UNCONFIRMED REPORTS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 48, 25 January 1939, Page 9

UNCONFIRMED REPORTS.

ATTACKS ON BRITISH SHIPS. (British Official Wireless.) Received January 25. 11.5 a.m. RUGBY, Jan. 24. Confirmation is still awaited in London of Press reports of attacks during the week-end by Spanish insurgent aircraft on British ships. Four are reported to have been damaged during raids on Barcelona, and a Lloyd’s Agency message states that, when seven miles off the coast, the British steamer Stanbrook was attacked from the a.ir on three occasions, but received no damage. MR EDEN’S CONTENTIONS. Grave concern at the developments in Spain was expressed by Mr Anthony Eden, in a speech at Coventry to-day. General Franco, Mr Eden said, was advancing on Barcelona by reason of air power and artillery power more formidable than this civil war had yet seen. Everyone knew who provided this armament and who continued to provide it in open violation of agreements and pacts. “The truth it) that certain states, though pledged to non-intervention, are intervening on a scale they deem sufficient to ensure a victory for General Franco, and declare that if France da.ro do even a fraction of what they are doing they will reconsider the situation,” added Mr Eden. “How could dictation of that kind provide a basis for true friendship!-'” he asked. On behalf of the London Socialist Party and the London Trades Council, Mr Herbert Morrison, M.P., in a letter to Mr Chamberlain, asks that, in the interests of world liberty, the British policy regarding the Spanish civil war should be reconsidered. FINANCIAL AID. The British Government is making an immediate payment of £20,000 to the International Commission for Assistance to Child Refugees in Spain. This payment is an advance in respect of a further contribution to the funds of the commission the amount of which has not yet been specified. The British Government lias already given £20.000 to the funds, which have also received £25,000 from other Governments and wheat from the United States to the value of £37,000. , In addition, oilier Governments have already promised further contributions totalling £85,000, while the United States has promised to send wheat to the probable value of £OO,OOO for six months