Spanish Bombings

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 39, 16 February 1938, Page 5

Spanish Bombings

BRITAIN READY TO SUPPORT APPEAL (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Feb. 14. Asked whether he would give notice to the parties in Spain that Britain proposed to allow the importation into Spain of anti-aircraft guns and ammunition unless bombing behind the lines ceased, the Foreign Secretary, Mr. Anthony Eden, said that Britain was bound by the international undertaking she had assumed as a signatory of the non-intervention agreement. He was not prepared to propose any modification of that agreement. He told the House in another reply that the Government had not approached the Vatican direct regarding a denunciation by the Pope of the bombing of civilians in Spain by both sides, but it had informed France that it was prepared to associate itself with such initiative as France might decide to take in the matter, whether through the Vatican or other channels. EXECUTION OF PRISONERS ASSURANCES TO BRITAIN (British Official Wireless.) Received Tuesday, 7 p.m. RUGBY, Feb. 14. Questioned in the House of Commons, Mr. Anthony Eden said he had been informed a number of executions had taken place in Bilbao since the insurgents' occupation. Naturally it was impossible to obtain exact figures. Britain had strongly represented to the parties in Spain the desirability of refraining from further executions in order to avoid prejudicing prospective negotiations for a general exchange of prisoners and other detained persons. The British agent at Salamanca had recently received an assurance that Basque prisoners were in no danger, while Britain had received a similar assurance from the Spanish Government.