withdrawn from Spain. THE RIVAL FORCES. LONDON, July 7. Evidence is accumulating that General Franco is prepared to dismiss foreign ,'troops, provided the Spanish Government acts similarly. Competent observers estimate trained armed Spanish forces with Genera! r Franco, total (500,000 and with the "*/ Government 560,000. PIRATICAL ACT BORDEAUX, July 7. tfocal rebel supporters seized the loyalist- tanker, “Camp Amor,” anchored here, laden with petrol. They overpowered and battened down twenty-six members of the crew, and departed for a Spanish rebel port. Fourteen of the crew who had shoro leave, are -destitute. ITALIAN COAL ORDERS' RUGBY, July 6. Mr H. r . C. Crookshank, Secretary for Mines, replying to a Parlianientary I question asking if he was aware that ( coal owners in Britain had been- warned that the resources ot the Italian clearing houses were nearing, exhaustion, said lie had warned the coal trade that the utmost caution should be exercised in accepting any further , commitments on the Italian, market,, which had already made large purchases of coal. Contracts already made, if fully executed, would probably leave no margin of payment for tlie. rest of 1937. The position was about to be discussed informally with the, Italian Government. J IRON INTERESTS. 1 LONDON, July 8. The “Financial News’’ says iron and steel interests are worried at Franco's diversion, of Spanish iron, ore supplies to Germany, to whom the greater part of Moroccan minerals have gone in exchange for war materials. The German j bombarment of Almeria is significant as it is the centre of an iron ore district. There is reaspn to fear that Bas-o-ue supplies, which Britain needs to help to finance will also be diverted to Germany.